T.I. Arrested The Day Of The BET Awards, May Face Long Term Sentence
Basically things are looking horrible for T.I., supposedly he paid his security guard money to purchase guns illegally. Not some regular pistols, but guns capable of killing a small village. The body guard is a complete fool and asked a legal gun dealer about getting an unregistered machine gun. He then falls for a trap by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is arrested. He proceeds to snitch on T.I. and gets him set up to get arrested. They also search T.I.’s house and find even more guns.
The case against T.I. at this point looks pretty solid, it seems like it would take a miracle for him not to get any time in jail. My question is why does T.I. feel the need to have machine guns? You got money, just get some security guards and live the good life. How can you try to be defending Hip Hop on BET when your buying illegal guns?
Video of the guns T.I. was trying to buy and owned at his house, the official press release about the case and affidavit for the case are below.
Damn Prodigy just got 3.5 years for a gun charge.
DOJ Press Release on T.I. Arrest
United States Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker issued a federal criminal complaint after the arrest and search, charging HARRIS with the felony offenses of (1) possession of unregistered machine guns [and silencers] and (2) possession of firearms by a convicted felon. HARRIS will be held in federal custody over the weekend and then will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman at the United States Courthouse in Atlanta on Monday, October 15, at a time to be determined by the court. The United States Attorney’s Office and ATF will hold a short news conference afterward at a location to be determined.
“Machine guns pose a serious danger to the community, which is why they are so carefully regulated,” said David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “The last place machine guns should be is in the hands of a convicted felon, who cannot legally possess any kind of firearm. This convicted felon allegedly was trying to add several machine guns to an already large and entirely illegal arsenal of guns. Thanks to the good and quick work of ATF, he is now in custody and his firearms have been seized.”
“This investigation developed very quickly,” said Vanessa McLemore, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Atlanta Division. “We learned only this Wednesday that the cooperating witness was allegedly buying the machine guns for Harris. The cooperating witness told Harris on Thursday that he had obtained the items, and on Friday Harris made it clear that he wanted them delivered to him today. Harris then agreed to meet and took possession of the machine guns this afternoon. He now faces serious federal charges and a potentially long prison sentence.”
According to U.S. Attorney Nahmias and the information filed in court: On October 2, 2007, an employee of a federal firearms licensee advised ATF that an individual was seeking to purchase a machine gun without registering the weapon as required by law. The individual was directed to an ATF agent acting in an undercover capacity, posing as a machine gun dealer. Last Wednesday, October 10, 2007, the individual was arrested by ATF after purchasing three unregistered machine guns and two silencers from the undercover agent in exchange for $2,200 and a pistol. The individual then agreed to cooperate with ATF, including with respect to his purpose for obtaining the firearms.
The cooperating witness (CW) advised the agents that he was purchasing the machine guns on October 10 on behalf of CLIFFORD HARRIS, aka “T.I.,” an entertainer for whom the CW had been working as a bodyguard since July 2007. The CW admitted to straw purchasing about nine firearms for HARRIS and about 17 firearms for other persons on previous occasions. Firearm purchase records confirm that the CW has purchased about 25 firearms over the past 18 months. The CW said that HARRIS gave him cash to buy guns on four occasions. HARRIS asked the CW to purchase the firearms for him because HARRIS has a prior felony conviction and therefore cannot lawfully purchase or possess firearms under federal law, while the CW could lawfully obtain guns.
According to the CW, he purchased a Calico 9mm pistol on September 6, 2007, and delivered it to HARRIS at HARRIS’ house on Creekview Lane, where he also saw multiple firearms in a safe in the walk-in closet in HARRIS’ bedroom. The CW next purchased a Smith & Wesson .500 caliber revolver for HARRIS on September 18, 2007, delivering it to an associate of HARRIS’ to give to HARRIS. On or about September 26, 2007, the CW purchased seven more firearms, three rifles and four handguns, using $7,000 in cash provided by HARRIS, and delivered the firearms to HARRIS at the Creekview Lane house.
Finally, last Wednesday, October 10, 2007, HARRIS arranged for the CW to pick up $12,000 in cash from HARRIS’s bank, telling the CW to use the funds to purchase machine guns for HARRIS. The CW was arrested later that day when he attempted to purchase three machine guns and two silencers from the undercover ATF agent.
After agreeing to cooperate with ATF, the CW had a series of telephone calls with HARRIS, which were recorded by ATF with the CW’s consent. On Thursday, October 11, 2007, the CW called HARRIS to say that he had”everything for you,” referring to the machine guns he was supposed to purchase on Harris’ behalf; HARRIS replied affirmatively.
On Friday, October 12, 2007, HARRIS called the CW. The CW asked HARRIS when he wanted to take delivery of what the CW had, and HARRIS told the CW that he would take delivery today, Saturday, October 13, 2007.
