T.I. ARRESTED ON WEAPONS CHARGES

T.I. arrested on weapons charges during ATF sting operation.

Atlanta-based rapper T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, was nominated for nine BET Hip Hop Awards and was scheduled to perform at the event on Saturday (October 13th). Instead he was arrested Saturday afternoon in an Atlanta parking lot as he allegedly waited to purchase machine guns and silencers for $21,000. The rapper was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon. T.I. was in custody and scheduled to go before a federal magistrate on Monday, October 15th.

T.I. was arrested as part of a sting by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. A federal firearms dealer told the ATF that a man was inquiring about purchasing a machine gun without legally registering the weapon. After attempting to buy several machine guns from ATF agents, the unnamed man, who was a bodyguard for the rapper, began to cooperate with authorities and told them he was purchasing the weapons for T.I. The bodyguard set up the sting which resulted in the rapper’s arrest.

“I mean you know, I mean you know I do everything I can. I’m from the hood and I’m in the hood day to day. So you know I think me just being in that type of environment for certain people provides a certain, a certain amount of inspiration. And you know I’m an example of what could happen.”

If found guilty fo the charges, T.I. could be facing a lengthy prison sentence. The rapper, who was sentenced to three years in prison for a probation violation on a drug conviction in 2004, has always maintained a presence and connection with the streets of Atlanta which may explain why he wanted to purchase the machine guns.

In the past, T.I. explained that he stays so close to the street in order to inspire others. He said,