T.I. adds high-profile lawyers to defense team
Atlanta rapper indicted on federal charges; bond hearing Friday
By SAEED AHMED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/17/07
Atlanta rapper T.I. has convened a virtual dream team of defense lawyers to represent him as he fights federal gun charges brought against him after his arrest last weekend in a sting at a midtown Atlanta parking lot.
While a grand jury indicted T.I on three federal charges Wednesday, lawyer Ed Garland said he and his longtime partner Don Samuel will be working with the rapper's other two hires: Steve Sadow and Dwight Thomas.
[Samuels] and I have worked together with him on many cases," Garland said Wednesday night.
All four lawyers are no stranger to big-headline cases.
One of Garland's most famous clients, NFL star Ray Lewis, walked away from a murder charge in 2000 by pleading to a misdemeanor.
Garland and Samuel also defended millionaire investor James Sullivan, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole, in the 1987 murder-for-hire of his wife, Lita.
For his part, Sadow was the lead attorney in the high-profile racketeering case involving the Gold Club, an Atlanta strip club that catered to famous athletes.
Sadow represented the club's former owner, Steve Kaplan, a reputed associate of the Gambino crime family who halted the case midtrial and pleaded guilty for a reduced prison sentence.
And Thomas represented Reginald Burney, 38, a retired Atlanta police officer, was accused of accepting expensive food and drinks at the Gold Club in exchange for tipping off managers about permit inspections by police. Burney was acquitted.
Wednesday's federal indictment against rapper T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., charges him with possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers; unlawfully possessing machine guns; and of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
Harris, 27, will still appear in court Friday. But because of the indictment, federal prosecutors will not have to present evidence to show probable cause for his arrest. However, a judge will hold hearings to determine whether Harris is eligible for a bond.
Federal prosecutors want to keep Harris detained until his trial, which could be several months away. It will be difficult for Harris's defense team to win a bond for a defendant who has a prior crack cocaine-dealing felony conviction and who allegedly had an arsenal of weapons at his College Park home.
Harris was arrested after one of his bodyguards cooperated with authorities. The bodyguard, whose name has not been disclosed, told agents he illegally purchased nine firearms for Harris since he began working for him in July.
On Saturday, wearing a hidden wire and cooperating with federal agents, the bodyguard met Harris at a pre-arranged meeting place in Midtown and handed over three machine guns and two silencers, an ATF agent's affidavit said.
Harris was then arrested without incident.
If convicted, Harris faces certain prison time — about five or more years behind bars, according to the federal sentencing guidelines.
Atlanta rapper indicted on federal charges; bond hearing Friday
By SAEED AHMED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/17/07
Atlanta rapper T.I. has convened a virtual dream team of defense lawyers to represent him as he fights federal gun charges brought against him after his arrest last weekend in a sting at a midtown Atlanta parking lot.
While a grand jury indicted T.I on three federal charges Wednesday, lawyer Ed Garland said he and his longtime partner Don Samuel will be working with the rapper's other two hires: Steve Sadow and Dwight Thomas.
[Samuels] and I have worked together with him on many cases," Garland said Wednesday night.
All four lawyers are no stranger to big-headline cases.
One of Garland's most famous clients, NFL star Ray Lewis, walked away from a murder charge in 2000 by pleading to a misdemeanor.
Garland and Samuel also defended millionaire investor James Sullivan, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole, in the 1987 murder-for-hire of his wife, Lita.
For his part, Sadow was the lead attorney in the high-profile racketeering case involving the Gold Club, an Atlanta strip club that catered to famous athletes.
Sadow represented the club's former owner, Steve Kaplan, a reputed associate of the Gambino crime family who halted the case midtrial and pleaded guilty for a reduced prison sentence.
And Thomas represented Reginald Burney, 38, a retired Atlanta police officer, was accused of accepting expensive food and drinks at the Gold Club in exchange for tipping off managers about permit inspections by police. Burney was acquitted.
Wednesday's federal indictment against rapper T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., charges him with possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers; unlawfully possessing machine guns; and of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
Harris, 27, will still appear in court Friday. But because of the indictment, federal prosecutors will not have to present evidence to show probable cause for his arrest. However, a judge will hold hearings to determine whether Harris is eligible for a bond.
Federal prosecutors want to keep Harris detained until his trial, which could be several months away. It will be difficult for Harris's defense team to win a bond for a defendant who has a prior crack cocaine-dealing felony conviction and who allegedly had an arsenal of weapons at his College Park home.
Harris was arrested after one of his bodyguards cooperated with authorities. The bodyguard, whose name has not been disclosed, told agents he illegally purchased nine firearms for Harris since he began working for him in July.
On Saturday, wearing a hidden wire and cooperating with federal agents, the bodyguard met Harris at a pre-arranged meeting place in Midtown and handed over three machine guns and two silencers, an ATF agent's affidavit said.
Harris was then arrested without incident.
If convicted, Harris faces certain prison time — about five or more years behind bars, according to the federal sentencing guidelines.