After the CW left HARRIS a message this morning, shortly after noon HARRIS called the CW to arrange the pick up. At approximately 2:22 p.m., HARRIS met with the CW in a shopping center parking lot in midtown Atlanta to take possession of the firearms. The meeting was recorded by ATF. The CW entered the vehicle that HARRIS was driving and displayed to HARRIS the two silencers and three machine guns that the CW had purchased from the undercover ATF agent on October 10. When the CW explained the function of one silencer, HARRIS said “no flash, no bang.”
The CW and HARRIS also discussed the selector switch of one of the machine guns, which switches the gun from semi-automatic to fully automatic fire. HARRIS also asked the CW for “change leftover” from the $12,000 that he provided the CW to purchase the firearms.
HARRIS was arrested without incident. A subsequent search of the vehicle located three other firearms, including one loaded gun tucked between the driver’s seat where HARRIS had been sitting and the center console.
Shortly after the arrest, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant for HARRIS’ house at 429 Creekview Lane in College Park. In a walk-in closet in HARRIS’ bedroom, the agents found six more firearms (three rifles, two pistols, and a revolver), including three of the guns that the CW had said he purchased for and delivered to HARRIS in September. Five of the six guns were loaded.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the ATF, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, the Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County Police Department, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department.
AFFIDAVIT
1 AFFIDAVIT I, Jason S. Stricklin, being duly sworn depose and state the following: 1. Your affiant is currently employed as a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assigned to the Atlanta Field Division, Atlanta Group I, and has been so employed since 2005. Your affiant has received training from ATF in the registration, possession, and identification of machineguns and silencers. Your affiant has conducted and participated in numerous investigations involving Federal firearms violations to include violations of Title 18 and Title 26 of the United States Code. Your affiant’s duties and responsibilities involve investigations of violations of Federal criminal laws and your affiant knows that it is a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d), for any person to receive or possess a firearm that is not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Your affiant also knows that it is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g) for a person previously convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm.
2. This affidavit is being filed based on the personal knowledge and observations of the affiant and other law enforcement personnel, and interviews with witnesses, and reviews of government and business records, including records, reports, and information from the ATF. This affidavit is intended to support probable cause but it is not intended to convey all the facts of the investigation. 2
3. On October 2, 2007, an employee of a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) contacted ATF with information regarding an individual who had been inquiring about purchasing a machine gun without registering the weapon as required by law. This individual, who is now a cooperating individual (hereinafter “CW”), was identified by the FFL by name and other identifying information. ATF Agents provided an undercover cellular phone number for the FFL to give to the CW, and told the FFL to tell the CW the number would contact a person with machine guns for sale. The aforementioned cellular telephone number returned to an ATF agent, acting in an undercover capacity (U/C Agent), posing as a “machine gun” seller/dealer. Within hours of receiving the cellular number, the CW telephoned the U/C and had a discussion about the firearms he (U/C) had available for sale. During the conversation, the CW asked if the firearms were “fully” automatic. The CW told the U/C that he was interested in purchasing the machine guns.
4. On October 10, 2007, the U/C contacted the CW and asked him if he was still interested in meeting to purchase the machine guns. the CW stated that he was and agreed to meet at a K-Mart Shopping Plaza located at 5997 Buford Highway, Doraville, Georgia. At approximately, 4:40 p.m., the CW arrived and met with the U/C to observe the firearms, which were actual machine guns. The CW had a further discussion about the firearms firing “fully” automatic. The CW agreed to exchange $2200 and a Bushmaster, Model C-15, .223 caliber pistol, s/n D10867 for the following firearms: an, s/n 2-3005561, an SWD Inc., 9mm silencer, s/n N767, a Military Armament Corp., 9mm silencer, s/n 2-2001231, a SWD Inc., Model M-11, 9mm 3 caliber machine gun, s/n 86-0008212 and a H&K, Model SP89, 9mm caliber machine gun, s/n 21-17411.
5. During the meeting between the U/C and the CW, the CW questioned the U/C if he (the CW) would get into trouble if law enforcement caught him in possession of the machine guns. The U/C told the CW that the firearms were not legal to possess without the proper paperwork because they had to be registered. The U/C further told the CW there would be a problem if he were caught with them. The U/C told the CW that the aforementioned firearms did not have the required legal paperwork. The CW indicated that he understood and stated that he wanted to purchase the firearms anyway. The exchange of money and guns then took place. The firearms were not registered to the CW in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, nor had the CW applied for the proper paperwork.
