‘American Idol’ Singer Sentenced For Drug Trafficking and Blames The Show For It
Fox Former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba is back in the news, and it’s not for something good. According to Radar Online, Antonella was recently sentenced to 45 months in jail on drug trafficking charges.
Antonella’s attorney and mother have also claimed that her experience on the show is to blame for her crimes. Read on to find out more about Antonella, including her history on American Idol.
Who Is ‘American Idol’ Alum Antonella Barba?
Antonella competed on Season 6 of American Idol in 2007. She auditioned with a friend, and although they both received golden tickets to Hollywood, the judges told Antonella she had a better voice.
She made it to the Top 16 before being eliminated. During the show, partially nude photographs of her were leaked, but she was not removed from the competition over it.
According to Radar, Antonella was arrested in October 2018 in Virginia “for allegedly trying to distribute 100g of heroin.” In February of this year, she was charged with “conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, one kilogram or more of heroin, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.”
In July, Antonella also pleaded guilty to the charge of “possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.”
Antonella’s Mom Blames The Show
The 32-year-old’s attorney reportedly argued that Antonella acted as a “delivery person,” with “limited” criminal activity. He also claimed that her time on American Idol “brought about a detrimental change” in her life, aiming to reduce her sentence from the 71-month maximum to no more than 3.8 years.
According to Radar, Antonella’s mother wrote in a letter of support that “the world intruded and interrupted her dream of a career in architecture,” and that her joining the show was “where it all went wrong.” Her mother also said Antonella was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.
Other supportive letters reportedly argued that Antonella’s “sudden move to Hollywood” was a “recipe for disaster,” and that her loss on the show was “devastating” to her.
Before her sentencing, Antonella was initially under home detention with her father. However, he reportedly “wished to resign from his role as third party custodian,” and she was placed in prison in September.
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