Part of a federal sting operation, rapper T.I.'s bodyguard-turned-informant delivered three machine guns and two silencers to T.I. at an Atlanta shopping center. The rapper was then arrested at approximately 2:30 pm on October 13, 2007. The singer allegedly paid his bodyguard $12,000 to purchase the weapons on his behalf. T.I. was not allowed to purchase or own guns due to a prior federal conviction.

On March 27, 2009, An Atlanta judge sentenced T.I. to one year and a day in prison on federal weapons. As part of his plea agreement, T.I. has served approximately 1,000 hours of community service. He will have between 30 and 60 days to report to prison so he complete his remaining 470 hours of community service.MSN: Rapper T.I. Sentenced to Year on Weapons Charges (March 27, 2009)

• T.I.'s bodyguard agreed to cooperate in the operation when he was arrested purchasing the machine guns and silencers from an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent earlier that week.CNN: T.I. Arrested (October 14, 2007) After pleading guilty to weapons charges, T.I. was sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison.

• "The last place machine guns should be is in the hands of a convicted felon, who cannot legally possess any kind of firearm. This convicted felon allegedly was trying to add several machine guns to an already large and entirely illegal arsenal of guns."—David Nahmias, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of GeorgiaCNN: T.I. Arrested (October 14, 2007)

• Road to Redemption 45 Days to Go is a MTV documentary television series following Grammy-winning rapper T.I. in the months leading up to his March 2009 sentencing for weapons charges for his 2007 arrest. T.I. speaks to teenagers at school and community groups, warning young people about the dangers of traveling down the wrong path.HipHopGalaxy: TI's Road To Redemption (January 19, 2009)