Rick Ross arrested on felony strangulation charge: How much prison time could he face?

Rapper Rick Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, has been arrested and charged with three counts of assault. The charges against him are two misdemeanors for allegedly assaulting a woman at his mansion in the Star Island area of Miami Beach on August 27, 2026. and a felony count of strangulation for allegedly choking the woman with her own hooded sweatshirt.

The woman told investigators that she got into a fight with Ross when he posted a photo of her on instagram. She then claimed that Ross slapped her and hit her several times during their altercation. At the end of the fight, she claims that Ross put both hands in her hooded sweatshirt and pulled tight so that she couldn't breathe.

Ross denies all of these allegations through his lawyer Bradley Horenstein. "All of the allegations made against Mr. Ross are completely false," Horenstein said in a statement, adding, "We ask that you refrain from jumping to conclusions until this matter has proceeded through the proper legal channels."

If convicted, each of the three charges carries its own potential penalties. Each misdemeanor battery charge can be punishable by up to one year in jail. The felony charge of battery by strangulation is considered a third degree felony, punishable by as much as 5 years in prison.

Additionally, under certain circumstances, a person convicted of committing an act of domestic violence while causing injury may be required to serve at least 10 days in jail.

Although Ross has entered a plea of Not Guilty, he has been released on bail. He is required to keep a safe distance from the woman who made the accusations, cannot make contact with her in any way and must turn in any weapons he owns. Ross is due back in court for his arraignment hearing on October 22, 2026.

According to CBS News, based on an arrest warrant filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk's Office, an investigation into the allegations against Ross began after a woman called Miami Beach Police Department early Tuesday morning.