Rapper T.I. Reports to Prison

Authorities say rapper T.I. has been booked into a federal prison in Arkansas to serve a year and a day sentence on a weapons charge. T.I., whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., was supposed to report to the prison by noon to begin serving his sentence. It is believed T.I. appeared at the prison at 12:29 p.m. in a black van with Georgia license plates and tinted windows. Guards and prison officials in three different vehicles escorted the van to the prison grounds. Click here to see Georgia Gazette host Rickey Bevington's interview with T.I. and Ambassador Andrew Young.

Atlanta Officers Sentenced To Federal Prison in Johnston Case

Three former Atlanta police officers who each pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in connection with the death of an elderly woman during a botched drug raid have been sentenced to federal prison.

Jason R. Smith, Gregg Junnier and Arthur Tesler received sentences ranging from 10 years to five years. Ninety-two-year-old Kathryn Johnston was killed by police gunfire during the 2006 raid.

Police used a "no-knock" warrant to enter Johnston's house to look for drugs. But prosecutors say officers found none and tried to cover up the mistake by planting baggies of marijuana.

U.S. District Judge Julie E. Carnes on Tuesday sentenced Smith to 10 years in federal prison. She sentenced Junnier to six years and Tesler to five years.

(Associated Press)

Prison for former lawmaker

A former state lawmakers has a 63-month prison sentence. Ron Sailor Jr. will spend time in federal prison for defrauding his church and for money laundering. Federal agents arrested him Dec. 19 and took $300,000 in cash that they say he planned to launder. Sailor took out a fraudulent $250,000 loan and used his southwest Atlanta church as collateral without the church's knowledge.

Payroll company co-owner to federal prison

A former payroll company operator has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison. 34-year-old Stephen Taylor of Canton was convicted of defrauding clients of more than four million dollars. Federal officials say Taylor cheated over 100 business owners by withholding taxes, but kept the money for personal use. Many owners that were defrauded were small business owners.

Taylor co-owned the company 20/20 Payroll Solutions, which had offices in Georgia, Texas and Alabama.