Nine months after American Idol standout Antonella Barba was arrested trying to deliver nearly two pounds of fentanyl, the singer pleaded guilty to 10 counts of possession Tuesday (July 31), according to People.
Barba, who made it to the top 16 on American Idol season 6, faces 10 years to life behind bars. The plea deal follows her indictment on 11 charges, including one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine, heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute and 10 counts of distribution or possession of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
In October, the New Jersey native was parked in a rental car in Norfolk, Virginia, when she was approached by law enforcement acting on a tip. “A dog handler screened Barba’s rental vehicle with a drug dog, which alerted on the vehicle,” according to a statement received by People. “The canine officer searched Barba’s rental vehicle and discovered a closed shoebox in plain view on the front passenger floorboard.”
In the shoebox was “a large quantity of a white, rock-like substance,” which was later determined to be fentanyl. Barba’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for late November.