Troubled rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has pleaded not guilty to firearms and racketeering charges and is set to go to trial.
The admitted child sex offender is accused of carrying out armed robberies and organising shootings of rivals as part of the Nine Trey Bloods gang.
- Tekashi69 faces jail, sex offender registration after child sex offence
- Tekashi 69 an 'innocent victim' of Nine Trey Bloods, claims lawyer
Tekashi69, real name Daniel Hernandez, reportedly appeared in court in New York to enter the plea before the judge set a trial date in September, 2019.
That means the 'Gummo' hitmaker faces a long wait in jail, after already having been behind bars since November 18.
However, a pre-trial conference is set for January 22 and his lawyer, Lance Lazarro, plans to appeal the decision to not allow bail.
Tekashi69 was arrested along with multiple associates as part of a major joint operation targeting the Nine Trey Bloods, who are alleged of widespread drug dealing in addition to the violent offences.
"As alleged in the indictment, this gang, which included platinum-selling rap artist Tekashi 6ix9ine, wreaked havoc on New York City, engaging in brazen acts of violence," US Attorney Geoffrey S Berman said in a statement.
"Showing reckless indifference to others' safety, members of the gang were allegedly involved in robberies and shootings, including a shooting inside the crowded Barclay's Center, and a shooting in which an innocent bystander was hit."
Lazarro claims that Tekashi69 was only pretending to be a gangster to sell his music and alleges he became a victim of the Nine Trey Bloods.
Since his arrest, the rapper has faced claims of "special treatment" behind bars, as other inmates taunted him over being a child predator.
Tekashi69 has previously narrowly dodged a prison sentence after pleading guilty to sexual offences that involved a 13-year-old victim.
Newshub.
