Philadelphia influencer ‘Meatball’ sentenced to 5 years probation for livestreaming looting mayhem
A Philadelphia influencer known as “Meatball” dodged jail time Thursday for live-streaming rabid looters who raided several stores across the city during protests last September.
The 22-year-old influencer, whose real name is Dayjia Blackwell, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service on Thursday.
Blackwell was originally charged with six felonies including burglary, criminal trespassing, conspiracy, criminal mischief, riot with the intent to commit a felony and criminal use of a communication facility.
She entered guilty pleas for two of the charges — riot with the intent to commit a felony and criminal use of a communication facility, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia.
Along with the probation, Blackwell must also pay a $10,000 fine.
During her court appearance, Judge Zachary C. Shaffer asked Blackwell what the writing on her necklace read.
“Baddies,” Blackwell responded, a nod to the reality show “Baddies Caribbean” which she has made an appearance on in its current season, according to the outlet.
Shaffer jokingly said he hoped to see Blackwell wearing a “Goodies” necklace.
Following the hearing, Blackwell joked about the necklace conversation and thanked supporters outside of the courthouse before calling the sentencing a “set up.”
“Never coming back to this place again,” Blackwell said on Instagram. “I just want to take the time to thank my lawyers and my supporters. If it wasn’t for ya’ll or my lawyer, I would probably be gone. And thanks to my mother for sticking by my side.
Blackwell recorded herself laughing, clapping and shouting “Let’s go! as she watched suspected looters fleeing while she was driven across Center City during the lootings on Sept. 26
Later in the evening, Blackwell was on foot as she followed the looters into stores.
“Tell the police they’re either gonna lock me up tonight, or it’s gonna get lit, it’s gonna be a movie,” she said at one point in her videos.
Blackwell’s excitement soon diminished as police booked the teary-eyed influencer into jail.
Blackwell, who has 962,000 followers on Instagram, still uses the mugshot as her profile picture on her Instagram account.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Blackwell’s social media following quintupled since her arrest.
Philadelphia police department credited Blackwell’s social media posts for helping officers track down where the looting was taking place.
The mass rampage struck several businesses including Lululemon, Apple, Foot Locker, and a liquor store.
“Free iPhones! Free iPhones,” Blackwell yelled out.
The mass lootings took place hours after a demonstration was held in the city following a judge’s decision to dismiss the charges against Mark Dial, a police officer who fatally shot Eddie Irizarry.
Then Interim Chief of Police John Stanford said the lootings were executed by “opportunists” who took advantage of the anger over the decision in the Irizarry case.
“This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city,” Blackwell was heard screaming in one video.
