Rapper Leaf Ward sentenced to 46 months for possessing machine gun

Leaf Ward sentenced to nearly four years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing illegal firearms.

Rapper Leaf Ward has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to firearms-related charges, including the possession of a machine gun.

According to AllHipHop, the 27-year-old artist from Philadelphia was sentenced earlier this week by U.S. District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky, also receiving a $25,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Ward’s legal troubles stemmed from his possession of illegal firearms, compounded by his status as a convicted felon. His arrest occurred in August 2023 at the Bahama Breeze restaurant near King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania, where he arrived in a stolen vehicle. Authorities discovered the car had been reported stolen out of Philadelphia when they ran the plates during a routine parking lot check.

As officers prepared to tow the vehicle, Ward exited the restaurant with his girlfriend but quickly fled back inside upon noticing the police. Security footage showed him attempting to dispose of evidence by placing a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, rigged with an illegal conversion switch, into a trash can. The firearm was recovered, fully loaded, after Ward was apprehended behind the building.

Despite having two previous gun convictions, Ward continued to carry firearms, even showcasing them in his music videos. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero condemned his actions and vowed continued efforts to reduce gun violence. Ward had gained attention in the Hip-Hop scene with hits like ‘Concrete’ and ‘They Forgot 3,’ the latter surpassing one million streams on Spotify.