U.S. Attorney ‘very disappointed' with T.I.

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By Bill Rankin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A day after star rapper was ordered to appear in federal court to explain his recent arrest, the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta said she was "very disappointed" in his recent conduct.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office Rapper T.I., aka Clifford Harris, was arrested in September 2010 in Los Angeles on drug charges.

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U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. on Thursday ordered T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., to appear before him in federal court in Atlanta and explain why his probation should not be revoked because of his recent arrest in Los Angeles. Pannell has not yet set a court date.

T.I. was released from prison earlier this year and is still on probation for firearms violations.

“We are very disappointed in Mr. Harris’ recent conduct," U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said in a statement released Friday. "We will make our sentencing recommendation at the revocation hearing.”

The order, signed by T.I.'s probation officer, lists three possible violations of his bond: possession of ecstasy on Sept. 1, testing positive for opiates on Sept. 2 and associating on Sept. 1 with Cortez Thomas, a convicted felon.

One of T.I.'s attorneys, Steve Sadow, declined to comment.

Several pills confirmed to be a "controlled substance" were found on Grammy award-winning rapper and his new wife after they were stopped Sept. 1 on a Hollywood street after making an illegal U-turn, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said several pills confiscated after the traffic stop indicated they were a type of ecstasy, a drug used at raves and clubs to enhance sense of self-confidence and energy.

She said the pills were found on T.I. and his new wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and not in the Maybach, the luxury car they were in.

-- Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this report.