Ja Rule jail sentence could be as short as 18-20 months for good behavior

Ja Rule Sentenced to Two Years in Jail

Ja Rule was given a two-year sentence on Wednesday related to a gun charge for which he pleaded guilty last December.

The 35-year-old rapper and actor sat silently while awaiting his sentence at the New York State Supreme Court. After receiving the sentence, Ja Rule, who was wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt, was led away from the courtroom as he waved goodbye to his wife Aisha and other family members.

Ja Rule will be staying at a city jail first before being sent to a state prison. The multi-platinum-selling rapper is the latest rapper to get a jail sentence.

In July 2007, police pulled over his Maybach luxury sports car for speeding and found an unregistered .40-caliber semiautomatic gun. Ja Rule just came from a show held at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre where he performed with fellow rapper Lil Wayne, who served time last year for a similar charge.

Ja Rule's prison sentence "should put all illegal gun owners in New York on notice" according to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.

Hours before sentencing, Ja Rule tweeted his fans, "Out on my patio having my last free moment I love all my fans. Pain is love!!!"

The rapper, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, is known for his gravelly voice, multi-platinum album sales and duets with pop singers like Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti. He later expanded into movies, appearing in "The Fast and the Furious" and "Scary Movie 3."

Ja Rule's latest album "Pain is Love 2" will be released in either July or August. He is facing a separate charge of failing to pay taxes the penalty for which can reach as much as three years in jail.

Posted by Kade Quinn on Thursday June 09 2011, 5:36 AM EST. Ref: AP. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Entertainment, Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0