Post by Champs Elysees on Jan 23, 2008 16:53:43 GMT -5
Rapper Lil Wayne Arrested In Yuma
PHOENIX -- Rapper Lil Wayne was arrested on three felony drug charges early Wednesday after federal agents said they found illegal drugs including cocaine on his charter bus at a checkpoint in southwestern Arizona.
Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was being held at the Yuma County Sheriff's jail on state drug charges, Capt. Eben Bratcher said.
Carter appeared via video arraignment late Wednesday morning in a justice court in Wellton, 35 miles east of Yuma.
James Tilson, a local attorney retained by Carter, said his client was not formally charged and his next court date was scheduled for Jan. 25.
"We will find out by Jan. 25 whether or not the (Yuma) county attorney will file charges or not," Tilson said. "He is looking forward to his day in court. That's all I can say right now."
His bond was set at $10,185. Tilson said they were working on his release.
The 25-year-old faces charges of possession of dangerous drugs, narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
Bratcher said Carter's bus was stopped at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Dateland, Ariz., 78 miles east of Yuma.
Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Ramona Sanchez said a Border Patrol canine unit alerted agents to the presence of illegal drugs on the bus. A search yielded nearly four ounces of marijuana, just over an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstacy and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia and DEA agents then arrested Carter.
Officials also found a .40-caliber pistol registered to Carter, who has a concealed weapons permit in Florida. Authorities are looking into whether he violated any weapons laws in Arizona.
Carter, who was traveling with 11 others, was heading east, likely coming from California.
Two other men were arrested with him, Bratcher said. They each face a charge of possession of marijuana.
In October, Carter and several other rappers were named in a federal lawsuit filed by music publishing companies, accusing them of sampling other artists' songs without paying licensing fees.
Rapper Birdman and Lil Wayne won a viewers' choice award for their song "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" at Black Entertainment Television's 2007 Hip-Hop Awards.
PHOENIX -- Rapper Lil Wayne was arrested on three felony drug charges early Wednesday after federal agents said they found illegal drugs including cocaine on his charter bus at a checkpoint in southwestern Arizona.
Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was being held at the Yuma County Sheriff's jail on state drug charges, Capt. Eben Bratcher said.
Carter appeared via video arraignment late Wednesday morning in a justice court in Wellton, 35 miles east of Yuma.
James Tilson, a local attorney retained by Carter, said his client was not formally charged and his next court date was scheduled for Jan. 25.
"We will find out by Jan. 25 whether or not the (Yuma) county attorney will file charges or not," Tilson said. "He is looking forward to his day in court. That's all I can say right now."
His bond was set at $10,185. Tilson said they were working on his release.
The 25-year-old faces charges of possession of dangerous drugs, narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
Bratcher said Carter's bus was stopped at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Dateland, Ariz., 78 miles east of Yuma.
Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Ramona Sanchez said a Border Patrol canine unit alerted agents to the presence of illegal drugs on the bus. A search yielded nearly four ounces of marijuana, just over an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstacy and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia and DEA agents then arrested Carter.
Officials also found a .40-caliber pistol registered to Carter, who has a concealed weapons permit in Florida. Authorities are looking into whether he violated any weapons laws in Arizona.
Carter, who was traveling with 11 others, was heading east, likely coming from California.
Two other men were arrested with him, Bratcher said. They each face a charge of possession of marijuana.
In October, Carter and several other rappers were named in a federal lawsuit filed by music publishing companies, accusing them of sampling other artists' songs without paying licensing fees.
Rapper Birdman and Lil Wayne won a viewers' choice award for their song "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" at Black Entertainment Television's 2007 Hip-Hop Awards.
