Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine gets 2 years for racketeering, firearms, drug offenses

NEW YORK (WGN) -- Tekashi 6ix9ine, the flamboyant Brooklyn rapper who pleaded guilty to racketeering and testified against several former gang associates, was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday.

He was also sentenced to five years supervised release plus 300 hours of community service.

His attorney Lance Lazzaro had asked the court to sentence him to time served, saying that he has a limited criminal history and that he provided “extraordinary assistance and cooperation with the government,” according to a court filing. He gave the government an “insider's view” of the Nine Trey gang, Lazzaro wrote, and even testified in court against two fellow gang members.

Prosecutors formally requested in a sentencing memo that 6ix9ine, born Daniel Hernandez, receive a reduced sentence because of his testimony and information.

Still, they argued he and other gang members “wreaked havoc” in public places around New York City, including a March 2018 shooting in Times Square, an April 2018 shooting at the Barclay's Center, and a June 2018 shooting at the W Hotel in Times Square.

6ix9ine pleaded guilty to nine charges in February, including racketeering, and informed on his associates, according to court documents. He testified as a witness during the trials of Anthony Ellison and Aljermiah Mack, who were both convicted of felonies, Lazzaro wrote.

Hernandez was previously arrested in 2015 for filming a 13-year-old performing sex acts and posting the video to Instagram, according to the government's sentencing memo. He pleaded guilty to use of a child in a sexual performance and was sentenced to probation, prosecutors said.