6. Following the transfer of the machine guns from the U/C to the CW, the CW was arrested. After his arrest, the CW agreed to speak with agents. During this and subsequent interviews with the CW, the CW told agents the following: a. The CW stated that he was purchasing the machine guns on 10/12/07 on behalf of another person. The CW stated that he knew it was illegal for him to possess machine guns without properly registering them. The CW said he was buying the machine guns and silencers for CLIFFORD HARRIS, a/k/a “T.I.” for whom the CW had been working as a bodyguard since July of 2007. The CW admitted to 4 straw purchasing approximately nine (9) firearms for HARRIS and approximately seventeen (17) additional firearms for individuals other than HARRIS. [Review of records of firearms purchases, ATF Forms 4473, has confirmed that the CW has purchased approximately 25 firearms over the last 18 months.] The CW said that HARRIS gave him cash to buy guns for HARRIS on four different occasions. HARRIS is prohibited from purchasing firearms for himself because he has been convicted of a felony offense, so he asked the CW to purchase the firearms for him (HARRIS). [It is a violation of federal law for a prohibited person, such as a convicted felon, to have another person purchase or acquire firearms for the prohibited person.] b. On 9/6/07, HARRIS gave the CW cash and asked the CW to buy a caliber pistol. [The CW is not a convicted felon or otherwise prohibited from purchasing firearms.] The CW bought the pistol at The Gun Store, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), and gave the firearm to HARRIS at his home at 429 Creekview Lane, College Park, Georgia. The CW said that HARRIS resides at 429 Creekview Lane, College Park, Georgia. [Investigation of public records confirmed that 429 Creekview Lane, College Park, Georgia, is a residence associated with HARRIS. This address is within the Northern District of Georgia.] On the same date, when the delivery of the Calico 9mm pistol occurred, HARRIS invited the CW into his bedroom at the house and showed the CW a safe in his (HARRIS’s) bedroom. The CW observed the safe inside a walkin closet in the bedroom. The safe was tall enough for a person to enter, and the 5 CW witnessed HARRIS open the safe using a fingerprint- reading scanner type lock, and possibly a keypad as well. Inside the safe, the CW saw multiple short rifles. HARRIS showed the CW an assault-type rifle in a black bag inside the safe. HARRIS told the CW the weapon was a machine gun. c. On 9/18/07, HARRIS gave the CW $1000 in cash and asked him to buy a Smith & Wesson .500 caliber revolver. An associate of HARRIS’s known as “ALPHAOMEGA” followed the CW to The Gun Store. The CW purchased the revolver at The Gun Store and gave it to “ALPHAOMEGA” to give to HARRIS. d. On or about 9/26/07, HARRIS called the CW and told him that he (HARRIS) wanted the CW to acquire more firearms for him. HARRIS specifically asked the CW to purchase a Smith & Wesson .460 caliber revolver for him. HARRIS gave $7000 in cash to an associate known as “C-ROD” to give to the CW. The CW went to The Gun Store and purchased 7 firearms, (3 rifles and 4 handguns), including the Smith & Wesson .460 caliber revolver. The CW delivered all 7 firearms to HARRIS at HARRIS’s house on Creekview Lane. After the CW brought the aforementioned 7 firearms to HARRIS’s house, HARRIS directed the CW to bring the guns to HARRIS’s bedroom. The CW gave HARRIS the firearms in HARRIS’s bedroom. The CW observed HARRIS handle the firearms. [The purchases of firearms by the CW on 9/6/07, 9/18/07, and 9/26/07 were confirmed by ATF agents by reviewing ATF Forms 4473, obtained from The Gun Store.] 6 e. The CW said that on 10/10/07, HARRIS arranged for the CW to pick up $12,000 in cash from HARRIS’s bank – the SunTrust Bank on Northside Parkway in Atlanta. HARRIS instructed the CW to meet with a specific bank employee to get the cash. The CW went to the bank, met with the bank employee, and was given the cash by that bank employee. HARRIS told the CW to use the funds to purchase machine guns for HARRIS. [Investigation has confirmed that there was a $12,000 cash withdrawal from HARRIS's account at SunTrust Bank on 10/10/07. And when the CW was arrested later on that same date, 10/10/07, he was in possession of several thousand dollars in cash.]
7. On 10/11/07, after being arrested and agreeing to cooperate, the CW agreed to make a consensually monitored phone call to HARRIS. At approximately 9:00 pm, after the CW had called HARRIS and left a message for HARRIS to call the CW, HARRIS’s primary bodyguard called the CW’s cell phone to discuss when the CW was going to be needed to provide bodyguard services for HARRIS. During this conversation, HARRIS, using his bodyguard’s phone, began to converse with the CW. The CW told HARRIS that he, the CW, had “everything for you,” referring to the machine guns and silencers he had purchased on HARRIS’s behalf. HARRIS replied affirmatively.
8. On 10/12/07 the CW received a consensually monitored call from HARRIS. The CW asked HARRIS when he wanted to take delivery of what the CW had in his possession. HARRIS requested immediate delivery. After the CW told HARRIS he was not available to deliver immediately, HARRIS told the CW he would take delivery Saturday, 7 October 13, 2007. The CW told agents that he and HARRIS were referring to the firearms purchased by the CW for HARRIS on October 10, 2007.
9. Investigation has revealed that HARRIS is a convicted felon, and is prohibited from possessing firearms. On June 1, 1998, HARRIS was convicted of a Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act in the Superior Court of Cobb County, and received a sentence of 7 years probation. HARRIS has additional arrests and at least one probation violation for unlawfully possessing firearms.
10. A check of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record showed that there is no record of any machine gun or silencer registered to HARRIS.
