Tekashi69 Facing Life In Prison

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Tekashi69 is facing a minimum of 25 years in prison after being arrested on racketeering and firearms offences. 

The rapper was arrested in New York City yesterday (November 19), by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as part of a joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.

Racketeering is the involvement in fraudulent and dishonest business dealing.

Since the arrest, a 17-page indictment has been released by the Department of Justice explaining the rapper’s situation.

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The report explains Tekashi was one of six people arrested for being associated with, or a member of a violent New York City gang.

In October, Tekashi was sentenced to four years probation in a child sex case, with the requirements he perform 1,000 hours of community service and avoid all gang activity.

Having breached the conditions of his probation, the rapper now faces time in prison.

The indictment explains he’s facing six counts, including conspiring to commit crimes which include armed robbery, drug dealing, and shootings.

The most serious of the charges is the discharging of a firearm while committing a crime, which is punishable with a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison, and could potentially carry a life sentence for the BEBE singer.

News of the rapper’s situation was shared by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on Twitter.

The thread began:

Recording artist and performer Tekashi 6ix 9ine and five other members and associates of violent New York City gang charged in Manhattan federal court with racketeering and firearms offenses.

The tweets continued with a statement from US attorney Geoffrey S. Berman:

As alleged in the indictment, this gang, which included platinum-selling rap artist Tekashi 6ix 9ine, 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.

Thanks to the extraordinary work of HSI, ATF, and the NYPD, the defendants will now face justice in federal court.

The gang which Tekashi is said to have been a part of, engaged in the acts of violence to protect their drug business, retaliate against gang rivals, and promote their violent reputation.

HSI Special Agent in Charge, Angel M. Melendez said:

Members of Nine Trey, who wielded firearms and pushed highly addictive drugs onto New York City streets, allegedly showed an unprecedented level of violence this year, and for that they are now facing multiple charges, including an incident in which an innocent bystander was shot.

This criminal enterprise has no business in our city, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that Nine Trey crew members, including the more well-known ‘Tekashi 6ix 9ine,’ are in a place where they cannot inflict further violence on our communities.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to [email protected]. 

Emily Brown

Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.