NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, was sentenced to an additional three months in prison on Friday for violating the conditions of his supervised release related to a New York gang case. This verdict stems from two distinct incidents: an assault on a man and the possession of drugs.
During a hearing held in federal court in Manhattan, Judge Paul Engelmayer expressed his frustration with Hernandez, who has a history of disregarding rules. Hernandez previously received a 45-day sentence in late 2022 for similar violations, highlighting a pattern of recurrent trouble associated with the rapper.
Judge Engelmayer remarked, "From time to time your actions suggest that you believe that ordinary rules don’t apply to you." He indicated that yet another prison sentence was essential to convey a strong message to Hernandez regarding his continued infractions.
Hernandez gained fame with the release of his song “Gummo” in 2017. In court, he delivered an extensive speech where he outlined various incidents of harassment directed at him and his family due to his cooperation with authorities in the gang case. He recounted alarming events, stating, “Unknown individuals left a coffin in front of my house with an animal in it to send me a message,” and “Three masked gunmen held my mom at gunpoint.”
The rapper pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges related to his association with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, a violent New York-based gang. For his cooperation in the racketeering case against gang members, he received a notably lenient sentence of two years in prison in 2019, followed by five years of supervised release.
Hernandez was released from federal prison several months earlier than scheduled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, highlighting his contentious relationship with the justice system. The violations leading to his latest sentence were related to the discovery of small amounts of cocaine and ecstasy at his Miami home during a police raid in March, as well as an incident in August when he punched a man who taunted him in a Florida mall regarding his cooperation with law enforcement against fellow gang members.
In consideration of Hernandez's situation, his lawyer had requested a sentence of six months of home confinement rather than additional prison time for the violations. However, the court determined that a prison sentence was necessary to address his repeated missteps and disregard for the law.
Overall, Tekashi 6ix9ine's repeated legal troubles underscore the challenges he faces as he attempts to navigate his celebrity status while simultaneously dealing with the repercussions of his past associations and actions. The continued legal scrutiny he faces reflects broader issues related to accountability and the consequences of criminal behavior within the entertainment industry.
