Willie Junior Maxwell II, also known as "Fetty Wap" Sentenced to 6 Years' Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, United States District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced William Junior Maxwell II, who is the rap artist known as “Fetty Wap,” to six years’ imprisonment and five years of post-release supervision for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.  On March 7, 2023, Judge Seybert sentenced Maxwell’s co-defendant Anthony Cyntje, a New Jersey correction officer, to 72 months’ imprisonment for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy.  Maxwell’s remaining four co-defendants pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney for Suffolk County; and Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.

According to court filings, from approximately June 2019 through June 2020, the defendants distributed more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey.  The defendants obtained the narcotics on the west coast and used the United States Postal Service and drivers with hidden vehicle compartments to transport the controlled substances across the country to Suffolk County, where they were stored.  The drugs were then distributed to dealers, who sold them on Long Island and in New Jersey.  Five of the defendants also used firearms to protect their drug organization and distribution chain.  Defendants Anthony Leonardi, Robert Leonardi, Brian Sullivan, and Kavaughn Wiggins participated in the purchase and transportation of the narcotics from the west coast to the east coast where they were processed, stored and ultimately resold.  Maxwell was a kilogram-level redistributor for the trafficking organization, and Cyntje transported kilograms of cocaine from Long Island to New Jersey.

Search warrants executed during the investigation resulted in the recovery of approximately $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, numerous fentanyl pills, two 9mm handguns, a rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition.   

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Caffarone and Andrew P. Wenzel, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Kubetz are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.

The Defendants:

ANTHONY CYNTJE
Age: 25
Passaic, New Jersey

ANTHONY LEONARDI
Age:  49         
Coram, Long Island

ROBERT LEONARDI
Age: 28
Levittown, Pennsylvania

WILLIE JUNIOR MAXWELL II (also known as “Fetty Wap”)
Age: 31
Paterson, New Jersey

BRIAN SULLIVAN
Age: 27
Lake Grove, Long Island

KAVAUGHN L. WIGGINS (also known as “KV”)
Age: 28
Coram, Long Island

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-452 (JS)