Drugs & Alcohol

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has some refreshing thoughts on the highest office in the land ... she has no issues with a sitting President lighting up.

We got AOC Tuesday afternoon on Capitol Hill, and the instantly powerful Congresswoman made it clear ... if you don't have a problem with your Prez enjoying a drink, you should feel the same way about weed.

AOC knows a thing or two about liquor ... she's a former bartender. And, AOC is a strong supporter of the legalization of marijuana.

Ganja has been a political hot potato for years, with politicians sidestepping questions about smoking.

2020 Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris made fun of Bill Clinton's famous line about not inhaling when she was on "The Breakfast Club" this week, acknowledging she's partaken in the past ... then quickly adding, it was a long, long time ago. The message ... don't worry, she doesn't smoke.

Seems politicians are still afraid of losing voters over sativa stigmas ... but not AOC!!!

11:35 AM PT -- The sketch artist in the courtroom caught the moment El Chapo and his wife exchanged thumbs-up after the verdict was announced.

Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is guilty on all 10 counts he was facing in a Brooklyn federal court ... and he's now facing life in prison.

A jury of 7 women and 5 men returned the verdict Tuesday to wrap up a nearly 3-month long criminal trial that included up to 200 hours of testimony about drug trafficking, gold-plated AK-47s, diamond-encrusted pistols ... and an alleged $100 million payment to a former Mexican president.

After 6 days of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Chapo for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to launder narcotics proceeds, international distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other drugs and use of firearms.

Reporters in the courtroom say Chapo looks stunned by the verdict, and his wife, Emma Coronel, fought back tears ... even as she and Chapo gave each other thumbs up.

It's been a wild ride for the Sinaloa Cartel's leader over these past few years. He was captured by the Mexican government in 2014, escaped more than a year later through a mile-long underground tunnel ... but got caught again in early 2016.

He was extradited to the U.S. in 2017, and between then and last November -- when his criminal trial got underway -- there have been a series of weird motions and rulings about his life behind bars. Just to name a few, Chapo has had prison TV woes, prayer problems, love letter recommendations and made a heartfelt promise NOT to kill his anonymous jurors.

Law enforcement sources tell us Chapo is looking at a mandatory life sentence ... without parole. Sentencing will be announced June 25.

Chapo's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman -- who's in the unenviable position of losing the case -- tells us, "We're very disappointed but we fought like hell and left it all on the battlefield."

Notre Dame wide receiver Javon McKinley was arrested Sunday morning after cops say he drunkenly tried to fight TWO officers, one of whom is a woman ... according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

McKinley was a STUD coming out of high school a few years back -- where he shattered many California single-season records. He had 91 catches for 1,906 and 20 TDs as a junior!

But, the 20-year-old is now in major hot water after cops say he battered 2 officers in a drunken attack.

According to court records, Notre Dame University Police officers were dispatched to help out a male who had passed out in the back of an Uber at 3:50 AM.

The officers identified the man as McKinley and tried to help him to his dorm -- noting he reeked of booze.

But, cops say during the walk to his room, McKinley freaked out, punched a male and a female officer and tried to flee.

Cops eventually located McKinley and took him into custody with the help of ND firefighters.

Both officers claim McKinley injured them when he punched them.

Now, McKinley is facing 3 charges -- 2 counts of misdemeanor battery and 1 count of misdemeanor underage drinking.

He's due in court Tuesday to be arraigned.

Brandon Moore -- the man who created the viral "what are those" meme -- died after a night of ingesting a bunch of drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Contra Costa County Coroner's report ... the exact cause of death was polypharmacy -- meaning he died as a result of ingesting multiple drugs. The coroner says Moore's blood tested positive for cocaine, morphine, codeine, methamphetamines and ecstasy.

What's more ... the report says Moore's wife, Noonie, told authorities he drank and possibly ingested cocaine the night before he was found dead. According to the report, there's no evidence to suggest Moore ingested the drugs with the intent to harm himself ... and lists the death as an accidental overdose.

As we reported ... Brandon's wife told us his heart stopped while he was sleeping in their Northern California home ... and now we know why.

The internet comedian, known as Young Busco, made a huge splash in 2015 after mocking a police officer's shoes as a joke. You'll recall, while his friend was being arrested, Brandon joked about the cop's clunky boots, saying, "What are those?"