11. On October 13, 2007, at approximately 10:08 am the CW left a message for HARRIS to call. Between approximately 12:30-1:00 pm, HARRIS called the CW and asked the CW to bring the items to a (recording) studio. The CW suggested instead, as directed by ATF, that they meet at a shopping center parking lot on the corner of Piedmont Avenue and North Avenue in the city of Atlanta, in the Northern District of Georgia. HARRIS told the CW they could meet in about an hour.
12. At approximately 2:22 pm on October 13, 2007, HARRIS arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location. The meeting was consensually recorded. The CW entered the vehicle HARRIS was driving and displayed the silencers and machine guns to HARRIS. When the CW explained the function of one silencer, HARRIS said “no flash no bang.” When the CW showed HARRIS one of the machine guns, HARRIS asked the CW what the “E” 8 position on the selector switch signified. The CW explained that the “E” stood for semiautomatic function and that “you know what the “F” is for.” HARRIS acknowledged that he did. “F” stands for fully automatic function. HARRIS inquired about ammunition for the firearm, and asked about the capacity of the magazine. HARRIS asked the CW for “change leftover” from the $12,000 he provided the CW to purchase the firearms. HARRIS was then arrested without incident.
13. A subsequent search located three firearms in the vehicle HARRIS was driving, including one loaded firearm tucked in between the driver’s seat and the center console.
14. At approximately 2:40 pm on October 13, 2007, a federal search warrant was executed at HARRIS’s house at 429 Creekview Lane, College Park, Georgia. In a walk-in closet in the bedroom identified as belonging to HARRIS, agents found a Colt model AR15 .223 caliber rifle, bearing serial number LE033297, a DPMS model AP4 .308 caliber rifle, bearing serial number 14056, and a Calico model L3 9mm caliber pistol, bearing serial number B004397. Agents have confirmed each of the preceding three firearms were the same as those purchased by the CW for HARRIS on September 6, 2007 and September 26, 2007. Agents also found a Colt .44 magnum revolver, a CAI 7.62 x 39 caliber rifle, and a Bushmaster 5.56 caliber pistol in the same closet in the same bedroom. Some of the firearms were in the closet, and some were inside the closet inside the safe the CW previously described. Agents also found that five of the firearms were loaded.
15. Title 26, United States Code, Chapter 53 requires that machine guns and silencers be registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Title 26, United 9 States Code, Section 5845 defines the firearms to be registered according to this chapter, and included in section 5845(a)(6) a machine gun and section 5845(a)(7) any silencer. Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d), makes it unlawful for any person “to receive or possess a firearm which is not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.” Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g) makes it unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony offense to possess, in or affecting commerce, firearms.
16. All of the firearms recovered were manufactured in whole or part outside the State of Georgia, and, therefore, moved in or affected interstate commerce.
17. Based on the foregoing facts your affiant respectfully submits that probable cause exists to believe that CLIFFORD HARRIS has committed the offense of possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d); and of possessing firearms in or affecting interstate commerce, after having been convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g).
October 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Damn Thats Fucked Up
October 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
sucks..
October 13th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
arrested for what
October 13th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
it seems like white ppl can have all the gun they want and black ppl cannot
October 13th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
im sorry he won’t get to perform but he’s not exactly one of my favorite artist anywayz….cosign 4 its tha sad truth but african-americans have been hassled by the police more than caucasians since the force started.
like he wasn’t goin to perform “you know what it is”,”hurt” or “big thangs poppin”. you know what it is and big thangs poppin are old and hurt is sorta wack except for busta…..
October 13th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
That is fkd up especially if the arrest ain’t justified.
October 13th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I FIND it really fucked up how they just fuckin go up in ur home n run through ur shit like that man THATS FUCKED UP you neva hear Brad pit n tom cruise house getting fucked up thats some bullshit. THE WHITE MAN BEHIND THIS SHIT THEY WANNA SHUT DOWN HIP-HOP
October 13th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
poor little guy
October 13th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
I hope he aint on probation still. dam. feds must be lookin for something to get him for, dats why they not releasing any information.
October 13th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
well #7….wtf does this have to do with the white man??? we know he has guns, because he says it on every record…and we know he’s on probation because he says that on every record too….he fucked himself…
October 13th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
our whole life revolve around “the man” nukka
October 13th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
That is fuucked up..but like somebody already said he talks about having guns n shit BUT why dont they search white artists?? i never heard of justn timberlake, vanilla ice or eminem gettin searched? lol
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October 13th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
#7 i think white people have more important shit to do than to sit around trying to think of elaborate ways to shut down hip-hop
October 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
great timing huh it just so happend when the hiphop awards were going on huh if u think this wasn’t a plan to shut down the award show you must be crazy it wouldn’t shock me ifweezy get locked up next/
October 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Damn Thats Fucked Up dam police man
October 13th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
dam feds stole his night, I heard he got in a scrap last nite at a strip club too. now this. stay up TI.
October 13th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
u play u pay,fuck the goverment
October 13th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
money’s gettin tight… the repo man’s out…lol!
