The federal government is pushing for 6ix9ine to return to prison rather than receive house arrest after violating the terms of his supervised release — again.
In a sentencing letter dated Thursday (Nov. 13), prosecutors cite the rapper’s possession of cocaine and MDMA, along with his assault on someone inside a Florida mall, as grounds for a 3-to-9–month prison sentence. They also want him to serve a fresh two-year term of supervised release afterward.
The letter additionally brings up a prior warning from the court — issued during his last violation hearing — that “violence of any sort” would be considered a “grave breach of trust, warranting revocation of supervised release, and a return to prison.”
While prosecutors note they take “no joy” in seeking prison time for 6ix9ine, whom they refer to as a “former cooperator,” they say it’s necessary in order to “send a message to Hernandez and other Government cooperators—or those considering cooperating with the Government—that they are not above the law… and that when they earn leniency at sentencing, this is not to be taken as a green-light to recidivate.”
In a separate letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer, prosecutors acknowledge that the Florida Probation Office overseeing 6ix9ine has essentially thrown in the towel and wants him off their caseload. Probation is recommending three months of home confinement followed by complete release from supervision.
According to prosecutors, the department believes it has “exhausted all efforts and resources to correct Mr. Hernandez’s behavior.”
But prosecutors strongly disagree, arguing that letting the controversial rapper walk away from supervision would send the wrong message.
The government’s letters come shortly after 6ix9ine’s attorney, Lance Lazzaro, urged the judge not to impose jail time.
“Due to Mr. Hernandez’s classification, he always serves his jail time segregated and fully isolated from other inmates,” Lazzaro wrote. “As a result, Mr. Hernandez is given extremely limited social interaction… and very little time outside to get fresh air and exercise.”
6ix9ine’s plea follows his admission that he violated his supervised release through drug possession and assault. At the time of the mall incident, he was already awaiting sentencing for a previous violation involving MDMA and cocaine.
