After 17 months behind bars, Juelz Santana was released from a Virginia prison on Wednesday.

After over a year in a Virginia state prison, Juelz Santana is finally a free man. The rapper revealed that he was home from prison in an Instagram post, writing "Free at last."

In March 2018, Juelz was arrested after security found a loaded gun and oxycodone pills in his carry-on bag at Newark Liberty International Airport. He fled the scene in a taxi, leaving behind his drivers' license and two bags before ultimately turning himself into police. He originally faced over 10 years in prison, but eventually struck a plea deal in the drug and weapons case.

Due to a 2013 felony conviction for manufacturing and distributing a controlled dangerous substance, Santana was prohibited for possessing a firearm. He began his sentence this past March at the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia. Before starting his sentence, Juelz and Kimbella wed in a private ceremony attended by fellow Diplomats Cam'ron, Jim Jones, and others.

Back in April, Juelz's wife Kimbella launched a Change.org petition in an effort to get her husband Juelz Santana released early in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The petition was sent to the law offices of New Jersey Supreme Court attorney Brian J. Neary, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Judge Stanley Chesler.

"[Juelz] needs to be freed during this pandemic with his family," Kimbella wrote. "He is currently on lockdown for 2 weeks because of the Covid 19 virus outbreak. He has served 13 months at FCI Petersburg and should be allowed to serve the rest of his sentence on home confinement."

Kimbella launched the petition after Brooklyn judge Paul Engelmayer decided to grant Tekashi 6ix9ine's motion for "compassionate release" due to concerns about the virus. 6ix9ine is free on supervised release and will serve the first four months on home incarceration.

In December 2019, Kimbella, announced that Juelz would be home sooner than later. She posted a photo of Juelz on Instagram, clarifying his current legal situation in the caption.

"Summer 2020 my HUSBAND will be home," she wrote. "Bring on the new year so we can start our new beginning! We did our longest leg in the feds now we're on our shortest leg count down til he comes, the kids and I are so looking forward to it! This year was tough but we got through it through the grace of GOD! I am grateful my husband is doing well doing what he has to do. Juelz says WHAT UP and he'll be home soon."

This story was updated on August 5th, 2020.