Embattled Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine née Daniel Hernandez appeared yesterday (November 26, 2018) before a judge at Thurgood Marshall Courthouse in Manhattan where he pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges described as including murder, robbery and narcotics trafficking in the indictment.
The 22-year old was arrested on on November 18th. At the time his attorney, Lance Lazarro, pushed for bail, which was denied.
At yesterday’s appearance, Tekashi was represented by Lazarro and newly-added attorney, Dawn Florio. He sat separately from the additional defendants named in the indictment including Kefano “Shotti” Jordan, Jamel “Mel Murda” Jones, and Jensel “Ish” Butler.
According to Complex, defendant Faheem “Crippy” Walter was in the hospital after he was shot last month at a celebratory meeting turned violent that included Tekashi and Elliot Grainge, the head of his label 10K Projects. Co-defendant, Fuguan “Fu Banga” Lovick, was in jail on separate charges and was able to attend the appearance.
After some wrangling over timing with Tekashi’s lawyer wanting as much time as possible to prepare the case, the judge set Tekashi’s trial date for September 2nd.
Outside the courtroom, his lawyer let it be known Tekashi was in a Queens facility after being transferred from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn last week because he was receiving threats from gang-affiliated inmates.
Regarding chatter about Tekashi potentially receiving a life sentence, former Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant Adam Bercovici was interviewed by Complex and said it was too soon to say. Said Bercovici, “I think it’s too early to say who’s going to jail for the rest of their life. This young rapper’s attorney might tell him, ‘Cooperate so you don’t go to jail.’ But if you look at RICO cases, deals are being made.”
In the meantime, there are rumors Tekashi’s album DUMMY BOY may launch today.
