Lil Wayne Facing Up to Ten Years in Prison on Gun Charges

Lil Wayne faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

On Tuesday, TMZ reported that the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida has charged Lil Wayne with one count of possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Wayne, who served a year on Rikers Island for attempted criminal possession of a weapon, faces up to ten years in prison if convicted.

The charges stem from an incident in December 2019, where federal agents searched Wayne's private plane at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. The plane was headed to California before agents found drugs and guns  on the plane. Wayne's attorney, Howard Srebnick, said he was cleared to leave despite the findings.

"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. The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm."

Wayne served eight months of his year-long sentence on Rikers, eventually being released on November 4, 2010. While serving time, he was sentenced to an additional 36 months of probation due to drug charges from an incident in Arizona where a K-9 unit recovered over three ounces of marijuana, an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of ecstasy and $22,000 in cash. In October 2016, he released "Gone Til' November: A Journal of Rikers Island," a memoir of his experience while incarcerated.

Wayne is set to appear in court next month. Stay tuned for further updates regarding ensuing legal proceedings.