News

T.I. Gets One-Year Sentence

U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. sentenced T.I. to a 366-day prison sentence on Friday. The rapper (real name: Clifford Harris) pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges last March, responding to an arrest from 2007 where he was caught trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers.

"Today I would like to say thank you to some," Harris said in court, "And apologize to all."

Harris has between 30 and 60 days to report to prison. He's already finished 1,000 hours of community service, and still needs to complete 470 as part of a plea deal. Had he not cut one, Harris would have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of his weapons charges.

"I think this has been a great experiment," the judge said, referring to Harris' community service.. "I hope this experience can lead to other experiments so others won't make the same mistake at all. I congratulate you."

It's unclear where Harris will serve his sentence. Once he's released, he will have to serve an additional 60 days under house arrest and start three years of probation.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
03.30.09