Rapper 21 Savage was in possession of a fully loaded Glock handgun when he arrested during a traffic stop by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm (ATF) agents on Super Bowl Sunday in Atlanta. The rapper’s attorney tells TMZ both the Glock and the red Dodge Challenger he was driving were not his.
According to TMZ, the rapper, who was born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph in London, England, was pulled over for driving recklessly after he nearly rear ended a marked Atlanta PD unit.
According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Abraham-Joseph drove across a sidewalk in order to get to a side street. ATF agents – who happened to be on the scene – ordered him to pull over and throw the car keys out the window.
According to the report, Abraham-Joseph threw the keys out along with a bottle containing an unknown substance.
The handgun was found in the vehicle’s glove compartment. It had an extended magazine.
As a convicted felon, Abraham-Joseph is not allowed to be in the possession of firearms.
The rapper was convicted of felony drug possession in 2014, but his conviction was later expunged. His lengthy criminal history includes arrests for gun possession, narcotics possession and grand theft auto.
According to earlier reports, Abraham-Joseph was arrested at the scene by ICE agents in a “targeted sting” operation. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the takedown. But there was no mention in the police report of ICE agents at the scene.
According to TMZ, the police report states another rapper – Young Nudy – was the intended target of the sting operation. Young Nudy, who was in a separate car driving alongside the Dodge Challenger, was also arrested.
Three cars in all were pulled over by the law enforcement officers. Everyone in the 3 vehicles were arrested.
Another detainee – Kalil Smith, who was in a third vehicle, had a M4 semiautomatic rifle on the floorboard of his car. The muzzle was pointed in the direction of an officer.
Jay-Z reportedly hired top immigration attorney Alex Spiro through his Roc Nation company to help Abraham-Joseph stay in the US.
According to TMZ, the “99 Problems” rap mogul insists the rapper should be “reunited with his children immediately”.
Abraham-Joseph, 26, is father to three minor children who are US citizens.
In a previous statement, Abraham-Joseph’s lawyer, Charles H. Kuck, explained that the rapper’s visa expired in 2006 and he filed an application for a U Visa in 2017.
A “U visa” is a nonimmigrant visa for victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the prosecution of their abusers.
According to The Blast, the troubled rapper is currently being held at the Irwin County Detention Center, located 3 hours south of Atlanta.
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