The meme caught fire online ... and the catchphrase even appeared in "Black Panther." Michael Jordan was also jokingly asked, "What are those?" during a Q&A session at a basketball camp.

Brandon, who was a father of 9, was 31.

Lamar Odom is joining a TON of big athletes getting into the green industry -- he's launching his own line of CBD vape pens, TMZ Sports has learned.

The ex-NBA star credits marijuana and CBD for helping him recover from the 12 strokes and 6 heart attacks he suffered after his 2015 drug overdose in Nevada ... and feels other people can benefit too.

Hence the new Odom pen.

The marijuana/hemp biz is becoming hugely popular with celebrity investors -- big stars like Joe Montana, Al Harrington and Mike Tyson are making big moves in the space.

Odom clearly sees real opportunity and we're told he's already getting solid feedback resulting in huge pre-orders.

Christina Milian's in for a stern talking-to over her role in an alleged scuffle with a bar bouncer, but she's off the hook for criminal charges ... TMZ has learned.

The L.A. City Attorney's Office tells us ... it reviewed the case and decided not to bring charges against the actress, who allegedly got caught up in an altercation in October at the Figueroa Hotel downtown.

Instead, the City Attorney has scheduled an informal meeting with Milian to discuss the incident and ways she can avoid similar issues in the future. Call it a verbal slap on the wrist.

We broke the story ... a fight broke out at the hotel bar after a bouncer blocked Christina from getting in, and one witness claimed she threw a drink. Her camp denied she threw anything and said the bouncer actually got physical with one of her friends.

Luann de Lesseps is getting a wake-up call from her probation officer, because the PO says she's not keeping up with the terms of her probation from her drunken arrest case ... TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Luann is failing to prove she's been attending the required 2 AA meetings per week ... and she's not complying with taking random sobriety tests.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star is not being punished for blowing off parts of her probation, but she's essentially being told to get it together, or else. In the docs, her PO says she's been under supervision for 6 months and has failed to comply with the conditions.

As we reported ... Luann is on probation after striking a sweet plea deal. She has to knock out 50 hours of community service by August 28 ... and, according to the docs, she's halfway through, having completed 25 hours.

As we reported, Luann was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2017 for attacking police during her bust. There's video of Luann telling a cop she'd kill him if he kept touching her.

4:00 PM PT -- Beers wasn't Gronk's only enemy at the parade ... TMZ Sports has video of the tight end trying to catch a football with his face ... and it didn't work out well.

Rob Gronkowski paid the price for partying at the Patriots' parade Tuesday ... WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE!!!

The tight end says while he was celebrating New England's Super Bowl title ... some people tossed a bunch of booze at his duck boat -- and a full beer can caught him near his eye!!!

Gronk -- who was speaking with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday's 'The Tonight Show' -- says the aftermath wasn't pretty ... "I was bleeding all over on the parade on the duck boat."

In fact, the beer shot rattled the dude so much ... Rob says his dad had to step in to block other flying objects while his son recovered!!!

Good news for Gronk and Pats fans ... he says he's fine now -- nothing but a scratch.

Flying beer cans at Boston parades have struck before ... remember when the Red Sox World Series trophy was damaged by a rogue Bud Light????

As for the hits Gronk took during the Super Bowl -- Rob seemed more concerned about those ... saying he actually had to cancel his initial appearance on Fallon 'cause he was so banged up.

Justin Bieber says he was celibate for a year before getting back together and eventually marrying Hailey Baldwin -- and it sounds like he did it (or didn't do it) for the man upstairs.

The Biebers are featured in a new interview with Vogue, where JB revealed that he'd decided to keep it in his pants for a full 365 days prior to reconnecting with his ex last year as a way of "feeling closer to God." He says he thought it would be a good way of bettering the condition of his soul ... and thinks God rewarded him with Hailey as a result.

Even when they got back together, Justin says they refrained from sex until officially tying the knot in September during their NYC courthouse visit.

Bieber also says he had a "legitimate problem with sex" ... citing it as his remaining vice that didn't provide pleasure anymore. Speaking of vices, Justin also says he abused Xanax in his youth, adding ... "Drugs put a screen between me and what I was doing" -- namely, his promiscuity. He also says his security would sometimes check his pulse at night to see if he was still breathing.

Welp, the Biebers are legally hitched now -- so it's safe to assume they've been busy between the sheets. They say one of their motivations in getting married last September was because of a desire to have sex.

