Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Lawyer Wants Him Out Of Prison Early Because Of Coronavirus
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Tekashi 6ix9ine’s lawyer is seeking to get him released early due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic.
The rapper, real name Daniel Hernandez, was handed 24 months in prison in December last year for racketeering and other offences, following heated and highly controversial testimony against fellow members of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods gang.
Despite serving just over three months of his sentence, Tekashi’s attorney is appealing for early release out of concern for his health and safety behind bars, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
His lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, wrote a letter to the judge citing Tekashi’s pre-existing asthma, which would make transmission of the virus more dangerous (according to TMZ, the rapper has been recently suffering from shortness of breath, with prison officials refusing to let him see a doctor). Late last year, he was also diagnosed with sinusitis and bronchitis.
It’s a dilemma circulating US prisons and jails – while it’s easy for people on the outside to practice social distancing and self-isolate, inmates don’t have that same luxury.
Robert Greifinger, a physician with 25 years of experience in prison healthcare, told NPR:
There are crowding issues, ventilation issues, security issues where people have to be checked and monitored fairly frequently. So it’s really hard to do.
Since jail and prison staff and prisoners tend to be younger, one thinks initially that it’s not going to be a big problem. But remember that staff work shifts, they come in and out of the facility, and they may be bringing that infection home to people who have compromised immune systems.
Despite a two-year sentence – drastically reduced from 47 years due to his cooperation with authorities – Tekashi was already cruising towards early release in August this year. Dawn Florio, part of his legal team, told Complex: ‘The reason why he’s getting released early is because he’s the perfect model prisoner.’
While there’s no confirmation yet of whether the judge’s request has been approved – however, with recent events, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if he was released.
Over in Utah, at least 90 inmates have been released from Salt Lake County jail as confirmed COVID-19 cases ramp up in the state. Those released will be nonviolent offenders, mostly in jail for technical violations or failure to attend court dates.
Steve Burton, executive director at the jail, told The Salt Lake Tribune: ‘Utah’s jails and prisons are about to face a public health catastrophe unless immediate steps are taken to reduce the number of people who are currently incarcerated.’
While Tekashi may be granted early release, the fallout of ‘snitching’ and a host of other legal issues suggest a hard road ahead for the rapper.
It’s okay to not panic. LADbible and UNILAD’s aim with our coronavirus campaign, Cutting Through, is to provide our community with facts and stories from the people who are either qualified to comment or have experienced first-hand the situation we’re facing. For more information from the World Health Organization on coronavirus, click here.
Topics: Music, Coronavirus, COVID-19, prison, Rap, Tekashi 6ix9ine
