A former Atlanta police officer has pleaded guilty to his participation in an armed robbery that took place in 2019. Justin Mikale Thorne, aged 26, admitted to committing several felony charges in the robbery, which involved rising rapper Freddie Gladney III, better known as Bankroll Freddie.
According to court records from Cobb County, Georgia, Thorne entered a guilty plea in late July. He has since been sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in the incident.
Former Police Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison For Setting up Rapper Bankroll Freddie to get Robbed ⛓️👀 pic.twitter.com/NC8ir7sbSP
— Raphousetv (RHTV) (@raphousetv2) May 23, 2023
Details surrounding the robbery indicate that Thorne and another individual held Gladney and his friend at gunpoint, taking their money and possessions. Gladney, who was up-and-coming in the hip-hop industry at that time, was left shaken by the incident, but did not sustain physical harm.
The involvement of Thorne, who was formerly a member of the Atlanta Police force, has garnered wide attention. His status as a police officer prior to the robbery sparked concerns about corruption and criminal activity within law enforcement. The incident also raises broader questions about the power dynamics between young rappers and their entourage on one hand, and authorities on the other.
The sentencing news has brought relief to many in the hip-hop community who saw the robbery as an alarming reminder of the dangers that rising artists can face. Bankroll Freddie has not publicly commented on the sentencing, but had expressed his gratitude following the arrest of Thorne in January 2020.
It is important to remember that incidents like this are not isolated cases, with reports and research documenting that interaction between young artists and law enforcement officers is fraught, and does not always end in a fair result. As the guardrails of boundaries shift in the relationship between music and crime, it is increasingly important to consider what balance between expression and regulation can be struck.