Coolio Charged for Allegedly Carrying Loaded Gun in Backpack at LAX

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Rapper Coolio was charged with a felony Thursday for allegedly carrying a handgun in a backpack at Los Angeles International Airport.

Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, was charged with a single count of felony possession of a firearm by a felon with two priors, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said he has a 2001 conviction for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and a 2009 conviction for possession of cocaine base.

Coolio, 53, was arrested Sept. 17 at LAX. According to Airport Police, officers were called to Terminal 3 on a report of a prohibited item at a TSA screening station. Police seized the bag and detained a person who claimed to own the bag, but officers determined that the bag contained items belonging to one of the suspect's traveling companions who had already boarded an aircraft.

That companion turned out to be Coolio, who was taken off the plane and admitted the bag was his, police said. He was arrested, but released on bail later that day.

Coolio had been scheduled to be arraigned today, but the hearing was postponed until Oct. 26.

He faces up to three years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

-- City News Service, photo credit: Luke Ford/Lukeisback.com/Wiki Commons