Rapper Daniel Hernandez, better known by his stage name ‘Tekashi 6ix9ine’, is back in the spotlight, this time, for admitting to breaking the law.
On Wednesday, July 23, the 29-year-old artist appeared in a New York federal court and told the judge that he had MDMA and cocaine in his Miami home earlier this year, which violated the rules of his supervised release.
The courtroom moment was serious, but Tekashi 6ix9ine was clear and straightforward when answering questions.
“On March 12, at my house in Miami, I was raided, and I possessed MDMA and residue of cocaine,” he said, adding that the drugs were found in a cabinet in the bedroom, which he had access to.
Judge Paul Engelmayer asked him directly if he had access to that cabinet, and Hernandez confirmed he did.
The rapper, dressed in a black hoodie and wearing his hair in long braids, now awaits sentencing, which is set for September 25. His lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, requested a later date so Hernandez can finish his remaining community service hours.
Also Read: ‘Freaky Tales’ OTT release: Pedro Pascal’s gritty drama drops on THIS date
Back in March, police raided 6ix9ine’s Florida home and charged him with four violations. However, during this week’s court hearing, prosecutors dropped two of the charges. These were related to a separate building on the property, a pool house, where a gun and other drugs were found.
Since that area was being used by his brother, and the DNA on the gun didn’t match 6ix9ine’s, the authorities decided not to include those findings in the final decision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Rebold made it clear that the government won’t push for punishment related to the pool house items. Instead, the focus will be only on what was found in Hernandez’s bedroom.
The punishment for the two remaining charges could range from three to nine months in prison for each one, according to federal guidelines.
However, Judge Engelmayer is not bound to follow these recommendations and can make his own decision.
The government will make its sentencing recommendation by September 18, while 6ix9ine’s legal team must submit theirs by September 11. Rebold mentioned he would, at the very least, request that Hernandez continue his supervised release. But he didn’t say much else about what the prosecution might push for.
In a somewhat hopeful note, the probation department shared that Tekashi 6ix9ine has been doing better since the March raid. They noted that he’s “turned the corner” and is on the right track. Judge Engelmayer agreed but also gave a strong warning.
Also Read: ‘Lilo & Stitch’ live-action movie lands online: When and where to watch
He stressed that from now until the sentencing date, it’s “exceptionally important” that Hernandez follows all the rules of his supervised release. The judge told him that if he breaks any more rules, the consequences “will be severe.”
After the hearing, attorney Lance Lazzaro seemed confident that things would go well. Speaking to ‘Complex’, he said, “He’s going to be fine. Right now, he’s in full compliance. He’s almost done with community service. If he continues on this path, I think everything will work out.”
Hernandez’s current legal situation stems from a much older case. Back in 2018, he was arrested in a major racketeering case involving the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. The case became popular after Hernandez chose to cooperate with the authorities and testify against other gang members. Since then, he has been under supervised release.