Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Mendeecees Harris, a prominent figure from the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess illegal narcotics.1
The charge stemmed from his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that spanned seven years, moving significant quantities of cocaine and heroin from New York City to upstate New York.2
The consequences of his plea included a federal prison sentence of 97 months (approximately eight years), the forfeiture of significant assets valued at over $280,000, and a period of supervised release upon completion of his custodial term.4
Harris ultimately served approximately four years of his sentence before being released in January 2020, a reduction attributable to credits for time previously served and his participation in federal rehabilitation programs.5
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the criminal case, from the scope of the conspiracy to the legal strategies employed and the final resolution, offering a detailed examination of each stage of the federal justice process.
Section 1: Anatomy of a Federal Drug Conspiracy (2005-2012)
1.1 The Scope and Duration of the Criminal Enterprise
The federal case against Mendeecees Harris was not based on a single criminal act but on his prolonged participation in an organized drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to prosecutors and admissions made by Harris himself, the criminal enterprise was active for seven years, from 2005 until August 2012.1
This extended timeline was a critical factor in the government’s case, as it established a pattern of ongoing criminal conduct, elevating the severity of the offense far beyond a simple possession or one-time distribution charge.
The conspiracy had a clear geographic nexus that triggered federal jurisdiction.
Harris, a resident of the Bronx, NY, admitted to his role in a network that transported narcotics from New York City to be sold in Rochester, NY.2
This interstate element is a cornerstone of federal law enforcement authority, allowing agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to investigate and prosecute crimes that cross state lines.
The operation’s most intense period of activity, as specified in court documents, was between 2006 and 2008.4
1.2 The Nature and Scale of the Trafficked Narcotics
The substances at the center of the conspiracy were heroin and cocaine, two narcotics that carry severe penalties under federal law.1
The scale of the operation was substantial, positioning Harris as a significant figure in the drug trade, not a low-level dealer.
In his plea, Harris admitted that the conspiracy involved the distribution of at least 40 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin.2
These specific quantities are paramount to understanding the legal jeopardy Harris faced.
Under Title 21 of the U.S. Code, federal sentencing guidelines are heavily influenced by drug type and weight.
The amounts involved in Harris’s case far exceeded the thresholds for the most severe mandatory minimum sentences.
For instance, trafficking 5 kilograms or more of cocaine or 1 kilogram or more of heroin can trigger a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
By admitting to his role in a conspiracy that trafficked at least eight times the threshold for cocaine and met the threshold for heroin, Harris was exposed to a potential multi-decade prison sentence, a fact that would heavily influence all subsequent legal decisions.
1.3 The Conspiracy Network: Co-Defendants
The charge of “conspiracy” legally requires an agreement between two or more individuals to commit a crime.
The federal investigation identified several participants in the drug ring, including Harris’s younger brother, Tyrus Harris, and another co-defendant, Ronald Walker.9
Both men also pleaded guilty for their roles in the operation, which served to strengthen the government’s case against the entire network.
Walker was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, a sentence that provides context for the potential punishment Harris himself was facing and underscores the seriousness with which the court viewed the conspiracy.9
Section 2: The Federal Indictment and Plea
2.1 The Investigation and Indictment
The case against Harris was the result of a coordinated, multi-agency investigation.
The effort was led by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and investigators from the Rochester Police Department, who handled the primary narcotics investigation.
They were joined by Special Agents from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation Division, whose involvement indicates a financial component to the case, likely focused on tracing the proceeds of the drug sales and identifying assets for forfeiture.2
Following this extensive investigation, Harris was indicted on a federal charge of “conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine”.2
This charge reflected the government’s focus on both the illicit substances and the quantities that trigger significant mandatory minimum sentences under federal law.
2.2 The High-Stakes Decision: Pleading Guilty
Facing the full weight of the federal government’s evidence, Mendeecees Harris made a pivotal decision.
On April 21, 2015, he appeared before U.S. District Judge Frank P.
Geraci, Jr. and formally pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.2
This decision was made under immense legal pressure.
The statutory sentencing range for his offense was a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, in addition to a potential fine of up to $5,000,000.2
The prospect of spending up to four decades behind bars created a powerful incentive to negotiate with prosecutors rather than risk a trial.
A guilty verdict at trial, particularly given the guilty pleas of his co-conspirators, could have easily resulted in a sentence far harsher than one achieved through a plea agreement.
2.3 The Plea Agreement: A Strategy for Damage Control
Harris’s guilty plea was not an unconditional surrender; it was a calculated legal strategy executed through a plea agreement.
In this binding contract with the prosecution, Harris admitted his guilt in exchange for a significantly reduced sentencing exposure.
