The jail history of Finesse2Tymes, the Memphis rapper born Ricky Hampton, spans from his first incarceration at age 14 through a five-year federal prison term for illegal gun possession and into a run of three drug arrests across East Texas between September 2025 and January 2026. He has said he was “in and out of prison” from his teens onward, and the public record of his adult cases backs that up.1Atlantic Records. Finesse2Tymes Press Release
The 2017 Little Rock Arrest
Hampton first drew national attention after the July 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Power Ultra Lounge in Little Rock, Arkansas, during a concert he was headlining. Gunfire inside the venue struck 25 people around 2:30 a.m., and three more were hurt escaping. Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Buckner said the shooting appeared tied to a dispute between local gangs.2NBC News. Rapper Finese2Tymes Arrested After Little Rock Mass Shooting on Unrelated Charges
Hampton was named a person of interest but was never charged in the shooting itself.3KARK. Power Ultra Lounge Five Years Later On July 7, 2017, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested him in Birmingham, Alabama, on unrelated outstanding warrants from Forrest City, Arkansas, for aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a gun.2NBC News. Rapper Finese2Tymes Arrested After Little Rock Mass Shooting on Unrelated Charges His bodyguard Kentrell Gwynn, arrested at the same time, was later convicted on charges connected to the Power Ultra Lounge shooting and released from prison in late 2019.
Five Years in Federal Prison
The Forrest City warrants became a federal case in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Hampton was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, based on his having a gun at a Forrest City nightclub, and he pleaded guilty in March 2018 before Judge J. Leon Holmes.4U.S. Department of Justice. Memphis Rapper Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm in Arkansas He tried to withdraw the plea in October 2018 but abandoned the attempt two weeks later.5NBC News. Tennessee Rapper Sentenced to Prison on Federal Weapons Charge
On December 6, 2018, Hampton was sentenced to five years in federal prison.5NBC News. Tennessee Rapper Sentenced to Prison on Federal Weapons Charge He was released at the start of July 2022.1Atlantic Records. Finesse2Tymes Press Release
The 2023 Texas Theft Charge That Was Dropped
In July 2023, prosecutors in Harris County, Texas filed a theft charge against Hampton over an Infiniti QX80 SUV valued at $72,200. Court records said the vehicle had been rented by a Ronald Bell on February 28, 2023 with a March 10 return date. When it wasn’t returned, Hampton reportedly told Enterprise during an April 20 phone call that he had the SUV in Atlanta, and it was reported stolen on April 24.6ABC13. Finesse2Tymes Charged, Theft Charge Against Memphis Rapper Ricky Hampton Dropped
An arrest warrant was issued, but the charge was dismissed two days later for “insufficient evidence of defendant’s guilt.” Hampton was never arrested in that case.6ABC13. Finesse2Tymes Charged, Theft Charge Against Memphis Rapper Ricky Hampton Dropped
Three East Texas Drug Arrests
Between September 2025 and January 2026, Hampton was arrested three times in East Texas, each time on drug-related charges. His girlfriend Halle Mona Buckingham, who goes by FNG Shugga, was arrested with him in two of the three.
September 2025: Smith County
On the evening of September 19, 2025, officers in Tyler, Texas stopped Hampton’s red Corvette for a seatbelt violation. Officers said they smelled marijuana and saw a hand-rolled cigar in the ashtray, and after Buckingham was seen grabbing a bag from the passenger floorboard, a search turned up 0.7 ounces of marijuana, 12 oxycodone pills, and 7 methylphenidate pills.7KETK. Rapper Finesse2Tymes Arrested in Smith County After Drugs Found in His Vehicle
Hampton was charged with possession of marijuana. Buckingham was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of marijuana possession. Both were booked into the Smith County Jail and released on bond the next morning.7KETK. Rapper Finesse2Tymes Arrested in Smith County After Drugs Found in His Vehicle
October 2025: Harrison County
On October 20, 2025, Hampton was booked into the Harrison County Jail on eight charges: four counts of possession of a controlled substance (two in Penalty Group 1 or 1-B, which under Texas law covers narcotics such as cocaine and opioids, and two in Penalty Group 2, which includes substances like ecstasy and hallucinogens), one count of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of marijuana, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and possession of a prohibited substance or item in a correctional facility.8KETK. Finesse2Tymes Faces Multiple Charges9Hot 97. Finesse2Tymes Arrested in Dallas on Multiple Possession Charges
Bond was set at $119,000. Hampton posted it and was released October 21.8KETK. Finesse2Tymes Faces Multiple Charges The Texas Department of Public Safety later withheld specific arrest documents from this incident after a determination by the state Attorney General’s Office.10KETK. Rapper Finesse2Tymes Girlfriend Arrested Again in East Texas on Drug Charges
January 2026: Rusk County
On the evening of January 14, 2026, a trooper in Rusk County stopped a Cadillac Escalade for lacking a front license plate. The officer reported smelling marijuana, and a probable cause search produced orange pills suspected to be Adderall and a small bag of marijuana in the front of the vehicle. Buckingham was found concealing marijuana on her person, and three additional Adderall pills were found on Hampton during a search at the jail.11KETK. Affidavit: Rapper Finesse2Tymes, Girlfriend Arrested in Traffic Stop for Drug Possession
Hampton was booked January 15 on three charges: possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, and having a prohibited substance in a correctional facility. He was released, though reporting did not specify the bond terms.10KETK. Rapper Finesse2Tymes Girlfriend Arrested Again in East Texas on Drug Charges12Complex. Finesse2Tymes Drug Arrest, Blames Moneybagg Yo
Buckingham faced five charges from that night: tampering with physical evidence, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, a weapon offense, and a U.S. Marshal detainer, indicating an existing federal hold, though reporting did not specify what underlied it.11KETK. Affidavit: Rapper Finesse2Tymes, Girlfriend Arrested in Traffic Stop for Drug Possession Her bond was set at $526,000.13Action News 5. Memphis Rapper Finesse2Tymes, Girlfriend Shugga Arrested in Texas
Current Status of the Cases
As of the most recent reporting in January 2026, Hampton has pending charges across the Smith, Harrison, and Rusk county cases. No trial dates or plea developments have been publicly reported in any of them. He has been released after each arrest, but the Harrison County felony counts in particular leave him with significant ongoing legal exposure. Buckingham’s charges from the Smith and Rusk county incidents remain pending alongside her federal detainer.