Vince Young says he's taking "full responsibility" for his drunk driving arrest this week -- and it sounds like he's about to check into rehab to clean himself up.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the former NFL star was arrested around 4 AM in Fort Bend County, Texas early Monday morning. It's the 2nd time the 35-year-old quarterback has been arrested for drunk driving.

Young broke his silence on the situation Wednesday night -- saying, "I deeply apologize for letting my family, my friends and my fans down.

"With the help of God and my loved ones, I am going to take aggressive actions to make sure this never happens again. I take full responsibility for my actions."

While he didn't specifically say "rehab" -- seems that (or some kind of alcohol treatment) is the plan here.

3:30 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained the mug shot from Young's DWI arrest.

Vince Young was arrested for DWI in Texas on Monday morning ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to police records, the 35-year-old ex-NFL quarterback was busted in Fort Bend County.

One source familiar with the case tells us Young was pulled over around 4 AM. Records show he was booked into Fort Bend County Jail but posted bond and was released.

We've reached out to Young's camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

It's not the first time Young has been busted for drunk driving -- back in 2016, the former University of Texas star was arrested for DUI after cops say he was driving dangerously in Austin.

Young pled no contest in his 2016 case and was sentenced to 18 months probation. He later apologized to his fans and said he "understood the seriousness of the situation."

TMZ Sports obtained the police footage from the 2016 arrest which shows Young refusing the field sobriety tests and getting frustrated with arresting officers ... at one point saying, "Are we going to jail or not?"

Young was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 3rd overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to win the NFL's Rookie of the Year award. He was a 2-time Pro Bowl selection and last played with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011.

Colin Kroll, the CEO and co-founder of HQ Trivia, died from an overdose of multiple drugs ... including fentanyl ... TMZ has learned.

The NYC Chief Medical Examiner tells TMZ ... Colin died from acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. They've ruled his death accidental.

We broke the story ... the HQ honcho died back in December, when cops found his body lying face down in his bedroom with drug paraphernalia nearby.

As we reported ... Kroll's GF told investigators she was with him the Friday night before he was found dead in his Manhattan apartment, and they were both doing drugs. His GF has not been charged in connection with his death.

Colin co-founded the popular mobile trivia game in 2017 and was elevated to CEO in 2018. Kroll was also the co-founder of Vine and was General Manager between 2013 and 2014. He previously worked for Twitter, Jetsetter and Yahoo.

Kroll was 34.

Fentanyl also played a role in the deaths of Tom Petty, Prince, Mac Miller and Lil Peep.

10:20 AM PT -- We now have the transcript of Tekashi's plea hearing from last week, and he opens up about how he got involved in the criminal activity, and does a lot of snitching.

In court, he says he joined the Nine Trey Bloods in the fall of 2017 and in March 20, 2018 ... he admits helping members of the gang attempt to kill a rival to "increase my own standing in Nine Trey." Then on April 3, he says he, and other members, robbed a rival at gunpoint.

He got into the Chief Keef shooting ... saying in court, "I paid a person to shoot at a rival member of Nine Trey to scare him. The shooting took place in Manhattan. I did this to maintain or increase my own standing in Nine Trey." He admits knowing a fellow gang member was the trigger man.

Tekashi also admitted to selling a kilo of heroin in 2017 -- and offered an apology for all his crimes, saying ... "I apologize to the Court, to anyone who was hurt, to my family, friends and fans for what I have done and who I have let down."

Based on what we know, Tekashi has struck a plea deal which will increase the likelihood of a significantly reduced sentence in return for ongoing cooperation. Although the minimum sentence is 47 years, the way it typically works is the prosecution will ask for significantly less ... which is his incentive to keep singing like a canary.

The problem Tekashi faces ... by agreeing to cooperate for the next year -- while the prosecution dangles the carrot of a light sentence -- he's increasing the possibility someone will try to silence him.

BTW, he did indeed plead guilty to ALL 9 counts -- there was a discrepancy in the documents.

Tekashi69 appears to be striking a deal with the feds -- he's pleading guilty to 9 counts ... TMZ has learned.

Tekashi entered the plea on January 23 ... pleading guilty to the federal indictment. He copped to multiple counts of racketeering, conspiracy, firearms offenses and narcotics trafficking.

