Rapper Lil Wayne hopes he isn’t on his way to earning more street cred – as in a decade behind bars – after he was charged Tuesday in Florida with possession of a firearm.
As a convicted felon, Lil Wayne faces a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Federal authorities discovered a gold-plated gun during a search of his private jet in Miami last year.
The 38-year-old rapper, who supported President Trump prior to the election, acknowledged owning the gun.
Howard Srebnick, an attorney for Lil Wayne (his given name is Dwayne Michael Carter), raised legal questions in an email about whether mere possession of a weapon by a felon not judged to be dangerous fits the definition of a crime.
“Carter is charged with possessing a gold-plated handgun in his luggage on a private plane. There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it,” Srebnick said. “There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person.”
This charge is based on a weapons conviction more than 10 years ago, for which Carter was sentenced to eight months in prison. Federal law bars convicted felons from owning firearms.
Also in his luggage, law enforcement officials found more than $25,000 in cash, suspected cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, heroin, painkillers and prescription-strength cough syrup, the Miami Herald reported, citing a search warrant.
No drug charges were filed against the rapper.
An initial court date on the weapons charge is set for Dec. 11 in Miami federal court.
Carter, as Lil Wayne, has won five Grammys. He owns a home in Miami Beach and is CEO of his record label, Young Money Entertainment.
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