Lil Wayne, a 38-year-old multi-platinum rapper, was federally charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon following a private jet search in Miami, Fla., last year. If convicted, the rapper faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
The Miami Herald reported that an anonymous tip steered Miami police and federal agents to search the rapper’s private jet at Opa-Locka Executive Airport following a trip to California on December 23, 2019. A gold-plated .45-caliber Glock handgun with a pearl grip was reportedly found in Lil Wayne’s Coach bag.
The warrant reportedly said the musician received the gun as a Father’s Day present.
Officers also allegedly found bullets, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, heroin, pain killers and prescription-strength cough syrup, as well as $25,938 in cash. The rapper has not been charged with any offenses related to the drugs.
One of Lil Wayne’s lawyers, Howard Srebnick, said in a statement that the musician was charged with possessing the firearm, but questioned the Second Amendment rights of felons.
“There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it,” Srebnick said of the gun. “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.”
He added: “Although the Supreme Court has not yet decided the constitutional question, Justice Amy Coney Barrett recently wrote an appellate dissenting opinion in which she stated that ‘Absent evidence that he either belongs to a dangerous category or bears individual markers of risk, permanently disqualifying [a felon] from possessing a gun violates the Second Amendment.’”
Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., Lil Wayne pled guilty to attempted possession of a weapon related to a gun that was discovered on his tour bus in New York City in 2007. The rapper served eight months at Rikers Island jail, The New York Times reported.
A New Orleans native, Lil Wayne has over a dozen albums and numerous guest appearances. In February, his most recent LP, “Funeral,” opened at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. The rapper also authored the prison memoir, “Gone ‘Til November: A Journal of Rikers Island.”
Little Wayne made headlines recently when he tweeted praise of the president’s impact on the Black community.
“He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done,” Lil Wayne tweeted after a meeting with President Trump.
Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) October 29, 2020
