On Wednesday around 12:45 p.m. EST (Dec. 18), Tekashi 6ix9ine was sentenced to 24 months in prison with five years of supervised release at the Southern District New York courthouse before federal Judge Engelmayer.
“I impose 300 hours of community service when you get out and a fine of $35,000. Mr. Hernandez, the worst part is over,” Judge Engelmayer told the courtroom, per live tweets from Inner City Press reporter Matthew Russell Lee. “There is a great deal to be admired about you. [You’ve] learned a hard lesson here. I wish you very, very well.”
Inner City Press reports that 6ix9ine’s 13 months time served will be included in the sentence. Therefore, he is looking at a release in 11 months, toward the end of 2020.
During the nearly three-hour sentencing, the judge discussed the rapper’s charges, letters from his family, his helpful testimonies, attacks on Casanova, Chief Keef, Trippie Redd and more.
“We’re here for sentencing on charges including conspiracy, attempted murder, conspiracy to distribute heroin and four firearms charges,” Engelmayer began. The judge also explained that the government had dropped two counts of firearms against 6ix9ine.
Engelmayer described the letters he’d received, including letters from victims of 6ix9ine and Nine Trey Blood’s crimes. The judge also said he received a letter from a woman that claimed she and the rapper had a child in 2015.
Judge Engelmayer classified 6ix9ine’s criminal history as “Category 2,” referencing the rapper’s probation over using an underage actress in an explicit music video. 6ix9ine’s helpful testimony was brought up and his informant status was described. The court also revealed they began intercepting his phone calls after 6ix9ine’s “The Breakfast Club” appearance.
“So we met with Mr Hernandez and his counsel,” prosecutors said. “During the meeting Mr. Hernandez started to give us information about the gang, about the structure, who the key members were. And so it was more than Hernandez listening. He knew the writing was on the wall.”
Prosecutors continued to detail 6ix9ine’s information against the Nine Trey Bloods.
“I want to turn now to the significance and usefulness of his testimony,” prosecutors said. “Mr. Hernandez walked up through several acts of violence; he identified pertinent videos.”
Prosecution and Judge Engelmayer agreed the safety risk 6ix9ine had faced with turning on the gang and testifying against its members.
“Hernandez was moved to a special facility,” prosecutors said. “Even in there, he was put in a separate pod. This will follow him forever. Certain things that people take for granted, like going to the movies…”
“He faced some risk just for repudiating the gang,” Engelmayer added.
One victim of his crimes appeared at the sentencing, detailing how 6ix9ine had caused her emotional and physical injury.
“Everyday I wake up, I have scars on my back. I was out of work,” one person, a gunshot victim, said. “The actions took a lot of me. I still have to go to the doctors. And for him to sit up here. I want to see him apologize. My mother could have lost her daughter.”
Citing his stepfather’s murder, financial help to his mother and alleged manipulation by Nine Trey, 6ix9ine’s attorney asked for time served and three years supervised release.
When 6ix9ine took the stand, he apologized to the gunshot victim who appeared earlier in the sentencing and offered to pay her medical bills. He took responsibility for his actions and claimed he was “not a bad person.”
“I am not a victim. I put myself into this position from day one,” he said. “I allowed them in. That was my decision.”
“I wanted to prove something to the world,” he continued, speaking about his stardom. “I wanted the world to see me as an example, that you are in control of where you go. I used my platform to push the message, If I did it, why can’t you? I gave people hope.”
Before Judge Engelmayer declared the sentencing, 6ix9ine’s biological father requested to speak on his behalf. However, the judge denied his request, saying it was too late in the sentencing.
The aftermath of 6ix9ine’s sentencing will continue to play out. Back in October, the rapper signed a $10 million record deal with 10K Projects. TMZ previously reported that the label expects him to drop two more albums, and only then will he receive the money.
Find some more live tweets from 6ix9ine’s sentencing below.