Bosses at Lil Wayne's record label have vowed to the support the star if he is sent to prison next year. The "Lollipop" hitmaker, real name Dwayne Carter, pleaded guilty to firearms charges at a hearing in New York on Thursday and is expected to be sentenced to between eight and 10 months in prison when he returns to court in February.

The charges stem from an incident in the Big Apple in 2007 when cops found a gun on his tour bus.

But executives at Carter's Cash Money Records label have pledged their allegiance to the star, insisting they will stand by him while he serves his sentence, according to MTV.com.

Cash Money Records CEOs Ronald 'Slim' Williams and Bryan 'Baby' Williams have issued a joint statement, which reads, "The Cash Money family will continue to support our artist and friend Lil Wayne in his current court case. We have worked with Wayne since he was a teenager, and have seen him grow into one of the world's most successful hip-hop artists, with a work ethic that is second to none. Wayne has our love and commitment during this difficult time. We always have and always will stand behind him."

Carter is also due to stand trial in March on drug possession charges following an unrelated arrest in Yuma, Arizona in January 2008.

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Image © Virgil Wilson / PR Photos

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)