US rapper Lil Wayne has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The rapper was charged on Tuesday in the Southern District of Miami with criminal possession of a firearm and ammunition; as a prior felony offender. According to the legal documents, the charges stem from an alleged December 23, 2019 incident.
His lawyers noted the musician did not use his firearm in that incident, in which a handgun was 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. There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person. The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past. The law prohibits him from firearm possession, ” Howard Srebnick, Lil Wayne’s attorney said in a statement.
The police found 38-year-old, real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, carrying a gun and bullets when they searched a private plane in Miami. He is barred by US law from owning a gun, due to having a previous decade-old firearms conviction.
According to the Miami Herald, the star admitted the gold-plated pistol found in his luggage was his. He reportedly told police he got the weapon as a Father’s Day gift.
Police also found a variety of different drugs, as well as $25,000 (£18,816) in cash, the newspaper continued. The five-time Grammy award-winner is due in court next month, solely on the gun charge, and could face a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Last month, Lil Wayne performed at the socially distant BET Hip Hop Awards show. He also made the headlines by meeting with US President Donald Trump, praising his plan for Black Americans.
