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Oct 15, 2007 1:24 pm US/Central
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T.I. Remains Jailed On Weapons Charges
ATLANTA (AP) ―
T.I. was ordered Monday to remain in custody on federal weapons
charges until a bail hearing later this week. The chart-topping rapper
was arrested Saturday, hours before his scheduled performance at the
BET Hip Hop Awards. Federal authorities say he tried to buy three
machine guns and two silencers from a man cooperating with the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
T.I., born Clifford Harris, appeared briefly in federal court
Monday. Wearing a black shirt and black jeans, he entered the courtroom
expressionless and scanned the crowd filled with family, supporters and
media.
The government wants to keep the 27-year-old rapper in custody as
the case proceeds, but his attorneys planned to argue for his release
on bond at a hearing scheduled for Friday.
A federal firearms dealer contacted the ATF this month about a man
seeking to buy a machine gun without registering the weapon, according
to a criminal complaint filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in
Atlanta.
After attempting to purchase several machine guns from an undercover
ATF agent, the unnamed individual — who said he had been a bodyguard
for T.I. since July 2007 — was arrested. He began cooperating with the
government and said that he was buying the machine guns and silencers
for Harris, a convicted felon, the complaint said.
T.I. ended up winning two awards at Saturday's show.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)