Rick Ross Surrenders on Felony Strangulation Charge in Miami Domestic Violence Case

William Roberts, the rapper known professionally as Rick Ross, is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond after surrendering to Miami Beach police Thursday morning. The 50-year-old faces a felony count of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from an August domestic dispute that allegedly left his romantic partner with visible injuries, including a split lip and chest trauma.

Roberts entered a not guilty plea through his attorney, Bradley Horenstein, and has formally requested a jury trial. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22. While the misdemeanor battery charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail, the felony strangulation count represents a significantly more serious legal exposure. Under Florida Statute 784.041, battery by strangulation is classified as a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, reflecting the state’s legislative determination that impeding breathing or blood circulation constitutes a distinct threshold of violence beyond simple assault.

The arrest affidavit identifies the alleged victim only by the initials “JK,” but details align closely with public statements made by Jazzma Kendrick, a model and real estate agent who began dating Roberts in August 2025. According to law enforcement documents, the confrontation occurred on the morning of Aug. 28 after Roberts accused the woman of lying about being tagged in an Instagram photograph. The affidavit alleges he slapped her repeatedly each time she denied having a relationship with another person, struck her chest multiple times, and grabbed her hoodie collar, twisting it until she could not breathe.

Prosecutors allege the violence escalated when Roberts slammed the woman against a wall and struck her face while she was bent over, causing a busted lip. She also told investigators he pushed her into a shower and sprayed her with water before she managed to flee the residence. A friend who attempted to retrieve her from the home that day was reportedly turned away. The victim later returned to collect belongings when Roberts was absent and provided police with photographic evidence of her injuries.

Kendrick addressed the allegations publicly this week, confirming on Instagram that the incident took place approximately a month ago. She described herself as having been treated like a “punching bag” and shared images of her injuries, though she assured followers in a subsequent post that she had taken time to process the events and had begun healing. The couple had appeared together at the BET Awards on June 28 following a brief separation, suggesting a volatile timeline preceding the alleged assault.

This case adds to a lengthy legal history for Roberts, whose prior arrests have included drug trafficking charges and previous domestic incidents. However, the specific classification of strangulation marks a shift in prosecutorial approach. In recent years, Florida lawmakers and prosecutors have increasingly treated non-fatal strangulation as a precursor to lethal violence rather than a standard domestic dispute, resulting in stricter charging guidelines and higher bond recommendations compared to simple battery cases.

Defense counsel has not commented on the evidentiary basis of the charges or whether plea negotiations are anticipated ahead of the late-October court appearance. Roberts released his most recent album, “Set in Stone,” in July, maintaining an active music career throughout the period leading up to the alleged incident.