Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, faces another prison sentence after a federal judge in Manhattan ordered him to serve three additional months for violating his supervised release terms. The ruling, issued on December 5, 2025, highlights the ongoing legal challenges for the controversial artist, pushing his turbulent public life further into the spotlight.
Quick Read
- Controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine is back behind bars, sentenced to three additional months for repeatedly violating the terms of his supervised release.
- U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer expressed clear frustration with Hernandez, stating the artist “keeps getting into trouble” despite claims of threats from his past cooperation.
- The latest violations include a Florida assault and drug possession, further delaying any potential career comeback.
- The sentence raises questions about whether this consequence will finally lead the embattled artist to adhere to the law, or if he faces a continued cycle of legal woes.
Hernandez initially received a remarkably lenient two-year sentence in 2019. This was part of a cooperation deal in a high-profile racketeering case against the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, which significantly reduced his potential time behind bars. He was granted early release in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Hernandez’s history of legal troubles, which predates his 2017 rise to fame with songs like “Gummo,” has persisted. The recent sentencing stems from his admission in federal court to violating his supervised release. These violations include an August 8, 2025, assault on a man in a Florida mall and the possession of illicit substances, specifically cocaine and ecstasy, found during a police raid on his Miami home in March 2025. These actions represent a clear breach of trust placed in him by the court, as detailed in publicly available federal court documents.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer voiced his palpable frustration during the sentencing hearing. Addressing Hernandez directly, the judge remarked:
“From time to time your actions suggest that you believe that ordinary rules don’t apply to you.”
— Paul Engelmayer, U.S. District Judge
The judge further asserted that Hernandez “keeps blowing it,” underscoring a pattern of disregard for his legal obligations and the leniency he had previously received.
In his defense, Hernandez has consistently claimed that he and his family have been targeted with threats and harassment as a direct result of his cooperation with authorities. He cited alarming incidents, including unknown individuals leaving “a coffin in front of my house with an animal in it” and “three masked gunmen held my mom at gunpoint.” Despite these claims, presented during his court appearances, the judge denied his lawyer’s request for six months of home confinement. Hernandez himself stated in court:
“I don’t think a prison is going to teach me anything.”
— Tekashi 6ix9ine, Rapper
This is not Hernandez’s first breach; he was previously sentenced to 45 days in jail in November 2024 for other probation violations, including failing drug tests and unauthorized travel. The judge’s decision for another three months signals a firm stance against continued non-compliance. Upon his release from this latest sentence, Hernandez will begin a fresh 12 months of probation, a period that will certainly be under intense scrutiny according to federal probation guidelines.
The new prison sentence casts a long shadow over 6ix9ine’s already turbulent career, potentially hindering any attempts at a comeback in the music industry. It also raises concerns for his family, who he states have suffered due to his past actions and cooperation. This ruling sends a clear message about accountability within the justice system, especially for those given significant leniency. The question remains whether this latest consequence will ultimately lead to a sustained change in behavior for the controversial artist, or if he is destined to continue a cycle of legal challenges.
