Lil Wayne hit with federal firearms charge for gold-plated pistol allegedly found in luggage
Fresh off his recent ride on the Trump Train, Lil Wayne has been hit with a federal weapons felony and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The U.S. Attorney in Miami charged him Tuesday with “possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon,” court records reveal.
Prosecutors said he was found in possession of the gun Dec. 23 after having “previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.”
The gold-plated pistol turned up in luggage when police and FBI officials searched the rapper’s Gulfstream jet during a stopover at Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport, according to the Miami Herald.
He reportedly told authorities the gun had been given to him as a Father’s Day gift, The Herald reported.
Investigators also allegedly found bullets, $25,938 cash, marijuana, heroin, suspected cocaine and prescription-strength cough syrup, the newspaper said.
The 38-year-old South Florida rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was previously convicted in a 2007 weapons case in New York.
He’s due to make his first court appearance for the new charge on Dec. 11, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida said.
Lil Wayne made headlines before the recent election when he posed for a smiling photo 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
“Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump," he tweeted.
"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,” he said.
Trump unveiled his Platinum Plan last month in an attempt to win over Black Americans ahead of the election that he lost.
He claimed the initiative would increase Black prosperity and home ownership and create a “national clemency project to right wrongful prosecutions and to pardon individuals who have reformed their (lives).”
