COVID-19: Rapper Tekashi69 Granted Release from Prison

Tekashi69, an American rapper was released from prison yesterday over fears that his chronic asthma makes him vulnerable to COVID-19.

“He’s out and he’s very happy to be released,” his defense attorney, Lance Lazzaro; told NBC News after Judge Paul A. Engelmayer granted his motion for compassionate release.

Citing safety concerns, Lazzaro declined to reveal where Tekashi, 23, would stay for the final four months of his two-year sentence.

Tekashi69, real name is Daniel Hernandez, had been serving a 24-month sentence after pleading guilty to nine of racketeering, firearms offenses and drug trafficking at an upstate New York prison.

He has already served 13 months of his two-year sentence, and was due to be released in August 2020.

The decision to release him to home confinement comes as New York City is battling the spread of the coronavirus. This includes prisons and jails with at least 180 cases of coronavirus already confirmed at several jails in the City.

According to NME, Tekashi will serve his first four months of home incarceration with supervision, which will be enforced by GPS monitoring. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, he will have to stay at his residence.

Unless he asks permission from the probation department to seek medical treatment or talk with his lawyer.