Ja Rule leaves federal prison

Federal authorities say platinum-selling rapper Ja Rule has left federal prison.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons says he left a correctional facility in New York's Adirondacks on Tuesday, though time remains on his sentence.

The bureau says the release date for the 36-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, technically remains July 28, with possible community-based supervision for the balance.

TMZ reports that his wife picked him up and he'll remain in home confinement until then.

Ja Rule had served most of a two-year sentence for illegal gun possession in a New York state prison before his release in February and subsequent transfer into federal custody in the tax evasion case.

He admitted failing to pay taxes on more than $3 million earned between 2004 and 2006.

Ja Rule scored a Grammy Award nomination in 2002 for the best rap album with "Pain is Love." He also appeared on the remix to Jennifer Lopez's 2001 hit song "I'm Real." He continued to make music while in prison, releasing "Pain Is Love 2" last year. He also has appeared in movies, including "The Fast and the Furious" in 2001 and "Scary Movie 3" in 2003.