Tekashi 6ix9ine (real name Daniel Hernandez) has been released from prison early after the asthmatic rapper expressed fears over the coronavirus pandemic.
The controversial rapper had served 17 months of a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, multiple firearms offenses, and narcotics trafficking.
According to a report on the TMZ website, a judge granted Tekashi’s early release from an upstate New York prison today (2 April).
He has been released on compassionate grounds after his lawyers put forward the argument that he was vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus as he is an asthma sufferer.
The conditions for his release are that he will serve the rest of his sentence at home on supervised release with a GPS monitor fitted for the first four months that he will serve at home. Additionally he must remain at an address approved by his probation officer.
Its also worked in Tekashi’s favour that New York has been heavily affected by coronavirus with more than 84,000 cases reported and over 2,220 deaths.
Earlier in the week Judge Paul Engelmayer had made it clear that he intended to release Tekashi. His letter written to federal prosecutors said;
‘The parties are advised that, provided that the Court has legal authority to grant the relief requested by defense counsel, the Court intends to do so.’
6ix9ine’s lawyer Lance Lazzaro argued for his client’s early release in a letter sent to the judge on March 22.
In the letter, Lazzaro wrote that 6ix9ine has “asthma and has regularly been hospitalized due to serious asthma attacks.”
Lazzarro continued, “Mr. Hernandez has been complaining to prison officials this week of shortness of breath, but apparently the warden of his facility will not allow Mr. Hernandez to go to the hospital despite the recommendation of the facility’s medical director that Mr. Hernandez be treated by a doctor at a hospital.”
The request for 6ix9ine’s early release was initially denied. He was granted release after a series of appeals. 6ix9ine had been expected to be released from prison on August 2.
