Lil Wayne charged with federal gun offence in Florida

Rapper Lil Wayne was charged Tuesday with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a federal offence that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Documents filed in Miami federal court say the rapper, whose full name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., had a gun and ammunition on Dec. 23, 2019, despite knowing he had the previous felony on his record.

Authorities said the 38-year-old rapper acknowledged owning the gold-plated handgun after his luggage was searched upon arriving in Miami on a private plane. A search warrant, first reported by the Miami Herald at the time, said Carter told investigators the gun was a Father's Day gift.

Carter's lawyer, Howard Srebnick, said in an email that there are legal questions about whether mere possession of a weapon by a felon who was not judged to be dangerous fits the definition of a crime.

"Carter is charged with possessing a gold-plated handgun 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," Srebnick said. "There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person."

An initial court date on the weapons charge is set for Dec. 11 in Miami federal court.

The charge stems from a weapons conviction against Carter in New York over a decade ago, for which he was sentenced to eight months in prison. Convicted felons are barred from owning firearms under U.S. federal law.

As Lil Wayne, Carter has sold over 120 million records, won five Grammys and numerous other music awards. He owns a home in Miami Beach and is CEO of his own record label, Young Money Entertainment.