Lil Wayne faces up to 10 years in jail after being charged with firearm possession
Rapper said that the gold-plated gun was a ‘Father’s Day gift’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lil Wayne could face up to 10 years in jail after being charged with weapons possession in South Florida.
The rapper – real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr – is currently not in custody nor was he arrested.
According to court documents filed on Tuesday (17 November) that were obtained by Vulture, Wayne “knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition”.
Wayne’s lawyer, Howard Screbnick, confirmed to the publication that the charges relate to Wayne’s criminal history.
Screbnick said: “There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person. The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.”
The “Lollipop” singer was convicted in a weapons case in New York in December 2019.
Wayne was travelling on a private plane when federal authorities in California searched the plane and discovered a gold-plated pistol. At the time, he told the police that the weapon was a Father’s Day gift.
Investigators also reportedly found bullets, marijuana, suspected cocaine and heroin on board the plane.
Previous to that, Wayne had pleaded guilty in 2009 to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. The 38-year-old served eight months of a one-year prison sentence.
Of the new charges, Screbnick said: “There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it.”
Last month, before the US election, the rapper shared a photo of himself and Donald Trump after the two met to discuss Wayne’s plans for investing $500m in the African-American community during a second term.