Grammy-nominated singer Akon (born Aliaune Thiam) was arrested on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in the Atlanta suburbs after law-enforcement discovered he had failed to appear in court on a ticket stemming from driving on a suspended license, according to police and court records.
The circumstances
The arrest traces back to an incident on Sept. 10, when Roswell Police in Georgia found Akon’s Tesla Cybertruck stranded on Holcomb Bridge Road with a dead battery. While waiting for a tow truck, officers discovered the vehicle had no valid insurance on file and that his driver’s license had been suspended since Jan. 2, 2023, due to a missed court appearance. He was cited at the scene for driving with a suspended license and lacking proof of insurance.
Because he later failed to appear in court on that citation, a bench warrant was issued. On Nov. 7, Chamblee Police responded to a Flock camera alert for the white Cybertruck at a Tint World business. They confirmed the vehicle was registered to Akon, at which point he was arrested without incident.
Booking and release
Akon was booked into the DeKalb County Jail (and later transferred to the Smyrna City Jail) and was released the same day on bail. No new charges beyond the outstanding warrant for failing to appear have been publicly announced at this time.
Possible consequences
While the immediate legal matter centers on the missed court appearance and the suspended license, driving without a valid license and valid insurance can carry additional penalties under Georgia law. If the court finds the failure to appear was willful or part of a pattern, the sanctions could escalate.
A representative for Akon has characterized the matter as a “clerical issue,” stating that the matter of the license suspension has been resolved but not properly entered into the system, with a court hearing expected in December.
Context & background
Akon, now 52, rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits such as “Locked Up,” “Lonely,” “Smack That,” and “I Wanna Love You.” He has also been active in philanthropy, particularly in Africa, and has invested in ventures including a planned “Akon City” in Senegal.
This incident adds to past legal issues; notably, Akon was previously convicted of a gun possession felony in New Jersey and has had other run-ins with the law.
What comes next
A hearing will likely be scheduled to address the bench warrant and the underlying citation for the suspended license. While the arrest appears to have been brief and limited to the administrative warrant, the public nature of the incident may carry reputational implications for the artist, especially as he continues to tour internationally.
