Prosecutors recommend reduced sentence for Tekashi 6ix9ine

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has agreed not to prosecute the rapper if he fully cooperates

Tekashi 6ix9ine may be released from prison earlier than expected under new terms of his recent guilty plea.

The 22-year-old rapper, real name Daniel Hernandez, was facing a minimum of 47 years and a maximum of life in prison after being charged with several crimes last November, including racketeering, conspiracy, firearms offences and drugs trafficking.

As revealed in a plea deal which is now newly unsealed, in exchange for his “complete cooperation” in the case, which includes a testimony before a grand jury, the Attorney’s Office have agreed “not to prosecute the defendant for the crimes set forth in Counts One through Nine…as well as additional crimes that the defendant has told the government about.

A judge will decide the terms of the rapper’s sentencing in a hearing next January but this latest plea deal could see the rapper released as early next year. The new court documents state: “should the defendant successfully cooperate, the government agrees that it will file at the time of sentencing a motion…for a sentence below any mandatory minimum.”

Back in November, the New York rapper initially entered a not guilty plea to the racketeering and firearms charges levelled against him. He was arrested by federal police last year (November 18) after a five-year-long investigation into violent gang Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, of which he was accused of being a member.

At the time, his solicitor said his “gangster image” was just part of his act. Lance Lazzaro said: “An entertainer who portrays a ‘gangster image’ to promote his music does not make him a member of an enterprise.”

In a statement following the controversial star’s arrest, US attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged in the indictment, this gang, which included platinum-selling rap artist Tekashi 6ix9ine, wreaked havoc on New York City, engaging in brazen acts of violence.

“Showing reckless indifference to others’ safety, members of the gang were allegedly involved in robberies and shootings, including a shooting inside the crowded Barclay’s Center, and a shooting in which an innocent bystander was hit.”

However, on January 23, Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charges. In his plea, he said: “I apologize to the Court, to anyone who was hurt, to my family, friends and fans for what I have done and who I have let down.”

Reviewing his debut album ‘Dummy Boy’ last year, a record the rapper released whilst in prison, NME said: “Tekashi has released ‘Dummy Boy’ at the apex of his fame, but at this stage, he’s little more than an internet phenomenon and controversy magnet who also raps.”