T.I. To Bring Out A Guilty Plea

Posted Mar 27th 2008 10:44AM by TMZ Staff

Rapper T.I. is expected to plead guilty today to federal gun charges and will face prison time.

Sources tell the AP the 27-year-old singer, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was expected to be sentenced to 1,500 hours of community service (wow- that's a lot), followed by about 12 months in prison.

T.I. was busted last October in Atlanta after one of his bodyguards allegedly tried to purchase machine guns for the musician. Authorities say the bodyguard admitted to purchasing about nine firearms for the rapper in the past and about 17 firearms for other people in the musician's posse on previous occasions. The bodyguard also claims the rapper gave him cash to purchase the guns, because T.I., as a convicted felon, was not able to legally buy firearms.

He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music

Comments [43]

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(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. I have alway said, rap is not music it's a lifestyle of mostly violents and mayhem. Smokey Robinson and the Temptations never acted like these thugs. They made the greatest music ever and no one got shot or murdered.

Posted at 10:46AM on Mar 27th 2008 by Lenn K.

2. What the hell does he want to do with machine guns !

Posted at 10:52AM on Mar 27th 2008 by Michelle LL

3. Lenn K. you took the words right out of my mouth!

He needs to spend a very long time in prison!

Posted at 10:56AM on Mar 27th 2008 by Dallas

4. a thug is a thug is a thug.....PERIOD!

Posted at 11:05AM on Mar 27th 2008 by Victoria

5. AMEN Victoria! Where are all of the "folk" on here who were speaking up and defending him when he was arrested? LOL! As usual, one of their kind has proven them wrong.

Posted at 11:19AM on Mar 27th 2008 by THUGlanta

6. Smokey and some other members of motown did drugs of some soft and I think rap brings a bad image but this in all music fields. Power and money and simply people don't know how to handle it.

Posted at 11:24AM on Mar 27th 2008 by cory harris

7. # 5 What he did was wrong and it does not matter what color or race you are. You are a racist pig! Wow love your parents race you. very saddddddddddd :-(.

Posted at 11:57AM on Mar 27th 2008 by Yolyo

8. I like some of his music being from Atlanta; but what a dumbass. Machine guns? By a convicted felon! 3 strikes your out. Strike 1. The first felony. Strike 2. Buying machine guns, Strike 3. Not sending someone else to buy them for him. He needs some love from the homies in cell blocks.

Posted at 12:04PM on Mar 27th 2008 by Flash

9. Oh TI - such a bad decision... hopefully this will teach you a lesson, I understand you need protection - so HIRE it, don't purchase it & hold all liability in your own hands.... you have too much money for this to happen.... next time wisen up a little bit - better yet don't let there be a next time!!

Posted at 12:10PM on Mar 27th 2008 by glitter516

10. The REAL crime here is that if TI was not a rapper, a performer, whatever, if he didnt have fame and money and access to lawyers and what not, he'd be facing serious time in a federal prison! This is an outrage, an injustice to Americans of ALL races and sex. This country has failed to provide justice for all by imposing mandatory minimum sentencing and sentencing guidelines on judges removing their ability to fit the punishment to the crime. Except in cases like this where money can buy whatever it wants, even get out of jail free cards. He is a convicted felon caught conspiring to purchase illegal firearms! There are federal prisons overflowing with KIDS and fathers, brothers, sons, who are spending their lives wasting away for crimes of equal or less degree who dont have a name or money to buy a fair and just sentence where rehabilitation or community service are an option. Its time for people to take a reality check and open their eyes to the issues that run deeper than the color of a persons skin!

Posted at 12:22PM on Mar 27th 2008 by marra

11. HAHAHAHAHA It couldn't of happened to a nicer person, nanana hey hey hey ...goodbye TI!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMFAO

Posted at 12:28PM on Mar 27th 2008 by sammygirl

12. This is pathetic. I guess he couldn't leave that street mentality alone. Perhaps some of the kids who listen to some of the vile rap lyrics will wake up.

Posted at 12:29PM on Mar 27th 2008 by Monique

13. At least he's not a sell out. Hey, if you're going to sing about love, you better have been in love. If you're going to rap about guns, by God, you better own a couple. It's not like the guy shot Biggie.

Posted at 12:40PM on Mar 27th 2008 by pd

14. I totally agree w/Trish. Ignorance is extremelely toxic. T.I. did something wrong and should pay for his wrong doing. In addition, he was already on probation for another offense. It has nothing to do with his color. If a person is familiar with history as it stands, all races have "so called" negative descriptions that ignorant folks choose to use to separate them in some kind of way. I could run off a list but choose to exercise better judgement and intelligence. Again, he committed a crime and should pay for it. Color has "NOTHING" to do with it Philip Maxwell.

Posted at 12:41PM on Mar 27th 2008 by V.S.P.

15. So it's just a coincidence that so many Blacks get involved in these situations of thuggery?

I guess so. We can't blame the race or the culture. :P

Posted at 12:48PM on Mar 27th 2008 by Darv

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