Rapper Tekashi69 given early release from prison due to coronavirus pandemic

Rapper Tekashi69 was released from federal prison on Thursday due to the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic, according to court records.

Born Daniel Hernandez, the 23-year-old rapper pleaded guilty to shootings and gang robberies last year and testified against former members of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, according to The New York Times.

Hernandez’s lawyer argued that he has asthma, which makes him more susceptible to the risks of the virus, according to The New York Times. Hernandez was tested last week for shortness of breath.

Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered that Hernandez serve the rest of his sentence in home incarceration and will be tracked with GPS monitoring, according to court records.

“The defendant must remain at his residence except to seek any necessary medical treatment or to visit his attorney, in each instance with prior notice and approval by the Probation Department,” Engelmayer wrote.

People with underlying medical conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, have a higher risk of getting sicker from coronavirus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hernandez was arrested in 2019 for drug trafficking, weapons charges and racketeering, according to ABC News. Hernandez testified against other associates of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods and prosecutors said it led to his co-defendants pleading guilty, according to ABC.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Rapper Tekashi69 given early release from prison due to coronavirus pandemic."