Singer Chris Brown Finally Sentenced

On Tuesday, a judge placed the singer Chris Brown on felony probation for 5 years. He must obey all laws and keep in touch with the Probation Department. He is subject to search and seizure at any time for the next 5 years and can't own any dangerous weapons, including guns and knives. He must also perform 180 days of community labor, which can be performed in Virginia where he is from. He has to complete a 52 week domestic violence program sponsored by the Commonwealth Catholic Charities. He will have to pay $2,500 in restitution and another $2,500 in probation expenses. He has to pay a $30 criminal correction fee and $400 to a domestic violence fund. He also has to go to court every 3 months during his probation.

The judge issued a protective order that will last 5 years where Brown is ordered to not harass, assault, threaten, or molest his ex-girlfriend Rihanna. He is not allowed to have any contact with her, even through a phone or 3rd person. He has to stay at least 100 yards away from her, unless there is an entertainment-related event, then he must stay at least 10 yards away from her.

Rapper Serves Prison Time in Arkansas

The rapper T.I. has to report to Forrest City's low-security federal prison by noon on May 26th. He has been sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty in March to federal weapons charges. He has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of his charges in his three count indictment. He will be credited for the 305 days of home detention that he has already served, so he is likely to be at Forrest City prison for only two months. Unless there are custody or security concerns, he will be treated like any other prisoner and will be placed in the general population with the rest of the prisoners. When he is released, he will be on probation for three years and will pay a $100,000 fine as part of his sentence.

Rapper T.I. Receives Prison Sentence

On Friday, the rapper T.I. was sentenced to one year and a day in prison on federal weapons charges. He has 30 to 60 days to start his sentence and has completed nearly 1,000 hours of community service while warning children about the negative effects of drugs, guns, and violence. He still needs to complete 470 more hours. He pleaded guilty in court last March after he was arrested in October of 2007 for trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers before his scheduled appearance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.

Rapper T.I. Pleads Guilty to Charges

The rapper T.I. has pleaded guilty to federal weapons possessions charges and he will receive a sentence that will include prison time after he does community service. While he is waiting on sentencing, he will have to complete at least 1,000 out of 1,500 hours of community service, which would involve talking to youth groups about the dangers of guns, gangs, and drugs. He will have to serve about 12 months in prison after finishing the community service.

T.I. pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, unlawful possession of machine guns, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. His prison sentence could be increased or reduced, depending whether he fulfills the terms of the deal and good behavior.

Rapper Ja Rule Posts Co-Defendant’s Bail

State Supreme Court Justice Micki Scherer stated in an indictment arraignment that she is troubled that the rapper Ja Rule posted thousands of dollars in bonds for two co-defendants in a gun possession case and she wants them to make their own bail. Ja Rule, Dennis Cherry, and Mohamed Gamal were all indicted on gun possession charges and they all pleaded not guilty.

Ja Rule’s bail is $150,000 bond or cash, Cherry’s bail is $150,000 bond or $75,000 cash, and Gamal’s bail is $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash. Gamal is Ja Rule’s driver and the owner of a limo service. Dennis Cherry is Ja Rule’s road manager. All of the bonds are secured by Ja Rule’s $3.5 million house in Saddle River, N.J. Dennis Cherry and Gamal will now have to pay their own bails.

On July 22, 2007, Ja Rule, Cherry, and Gamal were stopped by police in Manhattan for speeding. The police did a computer check of their luxury car and found that it had no insurance and a suspended registration. Even though Gamal was driving the car, he didn’t own it. When officers approached the car they noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from it. Nobody in the car was charged with possession of marijuana. Police found a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun in the rear driver’s side door.

Rapper Birdman Arrested

The rapper Birdman, whose real name is Bryan Williams, was one of 16 people arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on Tuesday after the RV they were riding in was pulled over by the police after making an improper lane change. The police said they could smell marijuana coming from the inside of the rented TV and they found nearly a pound of marijuana in a trash can in the kitchenette after getting consent to search the vehicle. Birdman, his wife, and his brother were each charged with possession of more than ½ ounce of marijuana along with 13 other passengers, who were affiliated with the rap industry and with Cash Money Records, which was founded by Birdman and his brother. All of the 16 people were jailed until Tuesday night.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is helping in the investigation because an assault rifle, a handgun, and a magazine for a .45-caliber handgun were found in the RV. There weren’t any weapons charges filed. Birdman and his group said that they were traveling from New Orleans to New York for a BET network shoot.

Rapper T.I. Challenges Evidence in Weapons Charge

The rapper T.I., who tried to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers in Atlanta an hour before his scheduled performance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, says that the evidence obtained and statements that he made to authorities were illegally obtained. His attorney has filed motions in the U.S. District Court to try to suppress evidence seized from his vehicle and statements he made on the day he was arrested. The attorneys say that his vehicle was searched without a warrant, the statements he made to authorities may not have been voluntary and agents may have not honored his rights.

As of now, T.I. could possibly be sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each weapons charge. He is currently free on bond and under house arrest. He asked to host a Thanksgiving Day gathering at the house where he is staying at, but it was opposed. Under his bond conditions he has to have court approval of visitors.