Hot News-Dwayne Michael Carter Jr on felony drug and weapons charges

A jury has indicted Lil Wayne on felony drug and weapons charges

The 25-year-old rapper, whose name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was charged with one count each of possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the indictment.
Carter pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday.

His attorney, James Tilson, said Tuesday that Carter's tour would continue as scheduled.

Carter is due back in court March 7 for a status hearing.

The rapper's tour bus was stopped Jan. 22 at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Dateland, Ariz., 78 miles east of Yuma. Federal agents searched the bus and found nearly four ounces of marijuana, just over an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstasy and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, authorities said. Carter was then arrested.

Agents also found a .40-caliber pistol registered to Carter, who has a concealed weapons permit in Florida, officials said. In October, Carter and several other rappers were named in a federal lawsuit filed by music publishing companies, accusing them of sampling other artists' songs without paying licensing fees.

Birdman and Lil Wayne won a viewers' choice award for their song "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" at Black Entertainment Television's 2007 Hip-Hop Awards.