The rapper was initially indicted back in November ... and had been facing the possibility of life in prison. It's unclear what sentence he'll face now after entering the guilty pleas.

According to federal docs just unsealed this week, and obtained by TMZ, 6ix9ine was involved in dealing heroin, fentanyl, ecstasy, amphetamines and marijuana.

The feds say the conspiracy consisted of multiple acts of murder, robbery and extortion.

In docs, the feds refer to video TMZ first posted of Tekashi boldly offering, on camera, a $30,000 bounty for someone to shoot Chief Keef's cousin. According to the feds, he "aided and abetted the shooting at rivals of Nine Trey [Bloods gang] at a hotel in Times Square."

As you know, someone opened fire on Keef and his cousin back in June, in Times Square, just days after Tekashi's offer.

The unsealing of Tekashi's plea came just one day after 3 of his associates were also indicted. We broke the story ... law enforcement sources tell us Tekashi dropped a dime on the alleged trigger man in the Keef shooting.

6ix9ine's sentencing is scheduled for January 24, 2020.

Bebe Rexha walks into a Mexican joint and buys 50 shots of tequila ... no joke. Just how she celebrates life with friends and strangers.

The pop singer did exactly that Thursday night when she and her crew sauntered into the very popular restaurant El Compadre on Sunset Blvd. and got the booze flowing.

We're told she bought around 50 shots for the crowd and gave an inspiring toast ... "You have one life, and we live the f**king good life." Giddy up. Check out the video ... Bebe's also downing what looks like a tasty Compadre margarita before busting out a quick dance.

Artie Lange is back in custody ... and his latest mug shot is very sad and disturbing.

The comedian was in court Wednesday in Essex County, New Jersey. We're told he was taken into custody after his hearing after testing positive for cocaine and morphine.

Law enforcement sources say the mark under Lange's nose is a scab that started to bleed.

The same day he was sent back to jail, someone managing Artie's Twitter account announced he would be undergoing a long term treatment program, adding ... "He loves and respects his fans... updates coming soon.. and it’s time."

We broke the story ... Lange pled guilty to heroin possession at the end of 2017 and went to an inpatient drug rehab program after he got out of jail. He was later sentenced to 4 years probation.

The judge also ordered him to complete an outpatient drug program and complete 50 hours of community service.

Lange's latest bust will likely result in a probation violation ... so he's looking at more tough times ahead.

Originally Published -- 10:22 AM PT

11:46 AM PT -- Artie's attorney, Frank Arleo, tells TMZ Artie was "taken into custody so that the Drug Court could re-evaluate him and recommend a course of treatment. Once that is done, he will be released. Artie is committed to getting better."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says the team was seriously committed to helping Josh Gordon beat his addiction issues ... but they realized real quick, the problems were way too serious.

Robert and his son, Jonathan (who's the president of the Patriots) spoke about the troubled WR on "Boston Sports Tonight" ... calling Gordon a "real good guy" with incredible potential.

The Patriots signed Gordon in Sept. knowing full well his history with substance abuse -- but figured they could give him a support system to overcome his demons.

27-year-old Gordon crushed it for the Pats until Dec. -- when he was suspended by the league after reportedly falling off the wagon, and failing another drug test.

"Unfortunately, people like that need mentoring at a young age," Robert said.

"But, when it becomes addiction, addiction is something that is way beyond our ... we gave him tremendous support on a daily basis, and he was worthy. But, I think we as a society have to try to help these young people not to get addicted in the first place."

"And, that's the sad part of this. He's a good guy -- a really good guy. It makes us sad."

Jonathan echoed his father's sentiments ... saying Gordon clicked with his teammates, had a great work ethic and could have been a key contributor in the playoffs -- if he could have stayed clean.

"This wasn't a troublemaker in the locker room," Jonathan said ... "Unfortunately, he had some personal demons."

"As a person and as a teammate, he was beloved in the locker room. And, I'm sure if you ask guys this week, they would tell you they wish he was here with us. He was not a guy that was disruptive or a problem."

Both Jonathan and Robert believe Gordon's issues run very deep -- and his story is a wake-up call about how to prevent addiction in the first place.

"He didn't grow up with any support system," Jonathan added ... "He saw other people doing it, and it gets back to the original way we grew up."

"And, that doesn't mean people don't get addicted from all walks of life -- but you get exposed to it in a whole different way when you come from where Josh Gordon came from. He is a very good kid."