Editing Lil Wayne (section)

===Arrests, incarceration, and presidential pardon===
On July{{spaces}}22, 2007, Carter was arrested in New York City following a performance at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]]; the [[New York City Police Department]] discovered Carter and another man smoking [[marijuana]] near a tour bus. After taking Carter into custody, police discovered a .40 caliber pistol near his person. The gun, which was registered to his manager, was in a bag located near the rapper.<ref name="sentence">{{cite web|first=Jayson |last=Rodriguez |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632931/20100301/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304005412/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632931/20100301/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2010 |title=Lil Wayne To Be Sentenced, Begin Jail Term Today |publisher=MTV News |date=March 2, 2010 |access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> He was charged with [[criminal possession of a weapon]] and marijuana.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shepherd|first=Julianne|title=Lil Wayne, Ja Rule Arrested After NY Performance|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/|work=Vibe|date=July 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212128/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/|archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/23/rappers.arrested/index.html|title= 2 hip-hop stars arrested in New York after concert|last=Brunswick|first=Deborah|date=July 23, 2007|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 21, 2010}}</ref>

Following a performance at [[Qwest Arena]] in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], Idaho, Carter was arrested October{{spaces}}5, 2007, on felony fugitive charges after [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled substance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/06/AR2007100601122.html|title=Lil Wayne Arrested After Idaho Concert|date=October 6, 2007|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 29, 2010|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive charges were dropped.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011005213/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2007|title=Lil Wayne Arrest Mostly A Paperwork Mix-Up, Lawyer Says|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=October 8, 2007|publisher=[[MTV News]]}}</ref>

On January{{spaces}}23, 2008, Carter was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus was stopped by [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]] agents near [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]], Arizona. A K-9 Unit recovered {{convert|105|g|oz}} of marijuana, almost {{convert|29|g|oz}} of cocaine, {{convert|41|g|oz}} of [[MDMA|ecstasy]], and $22,000 in cash. Carter was charged with four felonies: possession of narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was granted permission to travel outside of the state and remain out of custody on the $10,185 bond he posted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/|title=YumaSun.com|publisher=Lil-wayne-news.newslib.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174233/http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref>

On May{{spaces}}6, 2008, Carter returned to court in Arizona to plead not guilty to the charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510113957/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Enters Not Guilty Plea in Arizona Drug Case|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=May 7, 2008|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> A [[bench warrant]] was issued on March{{spaces}}17, 2010, when Carter did not show for a final trial management conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yumasun.com/news/warrant-57015-yuma-court.html|title=Warrant issued for Lil' Wayne in Yuma case|last=Gilbert|first=James|date=March 16, 2010|newspaper=[[Yuma Sun]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105162121/http://www.yumasun.com/news/warrant-57015-yuma-court.html|archive-date=January 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-03-16-lil-wayne-warrant_N.htm?csp=34|title=Warrant issued for Lil Wayne in Arizona case|date=March 16, 2010|newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> However, he was already incarcerated, serving a one-year sentence on [[Rikers Island]] on weapons charges. On June{{spaces}}22, 2010, Carter pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of the plea deal he was able to serve 36 months of probation, which he was sentenced to on June{{spaces}}30, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/22/lil.wayne.plea/index.html|title=Lil' Wayne pleads guilty to Arizona drug charge|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=June 22, 2010|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957561/lil-wayne-gets-probation-in-az-drug-case|title=Lil Wayne Gets Probation in AZ Drug Case|date=June 30, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}18, 2009, Carter and 11 others were detained at the [[Falfurrias, Texas]], border patrol checkpoint after an unknown amount of marijuana was found on two of his tour buses.<ref name="Falfurrias">{{cite web|url=http://www.themonitor.com/articles/detained-33692-border-patrol.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220193640/http://www.themonitor.com/articles/detained-33692-border-patrol.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2009|title=Rapper Lil Wayne detained at Falfurrias checkpoint|last=Ley|first=Ana|date=December 18, 2009|publisher=The Monitor|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref>

