Chicago rap artist Lil Zay Osama, real name Isaiah Dukes, is facing significant prison time after leaving an illegal, modified gun in an Uber. The incident occurred in September 2022 and has brought severe legal trouble for the rising star in the hip-hop world.
Lil Zay Osama pleads guilty to federal gun charge. He reportedly left a gun with a switch on it, in the back of an Uber car PIC.TWITTER.COM/QZYK11QFLI
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) MAY 31, 2024
Dukes took a rare Uber trip from a luxury hotel in Manhattan to a recording studio in Queens one day in September 2022, except it was business as usual. The regular ride turned dramatic later when he forgot a loaded .40 caliber Glock pistol in the back seat of the car. It was made all the more dangerous because a modification, usually a “switch,” turned this gun into a machine gun.
A federal grand jury in the capital of Brooklyn indicted Dukes on two charges: one of possessing a machine gun and the other of possessing an unregistered firearm. The charges are serious and will attract a harsh sentence, with a maximum of 20 years in jail once found guilty. The federal guidelines, nevertheless, indicate that a sentence of between 21 and 27 months is more probable.
The case against Dukes was dismissed without prejudice in November 2022, allowing for the possibility of revisiting the charges later. Dukes celebrated the dismissal on Instagram, posting a message aimed at his rivals: “Bet Not Listen To The Media They Don’t Know My Life Fr F—That Wikipedia Case Dismissed.” However, his celebration was short-lived.
It’s not the first time Dukes has faced serious legal issues with firearms. Before the incident in New York, one of the suspects in a high-speed chase had resulted in his arrest where multiple loaded Glock pistols and another device capable of converting a firearm into a machine gun had been found. Besides, in January 2023 in Chicago, he was arrested again, this time on unrelated weapons charges.
Dukes recently appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court and pleaded guilty to the gun charge. Admitting to the judge, ‘I knowingly possessed a firearm that was a machine gun in Queens County on Sept. 29, 2022. I know that it was wrong and against the law.’ He could end up doing up to a decade in prison during sentencing next month.
Possessing a machine gun is a serious crime and powerfully illustrates the string of gun violence and illicit firearms in clusters. Law enforcement agencies are committed to taking those weapons off the streets for public safety. The Dukes case illustrates those efforts and the possible consequences of breaking the gun laws.
Dukes’s career has remained dedicated throughout his legal troubles, this time even to the fans. He has strong lyrics and a strong delivery in the hip-hop business. His music usually reflects life experiences and talks to fans about steady challenges.
Dukes’s future remains in the air while he awaits sentencing. His case exemplifies the heavy price of illegal gun possession. The other big lesson is the need for people to make deliberate decisions, especially in the public eye.
Dukes’s story has many angles—talent, ambition, and legal issues. These flies in the ointment did not cease, for his career has long been under scrutiny. Now that he has been in prison for a long time, many fans and the media have shown great interest in this story. This event will act as a wake-up call not only for such illegal conduct but also for making responsible decisions.
