Quando Rondo strikes a deal.
On Tuesday (June 25), the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) announced a plea agreement with the rap star, real name Tyquian Bowman, on his federal drug charges in Georgia court. According to court documents filed on Tuesday, this agreement resolves the pending federal charges against Bowman.
Quando Rondo faces one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and one count to distribute controlled substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. These charges stem from alleged activities beginning in January 2021, in which Rondo reportedly conspired with two co-defendants. He was already out on bond for local charges at the time of his federal arrest.
U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg has requested the court schedule a hearing to accept Bowman’s plea formally. The specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
The latest development in Bowman’s federal case occurred after the unsealing of the indictment on December 11, 2023. On June 14, Steinberg filed a notice indicating the prosecution’s intent to call expert witnesses specialized in criminal street gangs and drug distribution, suggesting a focus on Bowman’s alleged gang activities.
Barry L. Paschal, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Georgia, told local news that the office cannot discuss plea agreements before court acceptance. Quando Rondo’s team also refused to comment.
On June 14, Bowman was indicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism Act. The indictment alleges that Bowman, a member of the Rollin’ 60s gang, sought guns and arranged a marijuana sale in Macon, Georgia.
On February 1, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes placed Bowman’s local charges on a dead docket at the request of Assistant District Attorney Louis Annunziata, citing the overlap with federal charges. This action postpones the case indefinitely but allows for reinstatement at the court’s discretion.
Last February, Quando Rondo was arrested for reckless driving and driving under the influence, related to an incident on July 19, 2023. A civil lawsuit filed against him alleges that his actions caused serious injuries and over $8,000 in medical bills.