MArion Jones, Michael Vick, T.I., they’re goin after a lotta high profile people who help out people of color!
If you’re not helpin the other man it’s a wrap right now… cooperation is the word submission is the point!
Check out that chat ladies….lol!
October 13th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Sucks to be him at this point.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
t.i. is my homie, fuck the cops.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Either there must have been a death threat made to TI prior to the BET Hip-Hop Awards and the Feds wanna protect him
Or this must be in relation to the DJ Drama/DJ Cannon artist earlier this year. Either way, the block is definitely hot and the FEDS are definitely listening to our albums.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
#13 frank,wtf are u talking about,white people have time,careers,special units in the government etc…. for almost everything.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
TI is fucked, a convicted felon on probation trying to purchase illegal firemans not smart. That is what you have a goon squad for. Dude is looking at state and federal charges.
http://blogs.sohh.com/atlanta/2007/10/breaking_news_t.html
October 13th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
not a good look for homie…i wanted to see him tear the stage up too.
October 13th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
(AP Online Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) ATLANTA_Grammy-winning rapper T.I. was arrested Saturday _ just hours before he was to take the stage at the BET Hip-Hop Awards _ in a shopping center parking lot where federal officials said he planned to pick up machine guns and silencers he had his bodyguard buy for him.
The arrest resulted from an investigation that began this month when a federal firearms dealer contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives about a man inquiring about buying a machine gun without registering the weapon as required, according to a criminal complaint filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta.
T.I., born Clifford Harris, is charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Harris is in federal custody, said U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Patrick Crosby, who would not disclose his location.
After trying to buy several machine guns from an undercover ATF agent, the unnamed person began cooperating with the government and said he was buying the machine guns and silencers for Harris, the complaint said. According to the bodyguard, he had bought about nine firearms for Harris, and the rapper had given him cash to buy guns four different times, it said.
Harris brokered the deals through the bodyguard because he is a convicted felon, the complaint alleged. It is against federal law for a convicted felon to have another person get firearms on their behalf.
The 27-year-old rapper arranged to meet with the bodyguard Saturday to exchange cash for weapons, the complaint said. After the rapper’s arrest in the parking lot Saturday afternoon, agents found three firearms in the vehicle he was driving, including a loaded firearm between the driver’s seat and center console, according to the complaint.
Sydney Margetson, a spokesman for T.I.’s label, Atlantic Records, declined to comment Saturday afternoon before the charges were reported.
After trying to buy several machine guns from an undercover ATF agent, the unnamed person began cooperating with the government and said he was buying the machine guns and silencers for Harris, the complaint said. According to the bodyguard, he had bought about nine firearms for Harris, and the rapper had given him cash to buy guns four different times, it said.
Harris brokered the deals through the bodyguard because he is a convicted felon, the complaint alleged. It is against federal law for a convicted felon to have another person get firearms on their behalf.
The 27-year-old rapper arranged to meet with the bodyguard Saturday to exchange cash for weapons, the complaint said. After the rapper’s arrest in the parking lot Saturday afternoon, agents found three firearms in the vehicle he was driving, including a loaded firearm between the driver’s seat and center console, according to the complaint.
Sydney Margetson, a spokesman for T.I.’s label, Atlantic Records, declined to comment Saturday afternoon before the charges were reported.
As the Hip-Hop Awards were being taped in Atlanta on Saturday night, federal authorities were still searching T.I.’s home in East Point, about 15 miles southwest of the city.
Agents found six guns in a closet, including three allegedly bought by the bodyguard for the rapper last month, according to the complaint. Five were loaded, agents said.
T.I. had been expected to perform at the BET show, which is to be broadcast Wednesday, and was nominated in nine categories. Instead, the rapper was noticeably absent from red carpet festivities before the show began at 6 p.m., though he was at the center where the show was to be taped.
The co-chief executive of Grand Hustle Records won three awards at last year’s inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards and received nine nominations this year, including CD of the Year, Lyricist of the Year and MVP of the Year. His sixth album, “T.I. vs. T.I.P.,” was released July 3 and debuted at No. 1.
T.I. won two Grammys in 2006, including best rap/sung collaboration for “My Love” with Justin Timberlake. He also hit the big screen in “ATL” that year, and he has a role opposite Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in “American Gangster,” set for release Nov. 2. He also appeared in a commercial for Chevrolet.
In May 2006, T.I.’s best friend, Philant Johnson, was killed and three others were injured in a shootout after a party in Cincinnati. The killer remains at large, and T.I. was briefly locked up a few days after the funeral on suspicion of failing to perform community service stemming from a 2003 arrest.
T.I. grew up in Atlanta and was selling crack by the time he was a teenager. After years of hustling to launch his rap career, recording demos and shopping for a record deal, his first taste of success came with his 2003 album, “Trap Muzik.”
But the next year, warrants were issued for his arrest on probation violations for a drug conviction, and he was sentenced to three years behind bars. It wasn’t clear Saturday how much of the sentence he actually served.
