Infamous ‘looter’ and social media influencer Meatball learns her fate in a Philadelphia courtroom after she livestreamed mayhem last year
- Dajiya Blackwell has been sentenced to five years’ probation
A Philadelphia influencer who livestreamed a looting raid in the city last year has been sentenced to five years of probation and more than 100 hours of community service, but avoids prison.
Dajiya Blackwell, also known as Meatball on social media, 22, was charged with burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespass, riot, criminal mischief, criminal use of a communications device, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct after widespread looting in Philadelphia in October.
The looting began after a judge dismissed all charges against a former police officer who shot and killed Eddie Irizarry, a 27-year-old man arrested for “erratic driving.”
Blackwell had livestreamed the looting and asked her Instagram followers to join her as she ran down the street.
Blackwell will complete 150 hours of community service, pay $10,000 and serve probation as part of her sentencing.
Dayjia Blackwell beamed on her Instagram Story on Thursday after avoiding jail time during a court hearing
Blackwell thanked her legal team and supporters on Instagram after avoiding jail time. She was sentenced to five years’ probation and 100 hours of community service
Mugshot of Blackwell, who was arrested in October for participating in a looting in Philadelphia and encouraging her Instagram followers to join in. She has now been sentenced to five years’ probation and more than 100 hours of community service, but has managed to avoid prison
The influencer, who has almost 100,000 followers on Instagram, took to social media to celebrate her conviction.
In one clip she can be seen smiling and laughing as she says: ‘Never going back to this place!’.
She also shared an anecdote about her court appearance, saying the judge asked her what was written on her necklace.
“Baddies,” Blackwell replied, but then laughed and said, “we need to change that and keep it saying ‘goodies’, okay?”.
In a separate slide, she said, “I just want to take this time to thank my attorney and my supporters… if it wasn’t for you guys, I would probably be gone.”
In the heat of the riot, Blackwell turned to her 181,000 Instagram followers and filmed a crowd looting all the name-brand stores before heading to a liquor store where she herself bragged about grabbing a bottle of Hennessy.
Pictured: Blackwell is arrested after being found by police during the October 2023 looting in Philadelphia
Jessica Mann, Blackwell’s attorney, defended her client, saying the decision to livestream was “nothing more than capturing the raw reality of public outrage.”
Following her arrest in October, Blackwell – who was released on $25,000 bail – had brazenly begged her fans to pay for a lawyer and urged people to buy her brand clothes and hats.
Her attorney, Jessica Mann, denounced the backlash Blackwell received, writing on social media: “It sickens me to witness the media’s complicity in what can only be described as an all-out attack on black and brown people, as their character and actions mercilessly slandered.”
Mann also criticized the media for posting her mugshot with “tears streaming down her face and her hair a mess.”
However, Blackwell uploaded her mugshot as her profile picture on social media.