Assault Charges Dropped Against Nelly for Casino Incident, Will Pay $750 Fine

Iconic rapper Nelly agreed to a plea deal after being charged with assault at a casino last year.

Nelly, real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., will only face a misdemeanor littering charge as part of the plea agreement. He agreed to pay a $750 fine and was cleared from any time in prison by a judge.

The Country Grammar hitmaker maintained his innocence in the matter throughout an investigation and legal proceedings.

Nelly’s assault charge dropped after casino encounter

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, a hearing was held related to a July 14, 2025, incident that occurred at Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.

The documents state that the relevant parties agreed on the plea deal on Wednesday. The judge in the case signed off on the agreement, officially bringing an end to the ordeal.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) responded to a call made by a security casino guard who alleged they had been assaulted by the rapper. Supposedly, the guard asked Nelly to present his player’s card before entering a section of the casino, which prompted Nelly to shove the guard out of the way and continue into the section.

The 51-year-old was charged with misdemeanor assault in Sept. 2025 in light of the situation. His team defended his role in the encounter.

“Nelly was stunned to receive a summons from a two-month-old incident where an overzealous guard blocked his path and invaded his space,” his representative said at the time the charges were announced. “Nelly guided him aside with minimal contact and no harm. Management later apologized and welcomed Nelly back [to the casino].”

The security guard later attempted to press charges.

Trouble at the casino… again

MSHP claimed to have procured video footage of the incident from a security camera posted inside the casino. 

The footage showed Nelly walking up to a turnstile blocked by the guard, shoving him aside, and balling a fist before proceeding into the gaming area. 

No injuries were reported, per the MSHP.

The Ameristar Casino Resort Spa is home to 130,000 square feet of gaming space, featuring more than 1,700 slot machines, live-dealer table games, a poker room, and a Fanatics sportsbook. It also had 400 luxury suites, multiple dining venues, bars, a full-service spa, and a nightclub.

Nelly grew up and rose to fame in St. Louis, which is only 30 minutes away. He helped form St. Lunatics in 1993 and released Country Grammar, his debut album, in 2000.

This isn’t the first time that Nelly has run into trouble at a casino. In 2024, he was arrested in Maryland Heights, Missouri, for no proof of car insurance, leading to allegation of drug possession.  

The arrest stemmed from an incident in 2018, which led to a warrant being issued for his arrest in Dec. 2023.