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October 13th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
and this is the same FOOL BET had up on stage debating with the likes of Michael Eric Gyson, and Cornel West…..
but seriously, let this be a lesson tot the kids….you play with fire, you’ll get burned, no matter how rich or famous and popular you think may be…
October 13th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
lol…but on the funnier side, i bet T.I. thought he was getting punk’d again…remember when Ashton Kusher punk’d T.I. in the airport with the “bag of bullets?”….wasn’t it the fake ATF that punk’d him lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that takes the cake…..and i don’t mean to be making fun of a brother when he down, but god damn some of the rappers are the dumbest people on the face of the earth…
October 13th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
T.I.P waiting on Ashton Kutcher to walk in his holding cell to tell him he’s Punk’d…………..God Bless this young brother AND i can understand why he had ALL those guns but im stuck on those silencers……it was gonna get ugly at the BET AWARDS…….silencers?
October 13th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Damn….with all that money T.I. could have just paid the bodyguards a bonus to buy “necessary supplies” to do the job to protect him. He should have hired Jamal Anderson’s Dad’s security firm (one of the best in the business) to protect him around the clock instead of having guns of his own.
T.I. should be in a position to be protected like many other stars with 24-hour security at home and bodyguards whenever he traveled around the country or abroad. He really shouldn’t need to carry any guns himself if he felt that he needed that kind of security. Convicted felons cannot possess firearms…but their bodyguards can if they are legit. Simple. I hope he can come out of this without serving federal prison time….but as we well know, athletes and celebrities in general are on the radar of federal, state and local law enforcement in a big way now (especially African-Americans).
I’m praying for you T.I. I hope you can beat this case.
October 13th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
I knew it was guns and that’s not simply because I saw ATF. T.I. does a lot of gun talk and that’s not to say other rappers don’t its just something about the way he mentions them in songs that always made me think he had heavy artillery.
When they said the investigation unfolded quickly I knew it was a gun deal gone bad….He wouldn’t be stupid enough to buy drugs like that.
October 13th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
this nigga is gon get time for this shit i was readin on another site he mite face up to 10 years cuz he still on probation so u cant have a fire arm and he had 3 gunz in his car 1 was loaded and it was a machine gun i thin so thats more time and his bodyguard snitched on him smh first prodigy get 3.5 years for shit like this and then t.i. da feds aint playin about gettin these rap niggaz free prodigy and t.i.
VITAMIN WATER PEOPLE TRY IT…
October 14th, 2007 at 12:32 am
DAAAMN FEDS BEEN HEATIN SHIT UP..
Game, Snoop, TI, M. Vick and niggas like that.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Fucked up and it’s true white people can have all the ammo in the world but if a black man has alot of ammo it’s wrong, the world is so fucked up and so backwards it isn’t even funny ….
October 14th, 2007 at 2:33 am
This nigga gonna have to forfeit grand hustle to get outta jail. It’s a shame too cause he seems like one of the more stand up artist out here.
But thats what happens to the “real” rappers!
No Limits staff went up the river and now this dude… damn shame to be honest, i guess big was on point with more money more problems. You’d think you could leave all that sh!t in the hood, but dudes do o.t. tryin to keep it real.
DAMN…….
“When keepin it real goes wrong!”
October 14th, 2007 at 2:48 am
holla when u see me…! but that’s f&¢ked up. its sad no matter how u make ya money they still see a nigga. bein behind bars is slavery & ti will get justice if they aint have a warrant.
man, fuck the cops!!
October 14th, 2007 at 4:13 am
usually when the FEDs come knockin, they already have a strong enough case to convict. there conviction rate is in the 90%. Good luck, T.I., keep your head up my nig.
October 14th, 2007 at 5:19 am
ya’ll niggas is in here talking bout fuck the cops, and more money more problems for a black man in america, get the fuck outta here wit all that bullshit for once.
this aint got shit to do wit a man becoming very famous and trying to get money and the cops harassing him. they did a fuckin investigation on the nigga who just got out of jail not to long ago. why the fuck dont niggas just fall back for a while, niggas in a hurry to go right back to jail, learn a fuckin lesson in your life time.
if i’m t.i. why the fuck would i have all this evidence at my fuckin house???? didnt he see the feds rushed the spot for HIS MAN DJ DRAMA, he still dont know how that really unfolded, u got feds sniffing around, fall the fuck back.
stupid niggas, now niggas gonna be talking bout free t.i.
fuck that, i support the smart crooks that dont get locked wit the shit in they fuckin house, what kinda shit is that.
he could have guns, but be smart about it. who the fuck is he scarface. he shoulda known they was watching from the jump, he just got outta jail, his dj just got knocked on sum bullshit, red flags, warnings, and he still does dumb shit.
