 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) arrested rapper T.I. in Atlanta today on multiple weapons charges, after they say he had a bodyguard try to buy machine guns and silencers for him.
According to the Feds, T.I,, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was busted after they learned one of his bodyguards was allegedly trying to purchase machine guns for the musician. Authorities say the bodyguard admitted to purchasing about nine firearms for T.I. in the past and about 17 firearms for other people in the musician's posse on previous occasions. The bodyguard claims the rapper gave him cash to purchase the guns, because T.I., as a convicted felon, was not able to legally buy firearms. The bodyguard was arrested last week trying to buy several guns. After his arrest, the bodyguard agreed to cooperate with authorities -- that cooperation led to today's arrest.
Read More to view the complete Department Of Justice Statement. (It's a must read)
CLIFFORDRD HARRIS, a/k/a "T.I.," ARRESTED ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGES
Arrest Comes After Harris, a Convicted Felon, Accepted Delivery of Machine Guns
and Silencers; Additional Guns Found In Harris' Vehicle and House
Atlanta, GA CLIFFORD HARRIS, 27, an entertainer also known as "T.I.," of College
Park, Georgia, was arrested in Atlanta at approximately 2:30 p.m. today by
agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as he
allegedly took possession of three machine guns and two silencers. Three other
firearms were found in the vehicle HARRIS was driving. ATF also executed a
federal search warrant at HARRIS' house at 4XX Creekview Lane in College Park,
finding six additional firearms in his bedroom closet.
United States Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker issued a federal criminal
complaint after the arrest and search, charging HARRIS with the felony offenses
of (1) possession of unregistered machine guns [and silencers] and (2)
possession of firearms by a convicted felon. HARRIS will be held in federal
custody over the weekend and then will make his initial appearance before U.S.
Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman at the United States Courthouse in Atlanta on
Monday, October 15, at a time to be determined by the court. The United States
Attorney's Office and ATF will hold a short news conference afterward at a
location to be determined.
"Machine guns pose a serious danger to the community, which is why they are so
carefully regulated," said David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Georgia. "The last place machine guns should be is in the
hands of a convicted felon, who cannot legally possess any kind of firearm. This
convicted felon allegedly was trying to add several machine guns to an already
large and entirely illegal arsenal of guns. Thanks to the good and quick work of
ATF, he is now in custody and his firearms have been seized."
"This investigation developed very quickly," said Vanessa McLemore, Special
Agent in Charge of ATF's Atlanta Division. "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 today.
Harris then agreed to meet and took possession of the machine guns this
afternoon. He now faces serious federal charges and a potentially long prison
sentence."
According to U.S. Attorney Nahmias and the information filed in court: On
October 2, 2007, an employee of a federal firearms licensee advised ATF that an
individual was seeking to purchase a machine gun without registering the weapon
as required by law. The individual was directed to an ATF agent acting in an
undercover capacity, posing as a machine gun dealer. Last Wednesday, October 10,
2007, the individual was arrested by ATF after purchasing three unregistered
machine guns and two silencers from the undercover agent in exchange for $2,200
and a pistol. The individual then agreed to cooperate with ATF, including with
respect to his purpose for obtaining the firearms.
The cooperating witness (CW) advised the agents that he was purchasing the
machine guns on October 10 on behalf of CLIFFORD HARRIS, aka "T.I.," an
entertainer for whom the CW had been working as a bodyguard since July 2007. The
CW admitted to straw purchasing about nine firearms for HARRIS and about 17
firearms for other persons on previous occasions. Firearm purchase records
confirm that the CW has purchased about 25 firearms over the past 18 months. The
CW said that HARRIS gave him cash to buy guns on four occasions. HARRIS asked
the CW to purchase the firearms for him because HARRIS has a prior felony
conviction and therefore cannot lawfully purchase or possess firearms under
federal law, while the CW could lawfully obtain guns.
According to the CW, he purchased a Calico 9mm pistol on September 6, 2007, and
delivered it to HARRIS at HARRIS' house on Creekview Lane, where he also saw
multiple firearms in a safe in the walk-in closet in HARRIS' bedroom. The CW
next purchased a Smith & Wesson .500 caliber revolver for HARRIS on September
18, 2007, delivering it to an associate of HARRIS' to give to HARRIS. On or
about September 26, 2007, the CW purchased seven more firearms, three rifles and
four handguns, using $7,000 in cash provided by HARRIS, and delivered the
firearms to HARRIS at the Creekview Lane house.
Finally, last Wednesday, October 10, 2007, HARRIS arranged for the CW to pick up
$12,000 in cash from HARRIS's bank, telling the CW to use the funds to purchase
machine guns for HARRIS. The CW was arrested later that day when he attempted to
purchase three machine guns and two silencers from the undercover ATF agent.
After agreeing to cooperate with ATF, the CW had a series of telephone calls
with HARRIS, which were recorded by ATF with the CW's consent. On Thursday,
October 11, 2007, the CW called HARRIS to say that he had"everything for you,"
referring to the machine guns he was supposed to purchase on Harris' behalf;
HARRIS replied affirmatively.
On Friday, October 12, 2007, HARRIS called the CW. The CW asked HARRIS when he
wanted to take delivery of what the CW had, and HARRIS told the CW that he would
take delivery today, Saturday, October 13, 2007.
After the CW left HARRIS a message this morning, shortly after noon HARRIS
called the CW to arrange the pick up. At approximately 2:22 p.m., HARRIS met
with the CW in a shopping center parking lot in midtown Atlanta to take
possession of the firearms. The meeting was recorded by ATF. The CW entered the
vehicle that HARRIS was driving and displayed to HARRIS the two silencers and
three machine guns that the CW had purchased from the undercover ATF agent on
October 10. When the CW explained the function of one silencer, HARRIS said "no
flash, no bang." The CW and HARRIS also discussed the selector switch of one of
the machine guns, which switches the gun from semi-automatic to fully automatic
fire. HARRIS also asked the CW for "change leftover" from the $12,000 that he
provided the CW to purchase the firearms.
HARRIS was arrested without incident. A subsequent search of the vehicle located
three other firearms, including one loaded gun tucked between the driver's seat
where HARRIS had been sitting and the center console.
Shortly after the arrest, ATF agents executed a federal search warrant for
HARRIS' house at 429 Creekview Lane in College Park. In a walk-in closet in
HARRIS' bedroom, the agents found six more firearms (three rifles, two pistols,
and a revolver), including three of the guns that the CW had said he purchased
for and delivered to HARRIS in September. Five of the six guns were loaded.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains
charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the
government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at
trial.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the ATF, with assistance
from the United States Marshals Service, the Atlanta Police Department, the
Fulton County Police Department, and the Fulton County Sheriff's Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Francey Hakes and Todd Alley are prosecuting
the case.
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