Jeremy Meeks Speaks Out as Bail Donations Pour in; Admirers Still Captivated by Convicted Felon's Mugshot (VIDEO)
Jeremy Meeks, the man whose mugshot went viral on social media last week, recently spoke out about his newfound fame as his bail donations continue to pour in.
The convicted felon, 30, was reportedly arrested on felony weapons and gang charges during a raid in Stockton, California recently, however, he insists he is innocent. Despite the nature of the charges, it is his good looks that have many people talking.
"I just visited my wife and she said I like, blew up all over Facebook," Meeks told ABC affiliate KXTV.
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"I appreciate that, and I just want them to know ... that this is really not like me, I'm not some kingpin," he added.
Meeks' mugshot was posted on Facebook by the Stockton Police Department on June 18 and it garnered more than 20,000 "likes" within a 24-hour period, which is the most the page has ever seen.
Katherine Angier, who is Meeks' mother, set up a fund for her son's bail and she says he is innocent. She claims Meeks has "no gang affiliations" despite the charges and that he was simply "on his way to work" when police arrested him.
By Sunday, Angier had raised $3,564 of the $25,000 goal for bail, most of which had come from admirers who remain captivated by the convicted felon's looks.
Meeks sports various neck and facial tattoos in his mugshot and despite his criminal past, admirers remain captivated by his handsomeness. His bail was reportedly set at $900,000.
He was reportedly charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammo, carrying a loaded firearm in public and criminal street gang activity, according to TMZ.com.
The raid was a multi-agency task force that included various police force units including the Stockton PD Gang Violence Suppression Unit, Community Response Team, County Wide Gang Task Force and nine other organizations, including the FBI, according to SPD Facebook page.
"Due to a recent increase of shootings and robberies in the Weston Ranch area, the Stockton Police Department just completed a multi-agency Operation Ceasefire enforcement mission," the department wrote in a post alongside Meeks' mugshot.
