Rapper T.I. was released from the federal penitentiary in Atlanta on Thursday to complete a probation violation sentence at a local halfway house, his attorney disclosed.
Attorney Steven Sadow told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., was released between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. and will remain at the Dismas Charities Atlanta halfway house until he is freed from federal custody Sept. 29.
Sadow said after he is freed, the rapper will have one year of supervised release. He also faces travel restrictions.
T.I., 30, was taken to the federal lockup after arriving at the same Atlanta halfway house on Aug. 31 from the Federal Correctional Center in Forrest City, Ark.
The Grammy award-winning artist has been in federal custody since an arrest in September 2010 in Los Angeles on drug charges. He was sentenced to 11 months for violating probation of an earlier conviction on federal firearms charges.
During the 375-mile trip, the rapper was accused of having “unauthorized contact with the public” and conducting business in violation of his furlough conditions.
He denied that he had violated any rules but faced possible disciplinary action.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons held two hearings on what occurred during the trip, and an undisclosed disciplinary recommendation had been made. But Sadow said Thursday he was still awaiting the final decision.
"We have good reason to believe that this favorable result was reached because of the pro-active and assertive approach taken to protect TI's rights," Sadow said.
He said the rapper, who has a VH1 reality show coming out in December, never intended to "violate his transfer furlough or any other [Bureau of Prisons] rules" during the trip to Atlanta with his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle Harris and two executives from the entertainment industry.
The executives, Brian Sher, president and CEO of Los Angeles-based Category 5 Entertainment, and Cris Abrego, co-president of 51 Minds Entertainment, also denied they were conducting business and said they had been authorized to visit the rapper in prison.
Jonathan Leonard, T.I.’s entertainment and business affairs attorney, also said no business was conducted on the motor coach because a deal for the “follow documentary” surrounding T.I.’s life was signed in late July and a book publishing deal was finalized in June.
The rapper's untitled show is set to air Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. for 10 half-hour episodes.
