Utah law enforcement officials are expressing strong disapproval following the presidential pardon granted to rapper **YoungBoy** **NBA** (Kentrell Gaulden) by President Donald Trump. Gaulden had previously pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including identity theft and forgery, related to a case in Cache County, Utah. In late May, Trump intervened and dismissed all federal charges against Gaulden.
Local authorities, including Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen and County Attorney Taylor Sorensen, have publicly rejected the notion that their legal actions were politically motivated. In a joint statement, they emphasized their pride in the diligent work of investigators and prosecutors, asserting that the justice system in Cache County is not “weaponized” for political purposes. In the statement, the officials continued: “we are extremely proud of the work our investigator and prosecutors did on this case, as well as grateful for all the help we received from other local and federal agencies.” Utah State Representative Trevor Lee also expressed frustration, briefly tweeting, “As a state we should still go after him,” before deleting the post.
Gaulden had served nearly two years in prison after pleading guilty to federal gun charges in Louisiana. He was also prosecuted in Utah for possessing a firearm as a felon, resulting in five years of probation and a $200,000 fine. Court records indicate that the Cache County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gaulden in April 2024, following an investigation that began the previous September. Investigators uncovered a connection between Gaulden and a series of fraudulent prescriptions at pharmacies across Cache County and other Utah locations. Gaulden and his associates used physicians’ names to call in and pick up prescriptions, doing so 18 times before his arrest.
The arresting officer noted in an initial affidavit that Gaulden had a firearm in his Weber County home, which he had moved from an open area to a drawer. At the time, Gaulden was already being prosecuted in federal court in Louisiana on gun charges. Gaulden reached a “no contest” plea deal in Utah’s First District Court, leading to the reduction of felony charges to class A misdemeanors and a $25,000 fine. The firearm disclosure in Weber County resulted in a firearms possession charge in Utah court, for which he received five years of probation. Simultaneously, he pleaded guilty to the Louisiana charges and was sentenced to 23 months in prison.
Gaulden was released from prison in March 2025, after receiving credit for time served. Trump’s pardon absolved him of all remaining conditions, including parole requirements such as drug testing. In addition to Gaulden, Trump pardoned 15 other individuals and commuted the sentences of six more on May 28, 2025. Among the recipients were a gang leader, reality show stars, and politicians.
Alice Marie Johnson, known as Trump’s “pardon czar,” explained in a Fox News interview that before recommending Gaulden’s pardon, she considered his youth and upbringing in an impoverished neighborhood. She noted that many of the charges were related to guns that were not discharged. In an Instagram post, Gaulden expressed gratitude to Trump and Johnson for the pardon, stating it provided him “the opportunity to keep building — as a man, a father, and as an artist.”
Despite the controversy, no new legal actions have been taken against Gaulden. He is now preparing for his “Make America Slime Again” tour, which is set to begin on September 1, 2025, in Dallas and will conclude in Seattle on November 12, 2025.