Indie Grits headliner Big Freedia charged with stealing government funds

Big Freedia, the Queen of Bounce, has been charged with theft of government funds in the artist’s hometown of New Orleans.

On Tuesday, the hip-hop singer, whose real name is Freddie Ross Jr., was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with lying about his income to get subsidized housing through a Section 8 voucher each year from 2010 to 2014, according to local media outlets.

Big Freedia is the headliner for the Indie Grits festival river concert on April 16.

If found guilty, Big Freedia could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

His initial appearance in federal court is set for March 16. (Big Freedia uses feminine pronouns as self-descriptors, but the charges refer to the artist as “he”.)

“It was an oversight – but one that I take full responsibility for. From the moment I was contacted by Government agents, I have fully cooperated and have already begun making arrangements to pay full restitution (of approximately $34,000),” Big Freedia said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.

Kristin Morris, director of marketing for Nickelodeon Theatre, which hosts Indie Grits, said the charges are not cause for concern.

“We’re moving forward with promoting the show as is with its existing billing. We haven’t been given any indication that we shouldn’t plan on having Big Freedia perform,” she said.

Big Freedia is the headlining act for an all-day music festival on April 16, where six bands will also be performing. The festival is April 14-17.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Indie Grits headliner Big Freedia charged with stealing government funds."