MIAMI – Rapper Lil Wayne was charged Tuesday in Florida with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Documents filed in Miami federal court say the rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., had a gun and ammunition on Dec. 23 of last year despite knowing he had the previous felony on his record.
Authorities said the 38-year-old rapper acknowledged owning the gold-plated handgun after his luggage was searched upon arriving in Miami on a private plane. A search warrant, first reported by the Miami Herald at the time, said Carter told investigators the gun was a Father’s Day gift.
Carter’s attorney, Howard Srebnick, said in an email that there are legal questions 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.”
Rapper Lil Wayne charged with federal gun offense in Miami
And as much as I would love to see this case go all the way to SCOTUS and finally get rid of the prohibition for Non-Violent felons, I believe Lil Wayne will find himself realizing that when it comes to guns, the powers that be do not give a damn about justice but headlines. I will foresee some sort of plea, maybe even a short vacation where he can compose more rap and make another couple of million bucks when he gets out.
A felon rapper that dared to say he liked Trump got caught with a gun? You are so gonna be punished for leaving the plantation! Even fellow rapper 50 cents is already making fun of his trouble and his “relation” with Trump.
No loyalty. Make a note of that.
I want Trump to pardon him and restore his rights. Let blood squirter out of the anti’s eyes.
I’m pretty sure felons are 100% aware they’re not supposed to have guns. I have no pity for him — I’m just surprised to see anyone prosecuting felon-in-possession.
You don’t see a lot of felon-in-possession charges, it’s true. Something like 1/10 of 1% of the cases referred actually result in charges. It’s like they keep the law around to use as a trump card if they have nothing else, or something.
I’m guessing some nameless DA is snatching at the low-hanging fruit to bump up his/her conviction rate with a high-profile defendant.
Plus, the “snuck a gun onto an airplane” line helps justify the continued grandma-groping of the TSA. Nevermind that it was in his luggage on a private plane. Nothing to see there.
As much as I’d love to see this case before SCOTUS to remove the “prohibited person” scarlet letter from non-violent, non-dangerous felons (I have a few friends that I’d trust with my life and my kids’ lives, but they have felony drug convictions from youth that still follow them), the GOP generally loves it some “law and order” and will probably oppose the case.
(Besides, felons have been barred from firearms ownership for decades, and it’s painfully easy to dismiss the case with the excuse that longstanding restrictions are presumed Constitutional, because “longstanding”.)
And don’t hold your breath for Antifa/BLM to show up in support of Lil Wayne. Black lives DON’T matter if they stray from the plantation and arm up — in defiance of the Democrat Party.
Didn’t Li’l Wayne endorse Donald Trump? Hmmm. Coincidence…
While I also agree that non-violent felons ought to be allowed to own guns, especially if they demonstrate a long period of reformed behavior. At this point I doubt Lil Wayne is anything but an entrepreneur, if he was ever anything more. He’s just maintaining his image as a criminal, which is the only way to sell to the (of course law abiding!) Black public. But I’d glad at the same time that he isn’t going to be able to just get away with it, since any normal Joe with a non-violent felony would find himself screw hard without any chance of getting away with it. Nice to know that having millions of dollars doesn’t make you immune. Although one suspects that he never would have been charged in the first place if he wasn’t a Trump supporter. Got to keep the minority role models in line.