Lil Wayne
| Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born: | September 27, 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Charges: | Possession of firearm by convicted felon |
| Sentence: | Pardoned before sentencing (faced up to 10 years) |
| Facility: | |
| Status: | Pardoned |
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and has won five Grammy Awards. On December 11, 2020, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The charges stemmed from a December 2019 incident when federal agents found him traveling on a private plane with a gold-plated .45-caliber handgun. As a convicted felon from a prior 2009 gun case in New York, he was prohibited from possessing firearms. Lil Wayne faced up to 10 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for January 28, 2021. President Donald Trump granted him a full pardon on January 20, 2021—just eight days before his scheduled sentencing and on Trump's final day in office.[1]
Summary
Lil Wayne is one of the most commercially successful and influential rappers in hip-hop history. A New Orleans native who began rapping professionally as a teenager, he has sold over 120 million records worldwide and won five Grammy Awards. His 2008 album "Tha Carter III" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over a million copies in its first week.
Despite his commercial success, Lil Wayne has faced multiple legal troubles involving firearms. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge in New York stemming from a 2007 arrest, for which he served eight months in prison. That felony conviction made it illegal for him to possess firearms under federal law.
In December 2019, Lil Wayne was again found with a firearm—this time a gold-plated .45-caliber handgun—when federal agents searched a private plane he was traveling on to South Florida. He pleaded guilty to federal charges in December 2020 and faced up to 10 years in prison.
The pardon came after Lil Wayne publicly endorsed Trump in the final days before the 2020 presidential election, praising Trump's criminal justice reform efforts and "Platinum Plan" for Black Americans. The endorsement generated significant attention and controversy given the timing relative to his pending federal case.
Background
Music Career
Lil Wayne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 27, 1982. He began rapping at age nine and was discovered by rapper Birdman, who signed him to Cash Money Records at age 11. By age 14, Lil Wayne was a featured artist on records.
Over his career, Lil Wayne has:
- Released 13 studio albums
- Won five Grammy Awards
- Sold over 120 million records worldwide
- Founded Young Money Entertainment, which signed artists including Drake and Nicki Minaj
- Been named one of the greatest rappers of all time by various publications
2007 New York Arrest and 2009 Conviction
On July 22, 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested outside New York City's Beacon Theater after a .40-caliber pistol was found on his tour bus. In October 2009, he pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, as part of a deal with New York prosecutors.[2]
On March 8, 2010, he began serving a one-year sentence at Rikers Island in New York. He was released on November 4, 2010, after serving eight months.
This felony conviction made it illegal for Lil Wayne to possess firearms under federal law.
2019 Federal Gun Case
The Arrest
On December 23, 2019, federal agents acting on an anonymous tip searched a private plane carrying Lil Wayne at Opa Locka Executive Airport near Miami. Lil Wayne had been traveling from California to South Florida.
When officers spoke with him, Lil Wayne told them he had a gun in his bag. After securing a search warrant, officers found a gold-plated Remington 1911, .45-caliber handgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition.[3]
The bag also contained personal-use amounts of cocaine, ecstasy, and oxycodone, though he was not charged with any drug offenses.
Federal Charges
In November 2020, federal prosecutors in Miami charged Lil Wayne with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The charge carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Guilty Plea
On December 11, 2020, Lil Wayne appeared via video before a federal judge in Miami and pleaded guilty to the charge.
"Your honor, I plead guilty to the charge," he told the court.
His attorney, Howard Srebnick, said he had considered filing a motion to suppress the search as a violation of the rapper's constitutional rights, calling it "a very viable motion." However, Lil Wayne chose to accept responsibility rather than pursue that defense.
Bail and Sentencing
Lil Wayne was released on $250,000 bail after his guilty plea. Sentencing was scheduled for January 28, 2021. Given his prior felony conviction, he faced the possibility of significant prison time.
Trump Endorsement
In late October 2020—after his federal gun charge was filed but before his guilty plea—Lil Wayne met with President Trump and publicly endorsed his reelection campaign.
Lil Wayne posted a photo of himself with Trump on social media and praised Trump's criminal justice reform efforts and his "Platinum Plan," an initiative Trump promoted as benefiting Black Americans. The endorsement generated significant media attention and drew both criticism and support.[4]
The timing of the endorsement, coming while Lil Wayne faced federal charges, raised questions about whether the meeting was related to seeking clemency.
Presidential Pardon
On January 20, 2021—Trump's final day in office and just eight days before Lil Wayne's scheduled sentencing—President Trump granted him a full pardon.[1]
White House Statement
The White House statement cited support from various individuals, noting that Lil Wayne had "performed at multiple events to honor our nation's military."
Part of Final Clemency Batch
The pardon was part of a final batch of 73 pardons and 70 commutations issued in Trump's final hours as president. Others pardoned in the same batch included Steve Bannon, who was charged with defrauding donors to a border wall fundraising campaign.
Rapper Kodak Black, who had been convicted of federal weapons charges, also received clemency from Trump that day, having his sentence commuted.
Impact
The pardon eliminated any possibility of Lil Wayne serving federal prison time for the gun charge and cleared his record of the federal conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Lil Wayne do?
Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In December 2019, federal agents found him traveling on a private plane with a gold-plated .45-caliber handgun loaded with six rounds. As a convicted felon from a 2009 New York gun case, possessing firearms was illegal.[3]
Q: Was Lil Wayne pardoned?
Yes, President Trump granted Lil Wayne a full pardon on January 20, 2021, Trump's final day in office. The pardon came just eight days before Lil Wayne's scheduled sentencing, where he faced up to 10 years in federal prison. The pardon was among 73 issued in Trump's final hours.[1]
Q: What was Lil Wayne's potential sentence?
Lil Wayne faced up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His sentencing was scheduled for January 28, 2021. Trump's pardon eliminated any possibility of prison time. Lil Wayne had been released on $250,000 bail after pleading guilty.[4]
Q: Why was it illegal for Lil Wayne to have a gun?
Under federal law, convicted felons cannot possess firearms. Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge in New York in 2009, stemming from a 2007 arrest when a pistol was found on his tour bus. He served eight months in prison for that conviction, making subsequent firearm possession a federal crime.[2]
Q: Did Lil Wayne endorse Trump?
Yes, Lil Wayne endorsed Trump in the final days before the 2020 presidential election. He posed for photos with Trump and praised Trump's criminal justice reform efforts and "Platinum Plan" for the Black community. The endorsement drew attention given his pending federal case.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 NPR, "Trump Pardons Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne In Final Clemency Flurry," January 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/01/20/934139723/trump-pardons-steve-bannon-lil-wayne-in-final-clemency-flurry
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN, "Lil Wayne pleads guilty to federal firearm charge," December 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/entertainment/lil-wayne-gun-charge-guilty-plea/index.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Department of Justice, "Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty in Miami to Federal Gun Charge," December 2020, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/lil-wayne-pleads-guilty-miami-federal-gun-charge
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 CNN, "Trump grants clemency to rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black in final flurry of presidential power," January 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/lil-wayne-kodak-black-trump