Tekashi 6ix9ine was arrested in November of last year on racketeering charges. Newly unsealed court documents reveal that Tekashi, real name Daniel Hernandez, pleaded guilty on Saturday, January 23rd, to nine federal counts, including racketeering, conspiracy, firearms offenses, and narcotics trafficking.
Hernandez’ lawyer was quick to enter a defense for his client, alleging that his “gangster image” was just a part of his act, used to perpetuate a specific image on social media. “An entertainer who portrays a ‘gangster image’ to promote his music does not make him a member of an enterprise,” Lance Lazzaro said.
Hernandez was arrested in relation to a five-year investigation into the criminal activities of the Bloods street gang known as Nine Trey Bloods, of which he is accused of being a member.
“Members and associates of the Enterprise promoted and celebrated the criminal conduct of the Enterprise, namely narcotics distribution, acts involving violence, and the use of firearms, in music and on social media,” the initial indictment read. “The purposes of the Enterprise included preserving and protecting the power, territory, and profits of the Enterprise through acts involving murder… and threats of violence.”
Apparently, his tune changed as evidenced by the guilty plea entered. In addition to pleading guilty to nine counts, he also offered information on a number of other individuals associated with his crimes.
Writes Consequence of Sound, “As part of his guilty plea, 6ix9ine has agreed to cooperate with federal officials ‘against multiple violent people associated with the same criminal enterprise of which he admits, or will soon apparently admit, being a member,’ according to court records.” He already flipped on a former associate and implicated him in the attempted shooting of Chief Keef in June 2018.
Hernandez was facing 32 years to life in prison if convicted for his crimes. The guilty plea will no doubt affect his final sentencing, scheduled to take place next year, January 24, 2020.
via CoS