March 19, 2026 · Verdict returned · Adams Co., OH

The Jury Agreed. America Won.

After three days of trial and less than a day of deliberation, a jury sided squarely with Joseph Foreman — known to the world as Afroman — against seven sheriff's deputies who sued him for $3.9 million after raiding his Ohio home and finding nothing.

Stream Lemon Pound Cake → Read the case

File No. 2023-CV-0118
Case Overview

Seven deputies broke a door. One song broke the internet.

Missing from the return

$400

Seized from the home during the 2022 raid. Deputies "miscounted" — a discrepancy one of them later took responsibility for on the stand.

Property damaged

02items

A front gate kicked off its hinges. Home security camera wiring disconnected during the search. His wife and two children, ages 10 and 12, were home.

Object of distraction

01cake

A lemon pound cake sat on the kitchen counter. Surveillance footage showed Dep. Shawn Cooley pause mid-raid to inspect it. A meme was born.

Damages sought

$3.9M

The amount seven deputies asked a jury to award them for "unauthorized use of likenesses" after a music video they made famous went viral.

● REC

CAM · 01

PORTRAIT · FLAG SUIT 03·19·26

Outside the courthouse · 03.19.2026

Flag suit. Aviators. White fur coat. A verdict.

He walked up to the microphones looking exactly like what he was: an American, exercising American freedom, on American terms. Rap as social commentary is protected — and the jury said so in under a day.

"I didn't win, America won. America still has freedom of speech. It's still for the people, by the people." — Joseph "Afroman" Foreman, outside the Adams County courthouse

The Album That Won The Case.

Lemon Pound Cake · 14 tracks · 2023 · The receipts, set to a beat.

★ Defendant's Exhibit A 3.8M+ views

Watch: Lemon Pound Cake →

The music video at the center of the case. Click any track above to open it on Spotify.

→ @ogafroman on YouTube Lemon Pound Cake · Music video

Stream the album.
That's the ask.

The best way to support Afroman, keep the message alive, and thank the deputies for all the publicity — press play.