Chicago rapper Davon D. Meeks, known as VonOff1700, was arrested last week in Maywood during a search warrant and charged with two felony gun counts, according to a July 27 announcement from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Meeks, 23, of Chicago, faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender, a Class X felony, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony. Court records list his next appearance for Aug. 12.
Authorities carried out the warrant while investigating an alleged video gaming machine burglary ring that, according to the attorney general’s office, stole more than $100,000 from machines in Cook, Will and Grundy counties between October 2025 and July 2026. Raoul’s office charged three other men—Devontay A. Brady, 30, of Maywood; Anthony T. Shorter, 23, of Bellwood; and Don E. Williams Jr., 20, of Chicago—in the theft case. Meeks faces no charges related to the burglaries.
The search took place on a Thursday in Maywood, the attorney general’s office said. Brady and Shorter are being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility with a court date of Aug. 13. A warrant remains outstanding for Williams.
The Illinois Gaming Board referred the investigation. Berwyn and Tinley Park police, along with other agencies, assisted in the multi-jurisdictional effort investigators called Operation Small Sledgehammer. Raoul stated the alleged thefts affected more than a dozen small businesses.
Meeks’ booking photo circulated widely online in late July. The image shows him without the glasses, beanie or ski mask that often appear in his public photos and videos. Online commenters remarked that he looked older or “chopped.”
On July 30, Meeks responded to the photo in Instagram Stories. “On mick I went to jail off 30 mins of sleep & a 10 of tris,” he wrote. “That’s what that look like wen u get woke up by windows being busted & yo name gettin yelled out a microphone by the police.” He added that he had just gotten a haircut and redone his tattoos, telling people to “stay out of my way.”
Later that day he posted a video from his car showing the new haircut and wrote, “I’m still free &I got seen.” He also said he planned to release a large amount of unreleased music.
Born April 22, 2003, Meeks emerged in Chicago’s drill scene with tracks such as “Opps On Deck” and the project #FreeMyHoodFuckYoHood. He signed with Signal Records, a Columbia Records imprint, in 2023. In prior interviews he has discussed earlier gun cases, including a 2021 charge that resulted in probation and a subsequent arrest after the probation period ended. He has described carrying a firearm in Chicago as a matter of survival.
Initial reports of the arrest circulated around July 24 through social media posts and a No Jumper clip in which an associate referenced the detention. Official confirmation came in Raoul’s July 27 release, which named Meeks and detailed the firearm charges tied to the Maywood warrant.
The attorney general’s office emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Meeks remains free pending his Aug. 12 appearance.
