T.I., who faces federal weapons charges, has previously violated the law by possessing firearms and a silencer while a convicted felon, a federal prosecutor said in a document filed Monday.
The 27-year-old rapper was arrested Oct. 13, just blocks away and hours before he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, was allegedly trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers.
Harris is charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He was released on bond, but is under house arrest.
In a notice filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Monday it plans to introduce evidence of three occasions when Harris unlawfully possessed guns, ammunition and a silencer, “all after having been convicted of a felony offense.”
The first was Dec. 22, 2001, in Atlanta. Harris allegedly gave the name Douglas Morgan and was carrying a concealed 9 mm pistol. The arrest didn’t result in a criminal conviction. He was arrested Nov. 1, 2002, in Henry County and later convicted of carrying a 10 mm pistol, the document said.
The third arrest was the result of a search warrant executed at his home in Fulton County on Dec. 18, 2004. Officers said they found a firearm with an attached silencer, large amounts of ammunition and photos of Harris holding weapons. The incident didn’t result in a criminal conviction.
Harris was arrested on charges of selling crack in northwest Atlanta when he was 17. He was sentenced to seven years’ probation, which he violated, and was sent to jail.