ATLANTA — Rapper T.I. pleaded guilty Thursday to three charges of illegal weapons possession, Reuters reports.
The 27-year-old Grammy winner will receive a delayed sentence in March 2009 that includes prison time after he completes a period of community service. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, must serve at least 1,000 hours of community service before his sentence next year. His community work will involve talking to youth groups about the dangers of guns, gangs and drugs.
Should T.I. make good on his deferred agreement, he will be sentenced to one year in prison, pay a $100,000 fine, spend three years under supervised release, including a year of home detention, and perform a total of 1,500 hours of community service, U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said in a statement.
If he fails to meet the court's requirements, T.I. will be facing a much longer sentence, Nahmias said.
Last October, the rapper was arrested by agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The arrest was part of a sting operation in which T.I. took possession of three machine guns and two silencers that a bodyguard bought on his behalf.
The rap star later admitted that he also possessed eight illegal firearms discovered in his vehicle and home. In 1988, he was convicted of a drug offense that forbid him from owning or buying firearms.
T.I. pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $3 million bond two weeks after his arrest. He was ordered to remain at home and be subject to a strict surveillance watch.
The rapper won two Grammys last year for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album. He also appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the film "American Gangster."
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