LAMELO BALL'S PARTNER CHARGED OVER PRESCRIPTION DRUG CASE

Ana Montana, the partner of US basketball player LaMelo Ball, was arrested on Monday in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, according to booking records. Montana, whose legal name is Analicia Chaves, faces two felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or forgery and two misdemeanor counts of simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, the records show. She was held on a $20,000 bond in connection with the felony charges, according to the documents. The alleged conduct is said to date back to 21 February, while the warrant for her arrest was issued on 22 September, six days before she was taken into custody, the records state.

Chaves' attorney said the charges stem from a prescription written by a doctor who used a fraudulent Drug Enforcement Administration registration and National Provider Identifier number. The lawyer said the doctor prescribed Alprazolam for Chaves and that she used that prescription to obtain the medication from a pharmacy. The attorney said the possession counts relate to Chaves holding the Alprazolam after collecting it under that prescription, and maintained she was not involved in any independent scheme. Chaves and Ball were first linked in 2021, confirmed their relationship on Instagram in 2023, and became parents to a baby boy earlier this year. Chaves has worked as a model and influencer, appearing in publications including Smooth and Vibe.

Her attorney's account frames the case as resting on the doctor's conduct rather than any separate action by Chaves. Booking records confirm the matter is being processed by authorities in Mecklenburg County following Monday's arrest. No further court dates have been confirmed publicly. The felony and misdemeanor charges remain outstanding as the case proceeds through the North Carolina justice system. Chaves' legal team has indicated it intends to continue clarifying the circumstances of the arrest.