Tekashi 69 Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison

The rapper Tekashi 69 was sentenced Wednesday in a federal court in Manhattan to two years in prison as part of a cooperation deal that saw him testify against fellow members of his former gang.

The musician, born Daniel Hernandez, was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation. He has spent the past 13 months in jail, which will count toward his sentence.

He’s set to be released at the end of 2020, when he’ll also be sentenced to 300 hours of community service and will be required to pay a $35,000 fine.

According to an Inner City Press reporter who live-tweeted the court hearing, Tekashi read a prepared statement to the judge before his sentencing. He said that he wanted the opportunity to be free and help inspire young people to change their lives, relating to those with difficult upbringings.

“I failed these people. They believed in Daniel Hernandez. I was too busy making the negative image in my 69 persona. I know God has a bigger plan for me. I want to inspire the youth that it never too late to change,” Tekashi said. "If I can change for the better, so can they."