Instead of the statutory maximum of 40 years, the plea deal established a new sentencing range with a maximum sentence of “just over 10 years” and a minimum of 97 months.1
This agreement effectively transformed the case from a high-risk gamble against a life-altering sentence into a managed outcome with a predictable, though still severe, punishment.
During the period between his guilty plea and his sentencing, Harris was free on a $600,000 bail package.9
This freedom allowed him to continue his public life, including his role on
Love & Hip Hop.
In a surreal juxtaposition of his legal troubles and celebrity life, his wedding to fellow cast member Yandy Smith was televised live on VH1 in May 2015, just a month after his guilty plea and while he awaited sentencing for his role in a major drug conspiracy.3
Section 3: The Scales of Justice: Sentencing and Mitigation
3.1 The Sentencing Hearing: December 1, 2015
On December 1, 2015, Mendeecees Harris, then 37, appeared for his final sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P.
Geraci, Jr. The judge imposed a sentence of 97 months (eight years and one month) in federal prison.4
News reports widely cited the sentence as eight years, as it was the closest round number.1
Crucially, this 97-month term represented the lowest possible sentence allowed under the terms of his plea agreement.1
The plea bargain had established a sentencing floor of 97 months and a ceiling of just over 10 years.
The judge’s decision to impose the absolute minimum sentence within that negotiated range suggests that factors presented by the defense were persuasive.
3.2 Mitigating Factors: The Role of Public Persona
A key element in securing the most lenient sentence possible was the defense’s strategic use of Harris’s public profile.
Typically, a celebrity’s glamorous lifestyle could be used by prosecutors to argue that the defendant has not learned from their mistakes.
However, Harris’s legal team, led by attorney Donald Thompson, successfully inverted this narrative.
Thompson stated that the judge “recognized the work Harris has been doing since his arrest to deter young people from drug trafficking”.1
Since his arrest, Harris had publicly spoken to “kids who are coming up in difficult situations” about the dangers of crime and the importance of making positive life choices.7
The defense team argued that his fame, which made him a recognizable figure to at-risk youth, gave him a unique and powerful platform to deliver an anti-crime message.
This demonstrated a level of remorse and a commitment to rehabilitation that went beyond what a non-famous defendant could offer.
This sophisticated legal maneuver, which turned a potential liability into a mitigating factor, likely played a significant role in persuading the judge to grant the lowest sentence permissible under the binding plea agreement.
Section 4: The Financial Reckoning: Unprecedented Asset Forfeiture
4.1 The Principle of Asset Forfeiture
In addition to his prison sentence, Harris faced severe financial penalties through the legal process of asset forfeiture.
This federal tool allows the government to seize assets that are determined to be the proceeds of criminal activity or were used to facilitate a crime.
The goal is to strip offenders of their ill-gotten gains and disrupt the financial infrastructure of criminal enterprises.
4.2 Forfeiture of “Substitute Assets”: The TV Income
The most notable aspect of Harris’s punishment was the forfeiture of his legitimate earnings from his reality television career.
He was ordered to forfeit all income derived from his role on Love & Hip Hop: New York and other paid appearances made while he was out on bail.
The Department of Justice confirmed this amount to be $170,755.20, a figure often rounded to $171,000 in media reports.1
This was possible through the legal concept of “substitute assets”.2
Because the direct cash proceeds from the drug sales between 2005 and 2012 were likely spent or otherwise untraceable, prosecutors could not seize the original “dirty” money.
The substitute asset provision allows the government to instead seize any other legally-owned property of the defendant up to the value of the illicit profits.
In this case, Harris’s television income, though legally earned, was seized to satisfy the financial debt he owed from his criminal past.
This action sent a powerful message that future legitimate success cannot shield an individual from financial accountability for prior crimes.
4.3 Additional Forfeitures: The Luxury Vehicle
Beyond his television earnings, Harris was also required to forfeit a 2011 Audi R8 sports car, which was valued at $111,000.1
This high-value vehicle was targeted as a quintessential symbol of the lavish lifestyle funded by his criminal activities.
The combined forfeitures stripped Harris of assets totaling over $282,000.
Table 1: Summary of Forfeited Assets
| Asset Description | Type | Confirmed Value | Source(s) |
| Earnings from Love & Hip Hop and appearances | Cash | $170,755.20 | 4 |
| 2011 Audi R8 | Vehicle | $111,000.00 | 1 |
| Total Forfeiture | $281,755.20 |
Section 5: The Path to Release: Time Served and Rehabilitation
5.1 Incarceration and Time Served
Mendeecees Harris began serving his 97-month sentence in late 2015 and early 2016.6
He was officially released from federal prison on January 29, 2020, after serving approximately four years of his sentence.5
While this may appear to be a significant reduction, it was the result of standard, predictable mechanisms within the federal prison system rather than any special treatment.
