BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz is asking a federal judge to spare him prison time and instead impose probation and community service when he is sentenced Friday in a federal gun case.
In a sentencing memo filed this week, Boosie, whose legal name is Torence Hatch, is requesting two years of structured probation and 300 hours of community service following his guilty plea last year to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The filing argues that Hatch’s June 2023 arrest in San Diego was a “lapse in judgment rather than ongoing criminal behavior,” pointing to what the defense says was an approximately 10-year gap between his prior criminal conduct and the current case.
“The offense conduct was limited, nonviolent, and isolated,” the memo states. “Mr. Hatch did not discharge a firearm or cause harm. No victim was identified, and the government has not alleged that the firearms were used in connection with any other criminal activity or broader criminal scheme.”
Rapper Boosie BadAzz is shown leaving during the second half of an NBA basketball game between Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)(Hakim Wright Sr. | AP)
Federal prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison sentence, lower than the 46 months suggested by federal probation officials but significantly harsher than what the defense is requesting.
Both sides cite Hatch’s guilty plea and personal background as mitigating factors. Prosecutors wrote in their own sentencing filing that Hatch “has clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility” and acknowledged that he had a difficult upbringing that likely contributed to his legal troubles. Had Hatch gone to trial and been convicted, he could have faced up to 15 years in prison.
Court records describe a childhood marked by domestic violence between his parents, the death of his father from a brain tumor, and early exposure to substance abuse. Prosecutors also noted Hatch’s criminal history, which includes convictions for assault, battery, drug offenses and illegal possession of firearms, but agreed there were no identifiable victims in the current gun case.
Baton Rouge rapper Boosie Badazz wrapped up back-to-back shows in Marksville.
In his sentencing memo, Hatch said he carried a firearm for protection after surviving a shooting in Texas, arguing that the incident heightened his sense of vulnerability while traveling. The filing describes him as a father of nine who has taken responsibility for what it characterizes as a serious but isolated mistake.
The case stems from Hatch’s 2023 arrest in San Diego, where authorities identified him in an Instagram Live video showing a gun tucked into his waistband. According to court filings, police used a helicopter to track the vehicle he was riding in before conducting a traffic stop.
Officers recovered a loaded 9 mm Glock 19 from the back seat of the vehicle and a loaded 9 mm Springfield Hellcat that was turned over by Hatch’s security, prosecutors said. Hatch’s DNA was found on both firearms, which were purchased in Georgia by his girlfriend, according to court records.
Hatch pleaded guilty Aug. 26, 2025, to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time, Hatch stated he wanted to accept responsibility, put the case behind him, and resume his life and career.
Hatch is scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning before Cathy Ann Bencivengo in U.S. District Court.
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