watch and learn, young dumb muthafuckas, thsee niggas is watchin, dont let them win, that easily
October 14th, 2007 at 5:59 am
ti is dat nigga and i feel for his situation,these pigs do whatever they can to take our shine away.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:04 am
you can tell #36 is a uncle tom,even if u feel that way,u don”t say it for the whole world to see it,u must love seeing our people go to jail.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:08 am
How the hell did this turn into black and white??? It’s about T.I. little ass. Stop blamin the white man cause you too stupid to do right. Black people always wanna blame some white person cause they got caught up on some bullshit….HUH????? This shit is T.I. fault, and I don’t believe there is a group of white people just plottin on how to shut hip hop down….find a new conspiracy theory or just some original thoughts. Everyone so racist on here.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:10 am
http://www.tmz.com/2007/10/13/doj-press-release-on-t-i-arrest/
October 14th, 2007 at 7:21 am
The nigga a Fool, man, how stupid can you be, this nigga in parking lots accepting machine guns, like its a movie, from some dude thats been working for hime since July. Machine guns and silencers, how the hell are you going to explain that shit. TIP fucked up… You don’t see Jay, Fif, diddy, the major players getting caught up in some dumb shit like this.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:29 am
cosign #36. The King:
Jail is full of people who SUCK at crime.
Yea, a portion of innocent people get caught up in the system, but the majority should have found a new occupation after the 2, and 3rd time gettin locked.
I feel sorry for all you dumb niggas who, stupidly will be on that “Free T.I., Hip Hop Cops set him up, Fuck the cops, Crackers keep us down”.
No..T.I. fucked up. The lil nigga got millions of dollars, a wife, kids AND HE GOT THE CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THE HOOD!?
I know peeps that woulda took that money, set up and funded a few youth centers, mabye some housing and left the hood for good. Fuuuuck that.
Now he wanna buy silencers, and machines guns bigger than him. Nigga can barely lift a Moet bottle. Man…fuck him and fuck all yall dumb asses talkin about “Keep Ya Head Up”
Nigga NEED to do be doing some pushups, and practice closing his buttcheeks.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:36 am
@#38. jd:
^^Typical nigga right there.
The minute a real black man steps up and says shit that a pea brained nigga cant comprehend, he immediately declares that person a “uncle tom”.
If I love my peoples which I do, imma check them when they doin good, and BEFORE they fuck up.
Niggas like you only come to defense AFTER a nigga fucked up. Thats the difference between a nigga, and a man.
You stay that nigga son, and stuck on stupid.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:44 am
“ti is dat nigga and i feel for his situation,these pigs do whatever they can to take our shine away.”
Maaan, somebody slap his retarded ass coon “jd”
How the fuck the feds gonna “take our shine away”, if you keep your shit under the radar? You flash you shit all over the place, and talk about how big your gunz is, and expect someone not to notice? NIIGGAAA PLEEASSSE! LOL!
“The King” said it best;
“i support the smart crooks that dont get locked wit the shit in they fuckin house”
The SMART criminals – black, white, green, or cot damn purple – roam free, to do dirt another day. Dummies get locked up.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:45 am
“ti is dat nigga and i feel for his situation,these pigs do whatever they can to take our shine away.”
Maaan, somebody slap This retarded ass coon “jd”
How the fuck the feds gonna “take our shine away”, if you keep your shit under the radar? You flash your shit all over the place, and talk about how big your gunz is, and expect someone not to notice? NIIGGAAA PLEEASSSE! LOL!
“The King” said it best;
“i support the smart crooks that dont get locked wit the shit in they fuckin house”
The SMART criminals – black, white, green, or cot damn purple – roam free, to do dirt another day. Dummies get locked up.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:54 am
MAN THIS SUCKS, STAY UP T.I.P!!!
October 14th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Tighten up them bootycheeks homey.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:13 am
so stupid…convicted felon riding with loaded gun w/other guns in the whip then goes to buy guns w/silencers from his bodyguard…damn i knew he was idiot…c tip in 10yrs…1
October 14th, 2007 at 9:49 am
T.I. MADE A BIG MISTAKE, PPL MAKE MISTAKES N LIFE, SOME BIGGA THEN OTHAS, HES A FELON N HE CANT OWN GUNS, SO THE ONLY WAY FOR HIM 2 OWN GUNS 4 PROTECTION IS TO EITHER HIRE A FULLTIME BODYGUARD OR HAVE SUM1 BUY THE GUNS 4 HIM, HE TOOK THE LATTER, BUT HE SHOULDA RAN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON HIS HOMIES B4 HE STARTED PAYIN EM 2 GET HIM GUNS CUZ WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THEY WAS BUYIN FROM THE FEDS HE SHOULDA HAD HIS MUTHAFUCKN BACK N NOT SNITCHED ON HIM. FREE TI N TIP KEEP YO HEAD UP HOMIE
SUMBODY OR GROUP OF PPL GOT TI SCARED AS A MUTHAFUCKA WIT THE KIND OF ARSENAL HE WAS MAKIN HE WAS READY 4 WAR
October 14th, 2007 at 10:18 am
#42 is a typical uncle tom,you are not a man you are sellout,quit trying to preach,and if you have aproblem with what i said,we can meet somewhere so i can show u how much of a uncle tom u are,tom
October 14th, 2007 at 10:52 am
LMAO this nigga named Cliford
October 14th, 2007 at 10:55 am
#42 and im serious about showing u how much of an uncle tom u are,by beatin the dog shit out of your dumb ass bitch, and u better not comment back or u will, i dare you
October 14th, 2007 at 11:12 am
wow, lil wayne and t.i locked up? wow…
And T.I was talking about on america vs. hip hop that he don’t be doing those kind of crimes and here he is locked up on the bet hip hop awards…
October 14th, 2007 at 11:15 am
LOL@ this internet gangster coon “jd”!
