Rapper T.I., who stands accused of having his bodyguard purchase weapons on his behalf, was denied bail in a court hearing today. In a brief appearance in a packed Atlanta courtroom, T.I., handcuffed and with his legs chained, dressed in a black shirt and pants, answered politely when asked if he was aware of the charges against him. Another hearing, scheduled for Friday, will determine if he can get bail and whether there was probable cause for his arrest. Federal prosecutors will ask that he be denied bail until trial, AJC.com reports.
T.I. was taken into custody just hours before he was to take the stage at BET's 2nd Annual Hip-Hop Awards. As the top nominee, with nine total, T.I. was expected to perform with both Wyclef Jean and Busta Rhymes. Instead, federal authorities took him into custody, alleging that the 27-year-old rap star gave his bodyguard cash to buy firearms.
T.I., born Clifford Harris Jr., is accused of giving his bodyguard $21,000 in cash to purchase machine guns for him, since T.I. is prohibited from owning weapons as a convicted felon. The bodyguard, acting as a confidential witness, then purchased nine weapons for the rapper and one weapon for another unnamed person. According to the AJC.com, Harris was charged with two felonies - possession of three unregistered machine guns with two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Harris was arrested at approximately 2: 30 p.m., in the parking lot of Walgreens drug store at the corner of North and Piedmont Avenues in Atlanta. See the arrest timeline here.
His longtime girlfriend, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and Grand Hustle artists Young Dro and Mac Boney were arrested as well. See the photos of their arrest here. None were charged. Young Dro was quoted as saying, "We're going to be all right. It's just a mistake. Everybody's entitled to some. We'll be OK."
Authorities began an investigation when a federal firearms dealer contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives earlier this month after a man inquired about buying a machine gun without registering the weapon. Harris' bodyguard, in his employ since July, was arrested Wednesday on charges of trying to purchase a gun from a federal agent and became a "cooperating witness."
"This investigation developed very quickly," Vanessa McLemore, an ATF special agent, said in a statement. "We learned only this Wednesday that the cooperating witness was allegedly buying the machine guns for Harris. The cooperating witness told Harris on Thursday that he had obtained the items, and on Friday Harris made it clear that he wanted them delivered to him [Saturday]. Harris then agreed to meet and took possession of the machine guns [Saturday] afternoon." Read the Department of Justice press release here.
A witness at the scene described it as "total drama" saying that a large group of police and federal agents with guns drawn ordered T.I. and other men to the ground. He says a Range Rover and a tan Suburban were towed from the parking lot, according to AJC.com.
As the BET Hip-Hop Awards taping went on, T.I's large home in the College Park section of Atlanta was being raided. ATF agents found three rifles, two pistols and a revolver. Five of the weapons were loaded. Three guns were identified as weapons purchased by the confidential witness and delivered to Harris. Agents also seized ten boxes of items from his garage and papers and files, the AJC.com said.
A women who identified herself as Harris' mother pulled up in a GMC Yukon with what she said was Harris' lawyer on a cell phone. She asked an ATF agent for an accounting of items seized in the raid. She would not speak with reporters on the scene.
READ ON FOR REACTION FROM THE HIP-HOP AWARDS AND MORE DETAILS.
As the news hit BET's Hip-Hop Awards attendees, nominees and performers, reaction was supportive.
Host Katt Williams tried to make up for Harris' absence by comically inserting himself into the performance of "You Know What It Is" with Wyclef and DJ Drama, but other reaction was more serious.
BET President for Entertainment Reginald Hudlin said: "What strikes me about T.I. is the goodness of his spirit. I think T.I. is a great person and a gigantic artist and he has our utmost support."
After performing T.I.'s "Hurt," Busta Rhymes and Alpha Mega raised their fists and exclaimed "Free T.I.!"
Chicago rapper Common, a co-winner for CD of the Year with T.I., held up his trophy and said, "I salute my guy T.I., who also won, wherever he is."
Rap legend KRS-One, winner of the I Am Hip-Hop award, told The Associated Press that he hoped that the arrest wouldn't detract from the rest of the hip-hop community. "I'm saddened anytime I hear of a hip-hopper being locked up or somehow stunted in his life or his growth. I hope he wasn't into nothing crazy."
Grand Hustle co-founder Jason Geter told AJC.com, "We've just got to roll with the punches. We always do. I'm very hopeful."