When Daniel Hernandez, the Brooklyn rapper known as Tekashi 6ix9ine, took the witness stand in September 2019, he named eight members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods tied to his own federal racketeering case, and he identified three well-known rappers — Jim Jones, Cardi B, and Trippie Redd — as having Bloods affiliations. If you are asking who 6ix9ine snitched on, those are the names, and the first group is the one that mattered in court.
Why He Cooperated
Hernandez was arrested in November 2018 alongside five other Nine Trey members and associates on racketeering conspiracy, firearms, and violent-crime charges out of the Southern District of New York.1U.S. Department of Justice. Recording Artist and Performer Tekashi 6ix9ine and Five Other Members and Associates Charged Several of the firearms counts carried mandatory minimums of seven or twenty-five years, and his total exposure topped 47 years in prison.
On January 23, 2019, he secretly pleaded guilty to nine counts, including racketeering conspiracy, three counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering, multiple firearms counts, and narcotics trafficking.2NBC New York. Tekashi 6ix9ine Pleaded Guilty to Nine Counts In open court he admitted, “I helped members of Nine Trey attempt to kill a rival gang member.”3The New York Times. Tekashi 6ix9ine Pleads Guilty
Part of what pushed him toward the government was personal. In July 2018, high-ranking Nine Trey member Anthony “Harv” Ellison kidnapped Hernandez at gunpoint in Brooklyn, beat him, and robbed him of his jewelry. Hernandez later told police he believed Ellison intended to kill him, and he testified that he put out a $50,000 bounty on Ellison in response.4Complex. Tekashi 6ix9ine Kidnapping Trial: What to Expect
The Nine Trey Members He Testified Against
These are the gang members and associates Hernandez implicated through his cooperation. All were charged in connection with the federal case, and all were convicted.
- Anthony “Harv” Ellison. One of the two defendants Hernandez testified against directly at trial. Hernandez described the July 2018 kidnapping in detail. Ellison was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, and maiming and assault with a dangerous weapon, and he was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison.5U.S. Department of Justice. High-Ranking Member of Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison After Trial
- Aljermiah “Nuke” Mack. The other trial defendant. Convicted of gun and drug charges and sentenced to 17 years.6New York Daily News. Aljermiah Mack, 9 Trey Gang Member Brought Down by Tekashi69, Sentenced to 17 Years
- Kifano “Shotti” Jordan. Hernandez’s former manager, whom he identified as the person who taught him the Nine Trey handshake and brought him into the gang’s orbit. Jordan pleaded guilty and received 15 years.7The New York Times. Tekashi Case Testimony
- Jamel “Mel Murda” Jones. The godfather of Nine Trey’s “Street Lineup.” Pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and was sentenced to more than 11 years.8U.S. Department of Justice. Leader of Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison
- Kintea “Kooda B” McKenzie. Hernandez testified that he paid McKenzie to shoot at rival rapper Chief Keef outside a Times Square hotel in June 2018, initially promising $20,000 but paying only $10,000 because McKenzie fired a single shot that missed. McKenzie pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and was sentenced to four and a half years.9NME. Tekashi69 Testifies That He Ordered Hit on Rival Rapper Chief Keef10U.S. Department of Justice. Recording Artist Kintea McKenzie Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison in Connection With 2018 Shooting
- Fuguan “Fu Banga” Lovick. Charged with firing a gun inside the Barclays Center during an April 2018 altercation. Pleaded guilty and received 85 months.11vLex. United States v. Lovick
- Jensel “Ish” Butler. Pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 months.12Revolt. First Defendant Sentenced in Tekashi 6ix9ine Racketeering Case
- Faheem “Crippy” Walter. Pleaded guilty to firearms and racketeering charges.13TheGrio. Godfather of 9 Trey Bloods Who Threatened to ‘Super Violate’ Tekashi 6ix9ine Pleads Guilty
From the stand, Hernandez also pointed out unnamed people in his “Gummo” and “Kooda” music videos as gang members, and he named Seqo Billy as the person who first connected him with the Nine Trey members who appeared in “Gummo.”14Vibe. Tekashi 6ix9ine Testimony Nine Trey Trial Takeaways Prosecutors said his cooperation helped drive several co-defendants to plead guilty.15ABC News. Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Sentenced to Prison
The Rappers He Named
Hernandez’s testimony extended beyond the people on trial. He identified three well-known hip-hop figures as having gang ties. None was charged.
- Jim Jones. Hernandez identified the veteran rapper as a Nine Trey member. Prosecutors played a wiretapped call in which a man Hernandez identified as Jones spoke with Jamel “Mel Murda” Jones about Hernandez, saying the gang would “have to violate shorty” because he was “on some bullshit.” Jim Jones was not charged.16Page Six. Tekashi 6ix9ine Testifies Cardi B Is Member of Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods Gang17Vibe. Tekashi Identifies Cardi B and Jim Jones as Nine Trey Members
- Cardi B. On cross-examination, Hernandez identified Cardi B as a Blood. Atlantic Records denied any Nine Trey affiliation, and Cardi B said on social media that she had been associated with the Brims, a different Bloods set. No legal consequences followed.18Pitchfork. Tekashi 6ix9ine Testifies at Trial That Cardi B and Jim Jones Are Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods
- Trippie Redd. Hernandez identified his rival as allegedly affiliated with the Five Nine Brims, another Bloods set, and described feuds with him.14Vibe. Tekashi 6ix9ine Testimony Nine Trey Trial Takeaways
What His Cooperation Got Him
On December 18, 2019, Judge Paul Engelmayer sentenced Hernandez to two years in prison, with credit for 13 months already served, plus five years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and a $35,000 fine.19Page Six. Tekashi 6ix9ine Gets Sentenced to 2 Years After Snitching on Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods He had faced a maximum of 47 years.20NBC News. Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Gets 2 Years in Exchange for Cooperation, ‘Brave’ Testimony
Judge Engelmayer called the cooperation “impressive,” “game-changing,” and “brave,” but rejected the argument that Hernandez had been exploited by Nine Trey, saying the rapper and the gang “benefited equally.” He told Hernandez his decision to join was “completely and utterly unnecessary” and that the crimes had been “undertaken for you or your benefit.” He added: “Bruce Springsteen sang about Murder Incorporated. You, Mr. Hernandez, essentially signed up for Murder Incorporated.”21Rolling Stone. Tekashi 6ix9ine Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
Hernandez was released early on April 2, 2020, after Judge Engelmayer granted a compassionate release request tied to the COVID-19 pandemic and his asthma. He served the balance under home confinement with GPS monitoring.22ABC News. Rapper Tekashi69 Released From Prison Early Amid Coronavirus Concerns
How the Hip-Hop World Responded
Reaction from the music industry was almost uniformly hostile. Snoop Dogg posted an Instagram meme defining “S.N.I.T.C.H.” as “Sorry N—- I’m tryna come home.” Future wrote on Instagram, “F— you snitch ass hoes, yall ain’t no different from that kid Tekashi.” 50 Cent mocked the testimony, focusing on Hernandez calling Jim Jones a “retired rapper.” Meek Mill posted, “69 going up in a federal courthouse today kids! Message of the day don’t be a internet gangsta…be yourself.”23XXL. 50 Cent, Meek Mill, More React to 6ix9ine Testifying
Hernandez reportedly turned down the federal Witness Security Program, planning instead to hire private security and continue his music career. U.S. Marshals acknowledged that his heavily tattooed face, including the large “69” on his forehead, would make concealing his identity under any witness protection setup exceptionally difficult.24Business Insider. Tekashi 69 Witness Protection, US Marshals Service