Controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has turned himself in to authorities, commencing a three-month prison sentence at a notorious Brooklyn detention facility that currently houses several high-profile inmates, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
A High-Profile Incarceration
The artist, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The 29-year-old had pleaded guilty last year to violating the terms of his probation by possessing cocaine and MDMA. A judge subsequently ordered him to begin serving his sentence on 6 January.
Speaking to the press outside the jail, Hernandez expressed an unusual ambition for his time behind bars. He stated his hope to forge a connection with the detained Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, who is being held at the same facility alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. The pair were captured during a military raid in Caracas last Saturday and face federal narco-terrorism charges, to which they have pleaded not guilty.
"I want to dance with Maduro," Hernandez told TMZ, seemingly referencing the president's public dance routines that reportedly angered members of the former Trump administration. He added that he would also like to invite Maduro to play cards during their shared custody.
Familiar Surroundings for the Rapper
This is not Hernandez's first experience with incarceration alongside notable figures. In a recent Instagram video, he reminded followers of his past claims. "Yo guys, remember when I told you that I was arrested, I was in prison with Diddy, the president of Honduras and Sam Bankman-Fried, I believe, the FTX guy. And you guys thought I was lying?" he said.
He continued, "Now I'm about to go meet the president of Venezuela. I have that luck of just being locked up with presidents." Hernandez also mentioned accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione, another inmate at the MDC, saying he looked forward to playing chess and eating ramen noodles with them.
The Metropolitan Detention Center has a history of housing famous prisoners, including Ghislaine Maxwell, R. Kelly, and Sean 'Diddy' Combs at various points. However, prison experts suggest Hernandez is unlikely to have casual contact with Maduro. High-profile inmates are typically held separately from the general population, often in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) under restrictive conditions.
A History of Legal Troubles
Hernandez was considered fortunate to receive only a three-month sentence after a judge described him as a "dumpster fire" during his hearing. In addition to the drug possession charges, he admitted to assaulting a man in a shopping mall who had called him a "snitch" to his face.
His probation stemmed from his 2020 release after he provided testimony against the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods in a racketeering case, alleging the gang had double-crossed him. His criminal record includes a 2015 guilty plea for using a child in a sexual performance, which resulted in a four-year probation period.
Despite his turbulent legal history, which once included facing a minimum of 47 years on racketeering and weapons charges, Hernandez has maintained a significant public profile. He achieved multiplatinum success with his 2018 song "Fefe" featuring Nicki Minaj, which peaked at number three on the pop charts.
Whether his hopes of socialising with a head of state behind bars materialise remains to be seen, but his latest stint in custody adds another chapter to his controversial public narrative.