5.2 Factors in Early Release
Several factors contributed to the difference between his sentence and the actual time he was incarcerated.
First, he was given credit for 15 months that he had already served in custody before being granted bail.5
This practice, known as credit for time served, is a standard component of sentencing calculations.
Second, and most significantly, Harris actively participated in rehabilitative programs offered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
He successfully completed a substance abuse program, which can reduce a federal inmate’s sentence by up to one year.6
In addition to this, he took courses in parenting, financial management, health, and nutrition.6
His early release was therefore not arbitrary but was earned through his engagement with the very programs designed to incentivize rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.
It is also worth noting that Harris did appeal his sentence, but the Appellate Court upheld the original judgment, confirming that his sentence reduction came from programmatic credits, not a legal victory.5
5.3 Post-Release Supervision
Harris’s release from prison did not mark the end of his federal sentence.
He was transferred from the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, to the oversight of the Residential Reentry Management Office in New York.11
This meant he was required to complete the remainder of his sentence—up to nine months—in a transitional setting such as a halfway house, under house arrest, or a combination of both.
This phase of supervised reentry is a standard procedure designed to help federal inmates reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
Conclusion: The Intersection of Celebrity and Federal Justice
The imprisonment of Mendeecees Harris was the direct and unavoidable legal consequence of his admitted leadership role in a major, long-term drug trafficking conspiracy.
His case serves as a compelling modern case study on the mechanics of the federal criminal justice system, illustrating the strategic realities of plea bargaining, the formidable power of asset forfeiture laws, and the structured processes of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The narrative is uniquely shaped by the double-edged sword of his celebrity.
His fame and public profile made him a high-value target for a multi-agency federal investigation and led to the novel forfeiture of his television income—a stark warning that legitimate earnings are not immune from seizure as “substitute assets” for past crimes.
Simultaneously, his legal team skillfully leveraged that same fame as a mitigating factor at sentencing, framing his public outreach as a unique form of rehabilitation that helped secure the most lenient sentence possible under his plea agreement.
Ultimately, the story of United States v.
Harris is not merely about a reality television star who went to jail; it is a detailed illustration of the federal justice system in action, where guilt, negotiation, and public perception converge to determine a man’s fate.12
Works cited
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- Western District of New York | Major Cocaine And Heroin Trafficker …, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/major-cocaine-and-heroin-trafficker-pleads-guilty-agrees-forfeit-love-and-hip-hop
- ‘Love & Hip Hop’ star sentenced to 8 years in prison – AP News, accessed August 12, 2025, https://apnews.com/television-c5c4bb68494d4884ab276dc8b77f1d20
- Western District of New York | Love And Hip Hop Star Sentenced On …, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/love-and-hip-hop-star-sentenced-cocaine-and-heroin-trafficking-charges-forfeits-income
- ‘L&HH’ Star Mendeecees Harris Released From Prison After 4 Years …, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-01-29-lhh-star-mendeecees-harris-released-from-prison-after-4-years/
- Mendeecees Harris reportedly released from prison – Revolt TV, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-01-29/81619/mendeecees-harris-reportedly-released-from-prison
- ‘Love & Hip Hop’ star sentenced to 8 years in prison – Chron, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.chron.com/culture/main/article/Love-Hip-Hop-star-sentenced-to-8-years-in-6668663.php
- ‘L&HH’ Star Mendeecees Harris Released From Prison After 4 Years | 97.9 is The BIG 98, accessed August 12, 2025, https://thebig98.iheart.com/content/2020-01-29-lhh-star-mendeecees-harris-released-from-prison-after-4-years/
- Love & Hip Hop: New York ‘s Mendeecees Harris Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking – BET, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.bet.com/article/wjag75/mendeecees-harris-pleads-guilty-to-drug-trafficking
- ‘Love & Hip-Hop’ Star Mendeecees Harris Released From Prison After Four Years – Essence, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.essence.com/celebrity/mendeecees-harris-released/
- Mendeecees Harris Ordered To Serve 9 Months In Halfway House Or Be On House Arrest, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.bet.com/article/p3dww4/mendeecees-harris-ordered-to-serve-9-months-in-halfway-house
- Why Did Mendeecee Go To Jail? – CountyOffice.org – YouTube, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6KqebZkZEk
- Mendeecees’ Drug Dealing Past, Putting Mom Up For Collateral & Son Almost Kidnapped | EP. 77 – YouTube, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RslpYSBQxoM
