T.I. pleads guilty to federal gun charges

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Today, an Atlanta hip hop artist waived his rights to a trial and accepted a plea agreement on 3 counts of federal firearm charges.

The deal calls for T.I. to perform a thousand hours of community service followed by a year in federal prison.

If the case went to trial, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, Jr., would face up to 10 years in prison for each count. Harris was already a convicted felon before last October's arrest for trying to illegally buy machine guns.

Outside federal court, T.I. read a prepared statement.

T.I.: With the upmost respect and sincerity, I'm grateful that the court and the government has given me the chance to, as a part of my sentence, to help kids live safe, be productive and avoid making the same mistakes I've made.

Legal observers call the plea agreement creative. However, US Attorney David Nahmias thinks the ends will justify the means.

NAHMIAS: He has an opportunity to potentially prevent some people from committing crimes and in our mind that's a reasonable reason to reduce his sentence.

The agreement also calls for T.I. to pay a 100-thousand dollar fine.