Rapper surrenders after gun found in bag at Newark Airport

Monday, March 12, 2018
NEWARK, New Jersey -- A rapper who ran out of Newark Liberty International Airport after a gun was found in his bag surrendered to authorities Monday morning.[br /][br /]New York native Juelz Santana is now facing charges that include the unlawful possession of a weapon.[br /] [br /]Authorities say a gun was found in his carry-on bag at the airport Friday[/url]. The loaded .38-caliber handgun was reportedly found alongside Santana's ID.[br /][br /]The TSA said once the gun was discovered, Santana, whose real name is LaRon James, took off running and left the airport in a taxi. He left behind his bag, ID and boarding pass.[br /][br /]Santana, 36, is originally from Harlem but now lives in Totowa, New Jersey.[br /][br /]A Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman said agents noticed the firearm in the bag passing through an X-ray scanning machine at a security checkpoint. That's when authorities say the suspect took off.[br /][br /]James is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of carrying a weapon on an aircraft. James was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2013 conviction for manufacturing and distributing a controlled dangerous substance.[br /]
[br /]Both charges in the complaint carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison.[br /][br /][i](The Associated Press contributed to this report.)[/i]
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