T.I. has pleaded not guilty to a series of firearms charges and is awaiting a decision on a request for a $US2.2 million bail agreement.
Federal agents from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives arrested T.I., real name Clifford Harris, last Saturday. He is accused of trying to procure a collection of machine guards and silencers. As a convicted felon (he was found guilty of drug offences in 1998), he isn't allowed to own or purchase any kind of firearm.His attorney Ed Garland outlined a series of strict conditions surrounding the proposed bail agreement, telling the court, "The conditions are so severe, so stringent ... he will effectively be in a private jail in his house."
In addition to the $US2.2 million dollar guarantee, the conditions included a further guarantee in the form of $US1.5 million equity in two homes, electronic monitoring, 24 hour surveillance, random searches, home detention and the surrender of his passport and driver's licence.
Judge Alan Baverman will rule on the request on October 26. He noted, "The characteristics of Mr. Harris in large part are noteworthy and commendable. [But] I am really, really concerned about that sort of dichotomy - somebody who has so many gifts and risks it all by showing up at a gun deal."
