T.I.’s Sentenced!

T.I.’s been sentenced this morning.

Northern Georgia District judge sentenced T.I. to one year and one day in prison on felony weapons charges Friday (March 27), calling the rapper’s plea deal “experimental” but a success. Judge Charles Pannell Jr. told the rapper he had more than exceeded the court’s expectations, and he hoped his case would inspire similar plea deals. Tip is scheduled to report to prison voluntarily within the next six to eight weeks. However, the judge acknowledged that the rapper has agreed-upon commitments what will not allow him to enter prison before May 19.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m., the rapper arrived at the 23rd-floor chamber. His manager, Jason Geter, was present beforehand. The sterile building was largely quiet as federal workers, lawyers, and citizens slowly filed in. The courtroom was filled with a mix of teens, curious employees from the building, and the rapper’s family, including his longtime partner, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle. A hushed tone overtook the room with T.I.’s entrance. Lawyers were still entering. T.I., wearing a charcoal grey suit, dark dress shirt and matching tie, was greeted warmly by his legal team. His spirits appeared up as he flashed a smile to different people as he scanned the room. T.I. — who will discuss how he feels about his upcoming jail time on “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning,” airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — made a plea deal last March that suggested if he completed 1,000 hours of community service before sentencing, paid a $100,000 fine and agreed to complete another 500 hours of community service after his time behind bars, he would be sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

The sentence is notable, according to legal experts, because of the specific length. If T.I. were to be sentenced to one year in prison, for example, he would be required to complete the entire sentence. The sentence of one year and one day could allow T.I. to be released earlier for good behavior, if warranted.

The only thing that I can say about this is that I hope T.I. just keeps his head up and stay positive and for him to do the time and not let the time do him.