Is Kodak Black in jail? Yes — as of May 7, 2026, rapper Kodak Black (real name Bill Kahan Kapri) is currently in custody at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida, after being arrested on a felony charge of trafficking in MDMA. The arrest is trending heavily across social media and news outlets following a coordinated surrender tied to a November 2025 investigation. This article covers everything you need to know about the arrest, the charges, his legal history, and what could happen next.
Last updated: May 8, 2026
Who Is Kodak Black?
Kodak Black is a 28-year-old American rapper born Dieuson Octave (later legally changed to Bill Kahan Kapri) on June 11, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida. He grew up in the Golden Acres housing project in Pompano Beach, raised by his Haitian immigrant mother. He began rapping at age six and started gaining industry recognition in 2014 with his viral song “No Flockin.”
Over the following years, Kodak Black became one of the most commercially successful rap artists to emerge from South Florida. His discography includes hit singles such as “Tunnel Vision” (2017), “Zeze” (2018), “Roll in Peace” (2017), and “Super Gremlin” (2022), which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite his musical success, Kodak Black has faced repeated legal troubles throughout his career, making him one of the most high-profile examples of a celebrity with recurring involvement in the US criminal justice system.
Why Was Kodak Black Arrested in 2026?
On May 7, 2026, Kodak Black was booked into the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida, in connection with a felony drug trafficking charge that originated from an incident in November 2025. According to police reports, Orlando police officers responded to reports of gunfire near the Children’s Safety Village on Fairvilla Road in Orlando. Upon approaching a BMW at the scene, officers detected the smell of burnt cannabis and conducted a search of the vehicle.
During the search, officers found cannabis, approximately $37,000 in cash, and a pink bag containing a substance that later tested positive for MDMA. Documents found inside the vehicle bore Kapri’s name, and investigators subsequently compared items found in the vehicle — including a bag and a lighter — to images posted on Kodak Black’s Instagram accounts. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) later confirmed through lab testing that the pink bag contained approximately 25 grams of MDMA, placing it within the legal threshold for drug trafficking charges under Florida law.
Based on this evidence, Orlando police sought a warrant charging Bill Kapri with trafficking in MDMA in an amount between 14 and 200 grams — a first-degree felony under Florida statute. The May 7, 2026 arrest was described by his attorney Bradford Cohen as a “coordinated surrender,” meaning Kapri turned himself in voluntarily rather than being taken into custody by force. Cohen has stated he plans to challenge the charges, calling the case’s legal basis “weak” and noting that a police officer searched the vehicle with one other passenger who was not Kodak Black at the time of the original November 2025 stop.
The Charges, Bond, and Court Proceedings
Kodak Black faces a single felony count of trafficking in MDMA, specifically in an amount between 14 and 200 grams — approximately 25 grams were confirmed by lab testing. This is a first-degree felony under Florida Statute 893.135, which carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence and substantial fines regardless of the offender’s prior record.
At his initial appearance in bond court, Kapri entered a written plea of not guilty and formally requested a jury trial. A judge set his bond at $75,000 — a figure that reflected the seriousness of the charge as well as Kapri’s extensive prior criminal record, which includes 12 previous felony convictions. Despite the elevated bond, his attorney has indicated Kapri intends to contest the charge vigorously.
As of the date of this article (May 8, 2026), Kodak Black remains in custody at the Orange County Jail while his legal team works on his defense. No trial date has yet been publicly announced.
Kodak Black’s Full Legal History
Kodak Black’s encounter with the US criminal justice system is extensive and long-running. Below is a summary of his most significant legal events:
Early arrests (2015–2018): Kodak Black was arrested multiple times in his teens and early twenties on charges ranging from robbery and battery to sexual assault. A 2016 sexual assault allegation in South Carolina resulted in a 2021 guilty plea to a lesser charge of attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct, for which he was sentenced to 18 months of probation.
Federal weapons conviction (2019): In 2019, Kapri pleaded guilty to falsifying information on federal forms when purchasing four firearms from a licensed gun dealer. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and began serving that sentence at a federal facility. While incarcerated, he released his third studio album, Bill Israel (2020).
