The last few months have been difficult for Freddie Gibbs. In June, while on tour in Europe, Gibbs was arrested in France due to rape allegations from 2015. The arrest and accusations stemmed from an alleged incident that took place in Austria. The following weeks after his arrest led Gibbs to be released from the French jail and transitioned into the custody of Austrian authorities although he and his lawyers denied these charges from the start.
In August, Gibbs was formally charged with sexual assault in Austria. If convicted of the charge Gibbs could have faced up to 10 years in prison, but Thomas Kralik—the lawyer that represented Gibbs while he was in Vienna—remained firm on his stance that Gibbs was indeed 100% innocent of these accusations.
Weeks later, Gibbs is finally met with good news. Gibbs was officially found not guilty of these sexual charges today and is finally ready to return home to the United States with his family.
His lawyer Theodore Simon released an official statement on the issue. Read it in full below.
"Today, September 30, 2016 Freddie Gibbs was found not guilty. We have always maintained unconditionally and without any doubt that Freddie would be and now has been fully exonerated and completely vindicated. We are pleased and thankful that the Court recognized the same trust and confidence we and all of his fans have had in Freddie that justified and resulted in his absolute acquittal. Immediately after his acquittal I spoke with Freddie who expressed his deeply sincere, heartfelt gratitude and thanks to his fiancé Erica Dickerson for her unwavering support, for the steadfast and incomparable loyalty of his long time friend and manager Ben "Lambo" Lambert, for the extraordinary work and effort of his lawyers and for the overwhelming outpouring of love he has received from his fans. He says, 'Thank you!'
While we are appreciative of the verdict of not guilty, nothing has changed. The actual facts have always demonstrated that Freddie was and is 100% innocent. It is now self-evident he was wrongly accused. The trial has confirmed our belief that after a searching and complete investigation and trial the true and actual facts would be revealed - that there always was an absence of any scientific, physical, or credible evidence that would warrant in any way such an accusation.
Freddie and his family look forward to returning to the States so he can resume his life and career."
