ATLANTA, United States (AFP) — The Grammy-winning rapper TI was denied bail at federal court hearing Monday after he was arrested on weapons charges over the weekend, officials said.
TI, whose given name is Clifford Harris, Jr., was arrested Saturday in the parking lot of an Atlanta shopping mall after federal agents said he was part of a gun buy that involved machine guns and silencers.
The 27-year-old has previously been convicted of felony drug charges and is therefore forbidden from owning firearms.
He is charged with unlawfully possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers. Federal agents not only found guns in his car, but also six weapons in a safe at his home in south Atlanta.
He was led into the courtroom wearing handcuffs and ankle chains, answered "Yes, sir," and "Yes, your honor," when Magistrate Alan Baverman asked him if he had been given a copy of affidavit listing the charges, and if he understood those charges.
He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
His arrest came hours before he was to appear at the BET Hip-Hop Awards ceremony, where he was the most-nominated artist. Despite his absence at the award ceremony, the self-designated "King of the South" won two BET awards.
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