Rapper Lil Wayne has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by the U.S. District Attorney in the Southern District of Florida, TMZ reports.
According to the report, rapper Lil Wayne if convicted, could face up to 10 years in prison because he is a convicted felon.
“The United States Attorney charges that on or about Dec. 23, 2019, in Miami-Dade County, in the Southern District of Florida, Dwayne Michael Carter, a.k.a. ‘Lil Wayne,’ knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1),” the court documents say.
Lil Wayne was said to be travelling on a private plane during a holiday trip in late December 2019 when federal authorities searched the plane and discovered a gold-plated pistol, which he told investigators was a Father’s Day gift.
Police also found bullets, marijuana, heroin, pain killers, prescription-strength cough syrup, suspected cocaine and $25,938 in cash.
In 2009, Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and served eight months of a one-year prison sentence, making him a convicted felon in this new case.
Wayne’s attorney, Howard Srebnick, had said his client was “cleared” to leave even though guns and drugs were reportedly found on the plane. It appears now the feds believe Wayne was wrongfully in possession of a weapon and ammunition.
Srebnick had told TMZ that Lil Wayne was charged for possessing a gold-plated handgun in his luggage back in December. The lawyer says, “There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it. There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person.”
He added, “The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.”
Wayne’s scheduled to appear in court next month.