Rapper Juelz Santana might be heading to prison for up to 20 years after attempting to carry a loaded handgun to an aircraft.
Federal prosecutors revealed that the 36-year-old has been indicted on possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a weapon in an aircraft. The indictment was originally handed on Monday, April 30, by a federal grand jury, but the decision was made available to the public on Wednesday, May 2.
Santana, whose real name is LaRon Louis James, was initially facing both state and federal charges, reported Billboard. The Essex County prosecutors dropped the state charges and said that they would defer to federal authorities.
He could be facing a maximum of 20 years (10 years for each charge) behind bars.
Juelz Santana's Arrest
On March 10 this year, Santana headed to the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for an out-of-town performance in San Francisco. Witnesses say that the rapper seemed nervous and was pacing back and forth as he handed his carry-on to airport security for inspection.
He also asked the staff to look at his bag "expeditiously" because he was afraid he would miss his flight.
However, the Transportation Security Administration found the gun, a .38-caliber, inside his carry-on bag. They also found unprescribed oxycodone pills, a semisynthetic opioid, in his possession.
When he noticed that the bag is drawing attention, Santana rode a taxi and fled the airport before authorities arrived on the scene. He left his driver's license and boarding pass, which were used to identify him.
He later turned himself in and spent nearly a month in police custody before he was able to post bail. He was released in April.
Arrest History
This is not the first time that the "Dipset" rapper had a run-in with the law. In 2011, he was also arrested in New Jersey on suspicion of making terrorist threats and disorderly conduct. The authorities did not disclose what constituted the threat, but Santana refused to allow the police to search his vehicle.
His vehicle was later impounded, and he was held in custody for several hours. The Diplomat member was released on bail for $46,500.
A few months before that, Santana was again arrested for possession of marijuana and weapons in his recording studio.
Hot New Hip Hop details that the rapper was also pulled over and arrested for driving without a license in 2010 and for domestic violence in 2009.
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