T.I. In Custody Battle

A federal judge ordered rapper T.I. to be held in prison yesterday for at least three more days pending a bail hearing after his arrest on illegal weapons charges.

Federal agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested the rapper in Atlanta on Saturday, hours before he was due to perform at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

The arrest occurred when T.I., born Clifford Harris, meet up with a bodyguard who allegedly purchased three machine guns and two silencers on his behalf.

T.I. was convicted of a drug offense in 1998, prohibiting him from owning or buying firearms.

The 27-year-old rapper appeared in court on Monday where several of his family members sat in the packed courtroom, according to the Reuters news service.

“Federal law requires that I keep you in custody pending the holding of a detention hearing,” said Judge Alan Baverman, who set the hearing for Friday.

Later, government agents later displayed to reporters 10 guns, including an AK-47 and two AR-15s, which they said were discovered in Harris’ possession after a raid on his home in College Park, Georgia.

They also showed the guns and silencers he reportedly received when he was arrested.

“Machine guns and silencers pose serious dangers to our community. The last place [they] … should be is in the hands of a convicted felon,” said U.S. Attorney David Nahmias.

If T.I. is convicted on both counts, he could face up to 20 years in prison.