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.

Judge Denies Rapper's Prison Request

Rapper T.I. must report Tuesday to a federal prison at Forrest City, Ark., as previously ordered, a federal judge ruled Friday. T.I., whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for a federal weapons charge. He asked a court Thursday to let him remain free while he seeks placement in a minimum-security prison closer to his Atlanta home, but that request was denied the next day by U.S. District Judge Judge Charles A. Pannell Jr. Harris claimed prison officials miscalculated his criminal history in a pre-sentencing report that said he had a "serious history of violence." His lawyer called a 2003 incident a "scuffle" with a mall cop. Lawyer Donald F. Samuel said he would continue to ask the federal Bureau of Prisons to re-classify the music star. The rapper is scheduled to report by noon Tuesday to the Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City, Ark. He was fined $100,000 and sentenced to 366 days for trying to buy machine guns and silencers he said he needed for protection.

(Associated Press)

Rapper T.I. Will Serve His Time in Arkansas

Atlanta rapper T.I. will serve his prison sentence on federal weapons charges at Arkansas’ low security federal prison Forrest City. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., must report by noon May 26 to begin his sentence of one year and a day. Harris pleaded guilty to the charges after he tried to buy a stash of machine guns and silencers to protect himself after his best friend was killed. He will also pay a $100,000 fine as part of his sentence.

(Associated Press)

Ludacris & Co. Rally for Martin

Martin, flanked by political and musical supporters at the state capitol, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin got a boost from Atlanta's self-declared "hip-hop royalty" on the eve of the runoff race against opponent, Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.

Veteran Democratic Party officials including Congressman John Lewis, state Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd, and numerous others crowded the stage, taking turns rallying the crowd of several hundred supporters.


Rapper Ludacris called on the crowd to go and vote Tuesday morning for Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin, at a rally on the steps of the capitol, Monday, Dec., 1, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Braving chilly weather, Martin was joined on a stage set up on the steps of the capitol, by a bevy of acclaimed rappers including Ludacris and T.I (Clifford Harris).

Click here for more GPB News election coverage.

T.I. expects 'exoneration' on weapons charges: video

Clifford Harris Jr., the rapper known as T.I. expressed confidence he would not be convicted of federal weapons charges, speaking publicly for the first time since his arrest in a video posted on a hip-hop Web site.

In the short video posted on Streetcred.com, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., said people shouldn't believe everything reported in the news.

"I look forward to being exonerated on all charges," the 27-year-old rapper said in the video. "And I say that with the utmost sincerity."

Harris thanked his fans and lawyers. He also thanked the judge in his case for allowing him to be on house arrest. He also said in the video that he is using his free time to read, write and work on a new album.

Harris was arrested Oct. 13 in a midtown Atlanta parking lot just blocks from the BET Hip-Hop Awards, which he was to headline later that night. Federal authorities say Harris tried to buy machine guns and silencers. He was released on bond Oct. 26.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about T.I.
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Streetcred:
http://www.streetcred.com/

(The Associated Press)

Judge releases rapper T.I. on $3 million bond

Today a federal judge in Atlanta ordered the rapper T.I. released on three million dollars bond. However the musician whose real name is Clifford Harris must remain under house arrest while he awaits trial on weapons charges. Harris will be monitored 24 hours a day by a private monitoring service that he must pay for. Harris - who is already a convicted felon -- was arrested two weeks ago allegedly buying machine guns and silencers.

Rapper remains in jail until next bond hearing

Harris
Rapper T.I., aka 27-year-old Clifford Harris will remain behind bars until a new bond hearing next Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman said in an Atlanta federal court this morning.

Counsel for the Grammy-winning Atlanta native wanted him out on a $2.2 million bond, and stipulated other supporting details, in their request to the court.

Baverman turned down their request, as well as a request that the singer be allowed to remain in monitored home confinement, including random home and drug searches while he awaits trial on weapons charges.

Several record company executives, including some from Atlantic Records, were seated in the courtroom. Officials said they were prepared to offer signature bond on Harris' behalf in excess of $1 million.

Prosecutors countered that because of Harris' criminal history and because he was arrested while allegedly trying to buy machine guns, he poses a flight risk and danger to the community.

Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on weapons charges, including possession of machine guns.

His indictment followed his arrest last Saturday for allegedly possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers and of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

Click here for previous GPB coverage of this story.

(With the Associated Press)

Rapper T.I. indicted

Yesterday a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted rapper T.I. on weapons charges. T.I.’s real name is Clifford Harris. The 27-year-old was arrested Saturday in Atlanta for allegedly possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers. Harris is also accused of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.

Jailed rapper faces Friday hearing

Clifford Harris (Vibe)
Grammy-winning Atlanta rapper T.I. -- otherwise known as Clifford Harris -- will remain in an Atlanta jail at least until Friday, when a bond hearing will be held.

Undercover Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents arrested Harris, an already convicted felon, when his bodyguard tried to buy machine guns and silencers from an undercover agent in a parking lot.

ATF agent Vanessa McLemore, says the sting should serve as a warning to others:

“Any arrest based on the extent of these firearms charges should serve as a wakeup call to any current or future firearms defendant, regardless of your name, your age, your race, profession or socio-economic status.”

Prosecutors want Harris held without bond until his trial, possibly months away.

Click here for previous GPB News coverage of the Harris case, and here for more reports about gun crime.

Rapper T.I. faces weapons charges in Atlanta

Grammy winner and Atlanta-based rapper T.I. is set to make his initial court appearance this afternoon to answer to his weekend arrest on weapons charges. T.I., given name of Clifford Harris, was arrested Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, just hours before he was to take the stage at the BET Hip Hop Awards in town. Harris was arrested in a shopping center parking lot where federal authorities say he had planned to pick-up three machine guns and two silencers that were purchased by his bodyguard. Authorities found other firearms in his car and his south Atlanta home.