Antonio Brown Faces Serious Charges
Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown might face a prison sentence of up to 30 years if convicted of attempted murder, as announced by prosecutors on Monday. This stems from allegations that he used a firearm in the incident.
During a short video hearing in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Brown’s attorney, Mark Eiglash, confirmed that his client had already pleaded not guilty. Brown was released last week on a $25,000 bail but is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
In Florida, attempted murder charges can typically result in a sentence of 15 years. However, Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Cruz mentioned that, due to the alleged use of a firearm, Brown’s sentence could be considerably increased, potentially doubling the time he might serve. There’s even a minimum sentence of 20 years if he’s found guilty.
Brown, who is 37 years old, didn’t say anything during the hearing, and Judge Marisa Tinkler-Mendez tentatively set a status hearing for December 22. As of now, no trial date has been established.
The incident reportedly took place after a celebrity boxing event in Miami on May 16. Brown is accused of taking a gun from a security guard and shooting at a man, Zulu Karnain Kwame Nantambu, with whom he had previously clashed. Nantambu stated that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
At a prior hearing, Eiglash contended that the affidavit was inaccurate, asserting that Brown was using his own weapon and that no shots were directed at anyone. Brown claimed on social media that he was acting in self-defense against an attack while others attempted to rob him of jewelry.
Brown’s NFL career spanned 12 years, during which he became an All-Pro wide receiver and even won a Super Bowl with quarterback Tom Brady. His last professional game was with Tampa Bay in 2021, but much of his career was spent in Pittsburgh. He concluded with a total of 928 receptions, over 12,000 yards, and 88 touchdowns, which included a punt return and a passing touchdown.
Last week, Brown was extradited from Dubai, where he held business interests, following a warrant issued for his arrest related to the attempted murder charges in June.
