Former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba was sentenced on Thursday to 45 months in prison for drug trafficking.
The 32-year-old made it to the top 16 on the sixth season of American Idol as a teenager, way back in 2007, but after she was eliminated from the show her life spiraled out of control. Now, she’ll face nearly four years in federal prison as part of the plea deal she copped in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Barba first ran afoul of the law in this case when she was arrested at a home in Virginia back in October 2018. She was caught red-handed trying to deliver nearly two pounds of fentanyl to a dealer as part of a drug ring that had been operating in the area for about a year.
Back in August, she pled guilty to possessing and distributing fentanyl, and while she could have faced up to life in prison for the crime, her plea deal seriously lessened the punishment. Still, four years in jail is a mighty fall from grace for the once promising singer who was one of the early bright spots on Idol‘s sixth season.
‘She Did Not Collect Any Of The Proceeds’
Barba’s attorney, James Broccoletti, worked hard to make the case for his client over the past 12 months, arguing in newly-released court docs that she was simply the person asked to transport the shipment, and she had nothing to do with distributing it for resale.
According to The Blast, court docs reveal that Broccoletti tried to stress Barba’s limited involvement in the high-end drug ring, arguing (below):
“The extent of Ms. Barba’s involvement in this case is limited to delivering one shipment of drugs and that single instance forms the sum total of her relevant conduct. Ms. Barba had very little if any insight into the scope and structure of this conspiracy. In fact, prior to receiving the package, she did not know the type of substance or the quantity she was to deliver. Ms. Barba also did not participate in any of the planning or organization nor did she exercise any decision making authority. As indicated above, Ms. Barba’s conduct in this offense was limited to this single delivery. That was her sole responsibility; she picked up a package and transported it from one location to another.”
And the legal aid wasn’t done there, either.
He also highlighted Barba’s personality traits, seeking leniency for his client who, to hear him tell it, was just the innocent go-between working for more powerful people:
“Ms. Barba is resilient, deeply religious, selfless, and driven person; someone who could rightfully be called a perfectionist. Ms. Barba was told where to go, when to go, and what to do when she got there. She did not break down the contents of the package into smaller amounts for resale and she did not collect any proceeds. She had no pecuniary interest in the package and did not stand to benefit in any way by the sale of the narcotics. Ms. Barba was paid only to deliver the package.”
Well then.
Broccoletti had initially sought a sentence of 37 to 46 months as part of the plea deal, and it appears the judge in this case agreed.
Is ‘American Idol’ To Blame?!
The most interesting thing to come out of the court docs in this case is the jaw-dropping American Idol defense Barba’s team tried to make.
Per People, the docs note that “one of the common themes is that the American Idol experience brought about a detrimental change in Ms. Barba’s life,” with the reality TV reject’s own mother arguing her teenage daughter’s eventual dismissal from the show in the top 16 “was devastating to her,” and sent her down a bad path.
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In addition, the heartbroken mother continues, arguing her daughter’s abrupt move to Los Angeles after her time on Idol was “a recipe for disaster,” and eventually derailed her dreams by setting her up with the wrong crowd.
“The world intruded and interrupted her dream of a career in architecture,” the ex-singer’s family member claimed, “and that’s where it all went wrong.”
Wow…
What do U think, Perezcious readers?! Do U buy the American Idol defense?
[Image via Norfolk Sheriff’s Office/YouTube]
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