Rapper Ja Rule is serving time in a New York City jail with an expected July release date, federal authorities revealed Thursday.

The 36-year-old left a state prison in New York last week after serving most of his two-year sentence for illegal gun possession but then went into federal custody in a tax evasion case. In March 2011, Ja Rule admitted that he failed to pay taxes on more than $3 million he earned between 2004 and 2006 while living in New Jersey.

"I in no way attempted to deceive the government or do anything illegal," he told the judge. "I was a young man who made a lot of money - I'm getting a little choked up - I didn't know how to deal with these finances, and I didn't have people to guide me, so I made mistakes."

Authorities said he was moved from an upstate jail to Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where prisoners awaiting court dates or if they have short terms left on their sentences.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons said Ja Rule's expected release date is July 28.

In the gun case, New York City investigators said they discovered a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun in a rear door his $250,000 car after he was pulled over for speeding. Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, pleaded guilty to the charge in 2010.

The performer received a Best Rap Album Grammy Award nomination in 2002 for Pain is Love. He also starred in the films The Fast and the Furious in 2001 and Scary Movie 3 in 2003.