Rapper Nelly will not face drug charges following his arrest at a casino, a prosecutor said.
Nelly, known for hits like Hot in Herre and Just A Dream, was arrested at 4.45am on August 7 as he sought to collect several jackpots he had won at Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
A trooper assigned to the casino told him that a warrant search was required when a gambler wins more than a certain amount of money.
The background check showed that a judge issued a warrant in December over a 2018 citation for operating a vehicle without proof of insurance and because of the outstanding warrant, Nelly was arrested and searched.
That is when the officer allegedly found four ecstasy pills. Police had sought a charge of felony possession of a controlled substance against Nelly, 49, whose birth name is Cornell Haynes II.
However, St Louis County prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement: "We don't believe the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges.”
Mr Bell's office did not elaborate on why the decision was made to not file charges.
Nelly’s lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, had argued the search that led to the arrest was unwarranted and said Mr Bell's decision followed "a fair and impartial review of the evidence".
Meanwhile, the insurance charge has been resolved. Mr Rosenblum said it was dismissed after Nelly provided proof that he has car insurance.
Nelly, a three-time Grammy Award winner. He has had four US number-one hits and received nine Billboard Music Awards. He also has appeared in several films and TV series.
In July, Nelly and partner Ashanti welcomed their first child together, a baby boy.
