Alleged Lil Wayne Bus Shooter Receives Plea Deal, Prison Sentence Dropped From 20 Years To Seven

The alleged gunman responsible for shooting at Lil Wayne’s bus back in 2015 has accepted a plea deal.

According to new court documents obtained by TMZ, Jimmy Winfrey has pleaded guilty to two counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. As part of the deal, Winfrey will be relieved of several different charges including four counts of violation of the RICO Act, six other counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, 12 counts of aggravated assault, two counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

A judge sentenced Winfrey to seven years in prison, a drastic change from the 20-year sentence the judge initially gave him back in 2015. However, Winfrey’s conviction was overturned in 2018, which made the entire case start completely over. Now, Winfrey will receive credit for time served and will be released.

According to his attorney, Steve Sadow, Winfrey’s release date has been put on pause until they handle another issue involving outstanding warrants unrelated to his case with Wayne. Sadow said that the guilty plea deal that Winfrey accepted will also allow Winfrey to maintain his innocence. In addition, Winfrey will have to pay $100,000 in restitution to Alvin Lewis, the bus driver involved in the shooting.

According to TMZ, Alvin claimed that Birdman and Young Thug made secret deals with prosecutors. Alvin said he became suspicious that Cobb County prosecutors labeled Birdman and Young Thug co-conspirators in the alleged shooter’s indictment, but they were never charged with any crimes. Alvin says that there was a plethora of evidence that would prove Winfrey, Birdman and Young Thug played a part in the shooting. He says some evidence includes phone records, recorded confessions, and payment arrangements.

Sources close to Birdman told TMZ that the rapper denies being involved with the case in any capacity. Alvin says that he suffered a spinal cord, rotator cuff, and psychological injuries during the drive-by shooting of Wayne’s bus in Atlanta.