Troubled 'American Idol' Star Released To Family In Point Boro

A former “American Idol” star from Point Pleasant will be allowed to live with her parents in Point Pleasant after she was charged with being a drug courier, according to authorities.

Antonella Barba, 32, was released Thursday after she was fitted with a monitor and surrendered her passport, according to authorities.

Her father, Vincenzo Barba, signed off on an unsecured $10,000 bond following a 15-minute hearing in U.S. District Court, Norfolk on Wednesday, according to authorities. Barba pleaded not guilty and asked for a trial by jury.

The former "American Idol" star tried to deliver almost two pounds of fentanyl while working as a courier for a large drug ring when she was arrested last fall, according to her indicment that was unsealed earlier this month.

Barba was indicted on charges of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in Virginia, according to the indictment unsealed by the US District Court in Eastern Virginia. She faces a maximum term of life in prison if she's convicted.

Barba was lodged in the Western Tidewater Regional Jail before her release.

The indictment says Barba, on Oct. I l, 2018, was directed by Justin Michael Isaac, considered a ringleader in the drug conspiracy, to deliver approximately 830.8 grams of fentanyl, or almost two pounds.

The indictment says Barba, who has a felony marijuana case pending in Kansas, was one of several members of a drug conspiracy that was active from at least late 2017 through the fall of 2018, according to the Virginia Pilot.

Barba used a telephone in "causing, committing and facilitating the commission of an act constituting a felony violation," according to the indictment.

The indictment says an unnamed member of the conspiracy used an apartment on Granby Street in the Norfolk area in September 2017 to store cocaine, heroin and cash, according to The Virigina Pilot. It also outlines several drug sales made over the next year in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, according to the Pilot.

The Point Pleasant native who was once a star on "American Idol" was released from jail in October after she was first arrested for heroin distribution, officials said. Earlier this month, she was sent back to jail once the indictment was unsealed.

Barba was initially arrested and jailed in Norfolk, Va. on Oct. 11 and charged with trying to sell 100 or more grams of heroin, according to the Norfolk Sheriff's Office. Through her attorney, she has denied the charge.

Barba, who made it into the final 16 of the sixth season of American Idol about a decade ago, was arrested on the 500 block of Duke Street in Norfolk around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 11, police said.

Eric Korslund, a Virginia-based criminal defense attorney, told Patch that Barba ran into trouble with police while she was on her cell phone sitting in the driver's seat of a rented vehicle in downtown Norfolk, Va.

A police officer asked for her identification and soon let her go, but another police officer then pulled her over with a police dog and searched the vehicle. He found drugs, Korslund said, but Barba denies knowing they were there. "She was very cooperative with police. She gave them full identification," Korslund said.

As for her state-of-mind, Korslund said, "She's been doing very well considering the circumstances."

A decade ago, Barba sang three songs before she was eliminated from American Idol. She's attempted to have a successful singing career, but she initially ran into some hot water when some provocative photos of her surfaced online.

Barba released the single "Jersey Girl" but her career never appeared to take off. She still identifies herself as a singer, violinist, pianist on Instagram page and sang the National Anthem before a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game. She also sang recently with other "American Idol" alums on Jimmy Kimmel's TV show.

She has an official website that says "Coming Soon," but it doesn't appear there's been much activity on it lately.

Western Tidewater Regional Jail photo