Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, real name Daniel Hernandez, is set to be freed from prison today over coronavirus fears.
He is currently serving a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to various charges. Having already served 13 months of his sentence, he was due to be released this August.
The 23-year-old is serving his time at a prison in upstate New York, which is the epicenter of the US outbreak of coronavirus.
The rapper was slammed for "snitching" on others during his trial:
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However, because of the unprecedented situation in New York, the rapper is reportedly being released early over fears for the city's entire population.
Per Rolling Stone, attorney Dawn Florio said on Wednesday: "It's a foregone conclusion, he's getting released."
On Sunday, the 23-year-old's attorney wrote to the courts, explaining that Hernandez was at high risk of suffering complications from the virus having been diagnosed with bronchitis and sinusitis and hospitalized for treatment for them late last year. He also has asthma.
Lance Lazzaro added that the rapper had been experiencing shortness of breath in prison, but had been unable to access medical treatment because of prison officials.
Judge Paul Englemeyer said that he lacked the authority to approve the 23-year-old's release, but said that if he'd had prior knowledge of the pandemic and the rapper's health problems, the court would have allowed him to serve the final months of his sentence at home.
The BOP said in an email that they did "not have any authority or oversight of his case as he is not in a BOP facility."
"If the Court orders a compassionate release for him, that information will be provided to the US Marshals Service and the GEO facility for processing," the email read.
Pictured below is a deserted Times Square during the pandemic.
In the interview with Rolling Stone, Florio continued: "He could do it today, or later, we’re just waiting on the judge’s decision."
Prosecutors had until 5 pm yesterday to make a case for keeping the 23-year-old in prison during the pandemic. United States Attorney Geoffrey Berman said: "The Government does not oppose the defendant's motion for compassionate release."
"Based on what [Engelmayer] wrote this morning, it seems likely he's going to grant it," Lazzaro added. "I believe the judge will, at some point, approve my motion for compassionate release. I don't want to put words into the judge's mouth."