JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon against a popular Jacksonville rapper was dropped July 3 following his arrest April 15 in Jacksonville Beach.
Keyanta Bullard, known as rapper Yungeen Ace with 3.7 million Instagram followers, was set for arraignment this week, but the State Attorney’s Office filed a disposition notice last week, saying it was declining to prosecute Bullard on the charge.
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Prosecutors said the charge was dropped because the case wasn’t likely to earn a conviction. While police said Bullard, 26, was found in a rented SUV filled with firearms, prosecutors said that based on the evidence they couldn’t establish “intentional control” of the weapons, which is required under Florida law to convict on the charge.
According to the April arrest report, the rented SUV Bullard was riding in was pulled over around 8:30 p.m. after the driver failed to slow or stop at a four-way intersection. Officers stopped the SUV not far from Angie’s Subs and the driver was quickly arrested on a charge of driving without a valid license.
The officer then learned that the driver and passenger were documented gang members and since there were a total of six passengers inside the SUV, the officer called for backup.
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Officers said when they searched the black Chevrolet Suburban, they found seven loaded and chambered guns inside.
One officer said they saw a black rifle in plain view on the floorboard and a blue bag on the second-row floorboard was also seen with a Draco pistol and black handgun within reach of Bullard, who was the back middle passenger.
Bullard and the other occupants were then detained.
In the report, police said Bullard had “constructive possession” of three handguns and he was arrested and taken to the Duval County Jail. One of the semi-automatic guns was loaded with armor-piercing rounds, according to the report.
According to the State Attorney’s Office disposition statement, Bullard did not make any incriminating statements and there wasn’t enough DNA on the firearms to test. Prosecutors said the driver posted a YouTube video claiming the firearms “were possessed by the other occupants of the vehicle.”
Based on those facts, the SAO dropped the charge against Bullard.
Bullard is one of Jacksonville’s most notorious rappers and is known in part for surviving being shot eight times in 2018. His brother and two other men died in the shooting near the St. Johns Town Center and Bullard was the only survivor.
The following year, after he performed at a rap concert in Waycross, Georgia, his group was ambushed and another man was killed.
According to reports, Bullard has been living in Houston for the past few years.
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Bullard has been associated with the Robinson family and the alleged violent drug gang ATK.
Other alleged members of ATK, brothers Hakim Robinson -- known as rapper Ksoo -- and Abdul Robinson Jr., are awaiting trial in murder cases. Their father, Abdul Robinson Sr., the alleged leader of ATK, has pleaded guilty to being an accessory and agreed to testify against his sons.
