New York, NY – Tekashi 6ix9ine took the stand last December as the government’s star witness int he case against Nine Trey Gansgsta Blood members Aljermiah “Nuke” Mack and Anthony “Harv” Ellison.
As a direct result of 6ix9ine’s testimony, Mack was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
According to the New York Post, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer sentenced Mack to 17 years in prison on Monday (February 24) while pointing out Mack had done “nothing to accept responsibility” for his leadership role in the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods set.
Engelmayer explained had Mack pleaded guilty to the charges, his sentence would’ve been significantly shorter.
Despite a character statement from Bushwick High School teacher and dean Pedro Sierra — who said Mack was “well respected in the community” — Engelmayer didn’t budge.
Mack allegedly recruited a prolific drug dealer into the gang and knowingly sold a deadly cocktail of fentanyl mixed with heroin. He was originally facing life in prison.
During court proceedings, he reportedly pleaded with the judge to be lenient.
“My life is in the palm of your hands, judge,” he said. “The community I grew up in is socially isolated. I only had two options: death or a jail sentence.”