G-Unit member Tony Yayo pleaded guilty to passport fraud in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, a move that his lawyers hope will lead to his freedom soon.

While the G-Unit's 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck catapulted to fame in 2003, Yayo spent the year in prison on a bail-jumping charge. Just a day after being paroled January 8, he was picked up by authorities for presenting a fake passport to his parole officer (see [article id="1484631"]"Forged Passport Sent G-Unit's Tony Yayo Back To Prison"[/article]). He's been in federal custody ever since.

"Today's plea should be the culmination of Tony's problems with the law," his attorneys said in a statement. "Tony realizes that he is now in the public spotlight, and now, more than ever, he welcomes and understands the responsibilities that come with fame. One of the most important responsibilities is accepting responsibility for one's wrongdoing, which Tony has done here."