Presidential commutation (January 2021): On his final day in office, January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump commuted Kodak Black’s federal prison sentence as part of a broader set of 143 pardons and commutations. The White House statement noted support from religious leaders, former NYC Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, and fellow rappers Gucci Mane, Lil Pump, and Lil Yachty. Kapri was released from federal custody as a result.
2023 arrest in Plantation, Florida: In 2023, Kodak Black was arrested in Plantation, Florida after police found him asleep at the wheel of a vehicle with white powder around his mouth. Officers initially believed the substance to be cocaine, but lab testing later confirmed it was oxycodone — a prescription painkiller for which Kapri held a valid prescription. The charge was ultimately not pursued.
2026 MDMA trafficking arrest: The current May 2026 arrest represents Kodak Black’s most serious drug-related charge to date, given the trafficking threshold of the MDMA quantity and his 12 prior felony convictions.
Florida Drug Trafficking Laws Explained
Florida has some of the strictest drug trafficking laws in the United States. Under Florida Statute 893.135, trafficking in MDMA (also known as Ecstasy or Molly) is classified as a first-degree felony and carries mandatory minimum sentences that judges cannot reduce, regardless of mitigating circumstances.
The sentencing tiers for MDMA trafficking in Florida are as follows: possessing or trafficking 14 to 28 grams carries a three-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a $50,000 fine; 28 to 200 grams carries a seven-year mandatory minimum and a $100,000 fine; and more than 200 grams carries a 15-year mandatory minimum and a $500,000 fine. Because approximately 25 grams of MDMA were confirmed in Kodak Black’s case, the applicable mandatory minimum — if convicted — would be three years in a Florida state prison.
It is important to note that these are mandatory minimum sentences, meaning a judge has no discretion to impose a lighter sentence without a specific legal exception. However, if the prosecution cannot prove the substance belonged to Kapri beyond a reasonable doubt — for example, because someone else was also in the vehicle — an acquittal or reduced charge remains possible.
US Prison System Context
Drug trafficking convictions carry different consequences depending on whether they occur at the state or federal level. Kodak Black’s 2026 charge is a state-level offense under Florida law, meaning he would serve any sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections rather than a federal facility, as was the case with his 2019 weapons conviction. Understanding the difference between state and federal prison is important context for following this case.
In the US, federal prisons house individuals convicted of violations of federal law (such as federal weapons charges or federal drug trafficking prosecutions), while state prisons house those convicted under state statutes. Florida operates one of the largest state prison systems in the country, with over 140 facilities and roughly 80,000 inmates.
For more background on how the US prison system works — including sentencing guidelines, parole eligibility, and what prison conditions are like — see the following resources on US Prison Guide:
Drug trafficking convictions in Florida do not carry automatic parole eligibility under the current mandatory minimum framework. Inmates in Florida must serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for early release consideration — a policy colloquially known as “85% time.” This means that even a three-year mandatory minimum sentence would require approximately 2 years and 6 months of actual incarceration before any release could be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kodak Black in jail right now?
Yes. As of May 8, 2026, Kodak Black is currently in custody at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Florida. He was arrested on May 7, 2026, on a felony charge of trafficking in MDMA and has entered a not guilty plea. His bond was set at $75,000.
What is Kodak Black charged with in 2026?
Kodak Black (Bill Kahan Kapri) is charged with one count of felony trafficking in MDMA under Florida Statute 893.135. The charge relates to approximately 25 grams of MDMA allegedly found in a vehicle connected to him during a November 2025 police investigation in Orlando.
How long could Kodak Black go to prison for?
If convicted of MDMA trafficking in the 14–28 gram range under Florida law, Kodak Black faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in Florida state prison and a $50,000 fine. Given his 12 prior felony convictions, a judge could impose a significantly longer sentence above the mandatory minimum at sentencing.
Has Kodak Black been to prison before?
Yes. Kodak Black was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison in 2019 after pleading guilty to federal firearms charges. He served approximately two years before his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2021. He also has 12 previous felony convictions on his record spanning various charges over the years.
Is this a federal or state charge?
The 2026 MDMA trafficking charge is a state-level charge brought under Florida Statute 893.135. Unlike his 2019 weapons conviction, which was a federal offense, this case is being prosecuted by Florida state authorities. If convicted, Kodak Black would serve any resulting sentence in a Florida state prison facility rather than a federal Bureau of Prisons institution.