49. jd wrote on October 14th, 2007 at 10:18 am
#42 is a typical uncle tom,you are not a man you are sellout,quit trying to preach,and if you have aproblem with what i said,we can meet somewhere so i can show u how much of a uncle tom u are,tom
LOL!
October 14th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Uh Oh….im scared now! LOL!
51. jd coon wrote on October 14th, 2007 at 10:55 am
#42 and im serious about showing u how much of an uncle tom u are,by beatin the dog shit out of your dumb ass bitch, and u better not comment back or u will, i dare you
October 14th, 2007 at 11:26 am
yo jd lets be serious here, why are u daring niggas to meet u in the schoolyard.
because we dont feel sorry for him, we are uncle toms???
i aint a squeeky clean nigga, and i would never do crime wit sumone like u. i like fast money, i dont like doing bids, losing my job, my girl, missing my family, sittin in a box for a few years.
if i clearly know the feds are watching me or my team, dj drama and gangsta grillz is down wit tip, and they got snatched up by the feds a few months ago. why would i go thru my bodyguard of all people. u ever heard of six degrees of seperation. u never see the kingpin or the godfather get caught up like that. if he really the king and hustler he claim to be, he should went thru atleast 6 people, thats what your capos, bosses, underbosses, soldiers are for.
how u the king, and u got 1 middle man, and the evidence in your house. wit the feds on your tail.
give a real hustler/gangsta credit when credit is due, tip does not deserve it. this is the dumbest shit i’ve heard of. thats like micheal jackson still gettin caught wit kids. he know they looking for him to sleep wit sum kids, why the fuck would u still do it.
i dont have a problem wit the man wanting to strap up, no doubt do u. but be smarter about it, what kinda hustla was he if this is how he moves.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
jd must be one of them wiggas from the suburb, if he serious about beatin a niggas ass, and callin them uncle tom, they must have lots of schoolyard in the suburb where jd must live.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
the question is if t.i.p got hit, whose next!think about it
they cracking in on us!!lay low
October 14th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
anjo:
the only peoples thats next, is whoever is sloppy with they dirt / crime. if you do crime, you gotta be on point with your shit.
i dont condone or endorse criminal activity, but it goes on.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
#55, I co-sign my nig.
By the way, here are the lyrics to TI’s song “U DON’T KNOW ME”. HOW iron by the way
“What’s the future of a sucka who be hatin on me
i don’t care about the feds investigation on me
I don’t care they at my shows and they waitin on me.”
October 14th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Damns! What do white people have to do with a cat who is on probation, taking possession of machine guns, knowin damn well he’s facin time…
some ingorant kids on this site…finding any excuse to btich about white people aitn gonna never help us.. if a cat is wrong he just wrong .. grow the hell up..
when someone is “unjustly”, prosecuted get off your ass and join the march..
people “allow” stupid stuff to go around them and when the consequences come.. they blame somebody else…
“stupid is as stupid does”- Forrest Gump
“whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” – GOD!
-grow up
October 14th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
that fucken bodygaurd snitched on him….he was workin for the ATF…..free prodigy….free TI and I agree wit the person that said sumthin was gonna go down at the BET awards prolly sumthing to do with ludacris
October 14th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
^^^^^^I DUNNO BOUT THIS SHIT CUZ I DUNT TRUST A THING MEDIATAKEOUT SAYS BUT IF IT TRU SOUND LIKE IT COULD WORK LMAO
October 14th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
free t.i. free t.i. free t.i. free t.i. free t.i.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:51 am
How DUMB can you be…. You have all this $$$$$$ , on your way to becoming a great rapper and you fuck it all up trying to be “thuged out” or a “gangster”. Look man, you already out the hood, you want guns around you then you go hire someone to hold that for you legal. This shit is the perfect case of when keeping it real goes wrong
October 15th, 2007 at 1:58 am
ThOSE GUNZ ARE FUCKIN SERIOUS MAY BE THE NIGGA WANT TO GO TO IRAQ OR SOMETHING HE IS FINISH HE BETTER HAVE A FUCKIN GOOD LAWYER CAUSE HIS CASE IS DAMN SERIOUS I REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND SOME STUPID RAPPERS YOU ARE RICH YOUNG BLACK AND FAMOUS WHY THE FUCK YOU WANNA PLAY GANGSTER GOOD LUCK TIP