Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty, One-Year Sentence Expected

Rapper pleads guilty in New York courtroom Thursday.

NEW YORK — Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to felony gun possession in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday (October 22) stemming from a July 2007 arrest following his first headlining concert in New York. The rapper will be sentenced to one year in prison as a part of his plea deal and must also give up his passport. Wayne quietly told the judge yes when asked if he understood the terms of the plea he was making.

Asked what type of gun he possessed, Wayne said, "A .40-caliber semi-automatic."

Wayne had black jeans, a gray coat, white T-shirt and blue Chucks. He was accompanied by the CEOs of his label, Cash Money Records, Bryan "Baby" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams.

The hearing began at 10:05 a.m. ET and was over in 20 minutes.

About 20 minutes after the hearing ended, Lil Wayne exited the building, covering his head with the hood of his coat. Photographers and reporters followed as court officials escorted him to his vehicle. In response to many reporters' questions, all Wayne said was, "What's up?"

Wayne will be sentenced in February 2010 and is expected to serve eight to 10 months, assuming good behavior. He must also appear in court in December for a parole update.

The incident took place in July 2007, when police pulled over Wayne's tour bus at around 11:30 p.m. on the night of his show at the New York's Beacon Theatre. They arrested the rapper for criminal possession of a weapon and another man on the bus for criminal possession of marijuana. Even before his show that night, Wayne made repeated comments from the stage about being hassled by police and threatened not to perform in New York again.