How a pool cue assault led to Atlanta prison time for Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane’s troubles with the law have been well-documented. The Atlanta, Georgia legend has experienced multiple stints behind bars, which, given his status as a famous rapper, hasn’t exactly flown under the radar.
One especially notable legal saga for Gucci began in 2005, while Gucci was only 25 and beginning to establish himself in the rap game. That was the year his debut album Trap House came out, which should have equated to a positive time for the rapper. But he ultimately got himself into serious trouble.
Gucci one night got into an argument with a gig promoter named Troy Bufford. The dispute escalated out of control, with Gucci being accused of cracking Bufford over the head with a pool cue. There were also accusations that Gucci had threatened him with a gun.
The case went to court in Georgia, with Gucci facing down the prospect of a prison sentence. He pleaded no contest, which the judge accepted.
Gucci was handed a six-month sentence, albeit with three of those months having already been served. He would also have to spend six and a half years on probation and cough up $3,000 to pay for medical expenses.
This case resulting from the pool cue attack took place during a period of much more serious issues for Gucci. He had actually been accused of murder not long beforehand, after he and some companions were attacked at a property in the Georgia city of Decatur. Gucci and his companions fired back, hitting and killing someone.
Gucci maintained that the actions that he and his party had taken constituted self-defence. But whether or not that would be accepted was, at the time, unclear.
This case was still playing out by the time Gucci was sent to jail in Atlanta for the pool cue attack. He was behind bars when the good news came that the murder charge was being dropped. Not enough evidence had been gathered to convict him.
By early 2006, Gucci walked out of jail. His sentence for the pool cue attack had been served, albeit he remained on probation and would duly get into trouble with the law again in the years to come.