On October{{spaces}}22, 2009, Carter pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He was due for sentencing in February 2010 and was expected to receive a one-year county jail sentence,<ref name="guiltyplea">{{cite news|first=Vanessa|last=Juarez|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/22/new.york.lil.wayne/index.html|title=Lil Wayne pleads guilty to weapons charge|publisher=CNN|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> but on February{{spaces}}9, 2010, Carter's attorney announced that the sentencing was delayed until March{{spaces}}2 due to dental surgery,<ref name="delay">{{cite web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631576/20100209/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211141817/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631576/20100209/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 11, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Sentencing Delayed Due To Dental Surgery|publisher=MTV News|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> which was performed on February{{spaces}}16. The surgery included eight root canals, the replacement of several tooth implants, as well as the addition of a few new implants and work on his remaining original teeth.<ref name="surgery">{{cite web|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632239/20100219/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103230522/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632239/20100219/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|title=Lil Wayne Gets Eight Root Canals in One Day|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=February 19, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> On March{{spaces}}2, 2010, sentencing was postponed again when the courthouse reported a fire in the basement.<ref name="CourthouseFire">{{cite web|first=Jennifer|last=Peltz|url=http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/entertainment/celebrity/lil-wayne-sentencing-postponed-due-to-court-fire-_3257686|title=Lil Wayne sentencing postponed|publisher=WDTN|date=March 2, 2010|access-date=March 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621224845/http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/entertainment/celebrity/lil-wayne-sentencing-postponed-due-to-court-fire-_3257686|archive-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref>

On March{{spaces}}8, 2010, Carter was given a one-year sentence, which he served on Rikers Island. His lawyer said the rapper expected to be held in protective custody, separated from other prisoners.<ref name="sentenced">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8556873.stm|title=US rapper Lil Wayne sentenced to a year in prison|publisher=BBC |date=March 8, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> In May 2010, Carter was found by Rikers Island correctional staff to be in possession of contraband (an MP3 player, charger, and headphones).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631766.shtml|title=Lil' Wayne – Contraband Bust Behind Bars|work=National Ledger|date=May 13, 2010|access-date=May 19, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516013928/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631766.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2010, Carter's friends created a website called Weezy Thanx You, which published letters written by Carter while incarcerated.<ref name="Weezy Thanx You">{{cite magazine|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13316/71519|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912164707/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13316/71519|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Launches Prison Website 'Weezy Thanx You'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 2, 2010|access-date=July 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Weezy Thanx You Website">{{cite web|url=http://weezythanxyou.com/|title=Weezy Thanx You official website|publisher=Young Money Entertainment|access-date=July 24, 2010|archive-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123125123/http://weezythanxyou.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the first letter, titled "Gone 'til November", Carter said he was staying in good spirits thinking about his children and spending his time working out regularly and reading [[the Bible]] every day.<ref name="Weezy Thanx You" /> Carter was released from Rikers Island Jail on November{{spaces}}4, 2010, after serving eight months of his year-long sentence.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/20101103/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105195710/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/20101103/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Released From Prison|publisher=MTV News|date=November 4, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}12, 2020, Carter pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge brought against him by the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida|U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida]]. This plea stemmed from an incident during December of the previous year, when Carter was arrested in Florida after transporting a loaded handgun on his private jet from California. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing such weapons.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Polus|url= https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/529974-rapper-lil-wayne-pleads-guilty-to-gun-charge-faces-up-to-10|title= Rapper Lil Wayne pleads guilty to illegal gun possession|work=The Hill|date=December 12, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> He was pardoned by U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] on January{{spaces}}19, 2021, his last full day in office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who Did Trump Pardon on His Last Night As President? |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/trumps-final-pardon-list-everyone-we-know-so-far.html |website=Intelligencer |access-date=January 20, 2021 |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>