Tekashi 6ix9ine's Federal Charges: Everything We Know

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Rapper Tekashi69, real name Daniel Hernandez and also known as 6ix9ine, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Tekashi 69, arrives for his arraignment on assault charges in County Criminal Court #1 at the Harris County Courthouse on August 22, 2018 in Houston, Texas.
A timeline of 6ix9ine's recent legal issues.

2018 might be the year we witness the rise and fall of Tekashi 6ix9ine. The “GUMMO” rapper has dominated the rap game with his music and his trolling antics alike. Earlier this week, 6ix9ine made headlines after he and four others, including his former manager Shotti, were arrested on racketeering and firearms charges. The rapper is now facing a life sentence for his connection to the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods in New York, who have been accused of committing acts of murder, robbery, drug trafficking and more.

Typically, it would be easier to gain clarity from a legal situation once more information is released, but with 6ix9ine’s case, it seems like things have gotten a bit more complicated. We’ve created a timeline of the moments leading up the rapper’s arrest and his current legal situation.

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Tekashi 6ix9ine Fires His Whole Team Ahead Of American Tour And DUMMY BOY Release.

Tekashi 6ix9ine has been preparing for the release of his album, DUMMY BOY for the past few weeks, as well as a tour that was expected to launch a week before the album dropped. However, days before kicking off his first-ever American tour, he announced that he fired his whole team and canceled the tour, all while suggesting that people from his team have been taking money from him.

6ix9ine Appears On The Breakfast Club

During his recent appearance on the Breakfast Club, 6ix9ine went into detail about why he fired his team, including his former manager Shotti. The rapper went into detail about how MTA Bookings (who have since threatened the rapper with legal action) were forced to put more money into hiring security and local police over fears that his presence would entice violence. He went on to explain how people from his team, without saying names, were taking money from him.

During the interview, 6ix9ine revealed that a team member ended up stealing $2.5M from him; after the promoter directly contacted 6ix9ine, he found out that someone pocketed some of his profits. It was recently revealed that his ex-manager, Shotti, was the culprit behind the missing cash.

6ix9ine Arrested On RICO Charges

6ix9ine, Shotti, and three other men were arrested on racketeering and firearms charges days after the rapper announced the mass firing. Assistant U.S. district attorney revealed that the rapper’s life was on the line after his interview with the Power 106 radio show, claiming his enemies wanted to “super violate him” and ultimately prompting his arrest. Law enforcement offered to protect 6ix9ine on Saturday, which he declined. They picked him up on Sunday after they learned he was heading to a casino where he ex-associates were located, fearing a random shooting could put innocent bystanders in harm’s way.

Possible Life Sentence

Tekashi 6ix9ine was indicted on six counts including:

  • Racketeering conspiracy.
  • Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged.
  • Two counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering stemming from an incident in April.
  • Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was brandished
  • One count of violent crime in aid of racketeering stemming from an incident in July.

According to reports, the Feds have been watching the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods as far back as 2013. The rapper’s charges stem from a few incidents that occurred throughout the year, including the Barclay’s Center shooting and his alleged role in a robbery that occurred in April 2018. The police used his social media and surveillance footage as evidence. Law enforcement also used photos of himself with Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods as evidence confirming his gang affiliation. The rapper is facing a max sentence of life in prison for the firearms charges.

Denied Bail, Placed In Gen. Pop Of “Brutal” Brooklyn Prison

Even after offering to hand over his passport and the rest of his bank account ($1.7M), the rapper was denied bail. According to the judge, Tekashi 6ix9ine is still a threat to the community even if placed on house arrest, which his lawyer initially tried to offer. Due to 6ix9ine’s alleged membership to the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, they judge claimed that he “would still be able to direct acts of violence by telephone,” a claim that was seemingly proven when footage of the rapper allegedly calling a hit on Tadoe surfaced earlier today.

6ix9ine was placed in the general population section of Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn which has been described as “brutal.” While many have been worried about the rapper’s place in the prison facility; through his lawyer, Tekashi confirmed that he’s doing fine, though deeply concerned about his family.

“DUMMY BOY” Pushed Back

Through an exclusive statement from 6ix9ine’s BFF Akademiks, it was revealed that 6ix9ine’s album DUMMY BOY -- featuring Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Lil Baby & more -- was pushed back. “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have postponed the release of Tekashi 6ix9ine’s ‘DUMMY BOY’ until further notice,” reads a statement from his team via Instagram.

6ix9ine’s Lawyer Denies Gang Affiliation

The prosecutors are convinced of 6ix9ine’s role in the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, but his lawyer, Lance Lazarro, claims that it’s simply an act. Lazzaro said that 6ix9ine is an “entertainer who portrays a ‘gangster image’ to promote his music” which "does not make him a member of an enterprise." In fact, Lazarro tried to paint 6ix9ine as the victim in this scenario. “Mr. Hernandez became victim of this enterprise and later took steps by firing employees and publicly denounced this enterprise through a morning show,” he said.

6ix9ine Transferred To New Prison for “Security Reasons”

The rapper’s placement in gen. pop found him roaming the prison grounds among Crips and Bloods without protection, but he has since managed to get transferred to another prison. Reports initially indicated that he was released from federal prison, but he was simply sent to another facility. 6ix9ine is currently in a unit with “neutral inmates,” which essentially means that no gang members are roaming around, which was exactly what he asked for. His lawyer stated that the was the transfer was due to “security reasons” as 6ix9ine was receiving threats from gang members.

What’s interesting about the new facility is that it’s used to house witnesses who cut deals: a.k.a snitches. There hasn’t been any confirmation that he’s been working with the police, but many seemed to be convinced that he is.


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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