Superstar rapper Lil Wayne, 38, was arrested and charged on Tuesday (Nov. 17) with one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, according to a court filing by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

The charge stems from a search of a private jet in Miami last December. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

On Dec. 23, 2019, Miami police officers and federal agents were tipped off and rushed to board Weezy’s Gulfstream V jet at Opa-Locka Executive Airport after a trip from California.

Onboard, in a designer bag belonging to the multi-platinum rapper, the agents reported finding a gold-plated .45-caliber Glock handgun with a pearl grip. According to a warrant, Lil Wayne said he had received the gun as a Father’s Day gift.

Authorities also reported finding ammunition cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, marijuana, pain killers and prescription-strength cough syrup, and a lot of cash. He, so far, has not been charged for any drug possession charges.

Weezy’s attorney, Howard Srebnick, released a statement addressing the charge.

There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it. There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person. The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Howard Srebnick

He added,

Although the Supreme Court has not yet decided the constitutional question, Justice Amy Coney Barrett recently wrote an appellate dissenting opinion in which she stated that ‘Absent evidence that he either belongs to a dangerous category or bears individual markers of risk, permanently disqualifying [a felon] from possessing a gun violates the Second Amendment.’

Howard Srebnick