American Idol 6 alum Antonella Barba will be sentenced in court on Thursday Nov 21. Ahead of her court date, family and friends filed letters of support for Antonella, who pled guilty on July 30 to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl.
Antonella’s supporters, basically blame her downfall on American Idol. From NJ.Com
Barba’s supporters claim the “American Idol” appearance “brought about a detrimental change” in the young woman’s life.
Her sudden move to Hollywood following her “American Idol” fame, “was a recipe for disaster,” her friend K.J. wrote in a letter to the court. When Barba was unable “to achieve the results she wanted, it was devastating to her,” K.J. wrote.
Likewise, Barba’s mother wrote that when “American Idol” happened, “the world intruded and interrupted (Barba’s) dream of a career in architecture. (This is) where it all went wrong.”
After her arrest, Barba was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, according to her attorneys.
“This, coupled with pressures from people looking to take advantage and the lack of her family’s guidance (while in Hollywood), led Ms. Barba to make extremely poor choices,” [her attorney, James O. Broccoletti wrote].
Currently, Antonella is in jail, awaiting her sentence. She faces 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. A presentence investigation report recommends she serve 4.75 to nearly 6 years in prison. Her attorneys are asking for a than 3.8 year sentence.
Her attorneys insist that Antonella had no idea what she was doing. “Ms. Barba had very little if any insight into the scope and structure of this (drug) conspiracy,” Broccoletti wrote in an objection to the pre-sentence report, which was prepared by a probation department.
“In fact, prior to receiving the package, she did not know the type of substance or the quantity she was to deliver,” Broccoletti wrote.
In a response to Broccoletti’s objection, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger wrote that the facts of the case do not support a reduced sentence.
“(Barba’s) conduct – flying across the country, renting a car, receiving a shoebox full of drugs, and transporting said drugs approximately 190 miles to Norfolk – was both material and essential to the commission of the offense,” Terwilliger wrote.
