Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, an American rapper, singer, and actor has been charged with one count of possession of firearm and ammunition as a felon, on Tuesday in Florida. A search of Lil Wayne's gulfstream private jet in 2019 at Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami, revealed a gold-plated handgun in his luggage, which he is prohibited from owning due to prior criminal convictions. He previously spent eight months at Rikers Island jail on a weapons charge. He pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a weapon in connection with a gun that was found on his tour bus in Manhattan in 2007. Lil Wayne if convicted is looking at up to 10 years imprisonment due to the federal offense.
Authorities said the 38-year-old rapper acknowledged owing the handgun, which he said was a Father's Day gift.
Investigators also reported discovering illegal drugs in the luggage including cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, heroin, pain killers, bullets, and $25,938 in cash, but he has not been charged with a drug offense.
The rapper's attorney, Howard Srebnick, acknowledged in a statement that the rapper was charged with possessing the gold-plated handgun, but raised a question about the Second Amended rights of felons.
"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, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm," Srebnick said.
