Lil Wayne faces up to 10 years in jail after being charged with firearm possession

Lil Wayne could face up to 10 years in jail after being charged with weapons possession in South Florida.

The rapper – real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr – is currently not in custody nor was he arrested.

According to court documents filed on Tuesday (17 November) that were obtained by Vulture, Wayne “knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition”.

Wayne’s lawyer, Howard Screbnick, confirmed to the publication that the charges relate to Wayne’s criminal history.

Screbnick 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.”

The “Lollipop” singer was convicted in a weapons case in New York in December 2019.

Wayne was travelling on a private plane when federal authorities in California searched the plane and discovered a gold-plated pistol. At the time, he told the police that the weapon was a Father’s Day gift.

Investigators also reportedly found bullets, marijuana, suspected cocaine and heroin on board the plane.

Previous to that, Wayne had pleaded guilty in 2009 to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. The 38-year-old served eight months of a one-year prison sentence.

Of the new charges, Screbnick said: “There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it.”

Last month, before the US election, the rapper shared a photo of himself and Donald Trump after the two met to discuss Wayne’s plans for investing $500m in the African-American community during a second term.

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