The “Free JT” movement continues.
A judge has denied the City Girls star’s attempt to get out of prison early. According to The Blast, JT—whose real name is Jatavia Johnson—filed documents requesting to be released from a Tallahassee prison so she could be placed in a halfway house, arguing that she needs to get back to work.
As of July 12, 2019, she will have completed “15.6 months (12 months plus 3.6 months earned good time credit), thereby leaving 8.4 months of her sentence to be served.”
JT’s attorney has cited City Girls’ newfound fame and success for the reason behind her early release request. “They have grown an intense fan base and have developed relationships with the elite of the elite,” he said. “It is without hesitation that I can proffer that you will never hear from this Defendant regarding any type of crime, much less an economic one. Granting this recommendation will allow the Defendant to get back to the studio where she belongs.”
The judge came back and denied the motion. However, there’s still hope for an early release. The Bureau of Prisons will make the final call.
In June 2018, JT started serving a 24-month prison sentence for charges related to felony identity theft. She will have to complete one year of probation following her release.
“It’s gonna go by fast,” she told Rap-Up in one of her last interviews before checking herself in on June 29. “Nobody will probably even notice I’m gone like that…Well, they’ll notice I’m gone because I tweet a lot and they probably gon’ miss that.”
While JT remains behind bars, the Quality Control signees are enjoying success with their Girl Code single “Act Up,” which is currently No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the interim, the other half of the duo, Yung Miami, has collaborated with Cardi B (“Twerk”) and been featured in Drake’s “In My Feelings” video.