Five of Tekashi6ix9ine's bodyguards - including retired NYPD detective - are accused of chasing fan for 20 blocks using SUVs with emergency sirens before breaking his phone because he'd filmed the rapper
Tekashi 6ix9ine’s bodyguards allegedly chased down a fan who tried to shoot cell phone video of the rapper in New York, pursuing him for 20 blocks with SUVs before breaking his phone and pointing a Taser at him.
The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr announced indictments on Monday against five members of the rap star’s personal security detail, including a retired NYPD detective.
The bodyguards allegedly pursued the fan using SUVs that were outfitted with emergency lights and sirens.
The former detective, Daniel Laperuta, has also been charged with falsely claiming to police that the fan threatened the bodyguards with a weapon.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office on Monday announced indictments against five bodyguards employed by rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine (pictured above in February). Tekashi 6ix9ine’s bodyguards allegedly chased down a fan who tried to shoot cell phone video of the rapper in New York last year, pursuing him for 20 blocks with SUVs before breaking his phone and pointing a Taser at him.
One of those indicted is Daniel Laperuta, 44, a retired NYPD detective who is alleged to have fabricated claims that a fan of Tekashi 6ix9ine threatened him and other members of the rapper's security detail with a firearm. Laperuta is seen above on Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court
Another bodyguard, Egardo Cortez, is pictured above in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday
Cortez's cousin, Christian Cortez, also made an appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday
'A celebrity entourage is not a police department, and Manhattan is not the Wild West,' said Vance.
'As alleged, these highly-compensated vigilantes caravanned through the streets of Harlem with sirens flashing in order to track a man down and steal and break his phone.
'Along the way, a retired NYPD Detective tried to cover up their conduct by lying to his former colleagues and repeatedly claiming the victim had threatened to shoot them.
'False reports – especially about firearms – can carry devastating consequences and fortunately, no one was injured or killed in the actual police response.'
Manhattan prosecutors say that on August 9 of last year, a 34-year-old man and his girlfriend spotted Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, while driving in Harlem.
Laperuta, who is retired from the NYPD, allegedly flashed an official department Member of Service card. He is pictured in his uniform as an NYPD cop
Laperuta, a resident of Central Valley, New York, has been charged with robbery in the first and second degrees; criminal impersonation in the first degree; and falsely reporting an incident in the third degree
Egardo Cortez (right) and his cousin, Christian Cortez (left), have been charged with felony counts of robbery and criminal impersonation
Christian Cortez (sitting down at the table) is alleged to have pointed a Taser at the fan who was chased down by the rapper's security detail. Egardo Cortez (seen standing behind his cousin) is alleged to have wrestled with the fan as he tried to retrieve his stolen cell phone
Christian Cortez (left) and Egardo Cortez are residents of Bridgeport, Connecticut, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office
The rapper, who in 2019 was sentenced to two years in prison for taking part in a drive-by shooting as a member of a gang, was surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards.
When the bodyguards saw the man trying to record video of the rap star, they ‘shouted at him and began to chase him as he drove away,’ according to the Manhattan DA’s Office.
The bodyguards who were in three different SUVs pursued the man for some 20 blocks. The SUVs were equipped with emergency flashing lights and sirens normally seen on police vehicles and ambulances.
The fan who was chased then saw a marked police car and motioned for the officer to help, but Laperuta, who is retired from the NYPD, allegedly flashed an official department Member of Service card.
Laperuta is then alleged to have told the officers that the fan had threatened him and other members of Tekashi 6ix9ine’s security detail with a gun.
According to Vance’s office, the bodyguards ‘boxed in’ the fan’s car at the corner of 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard, forcing him to pull the car over.
Another bodyguard, Sammy Sprouse, is alleged to have approached the fan’s car, opened the driver’s side, door, unbuckled the seat belt, and pulled his arm, knocking the phone out of his hand.
The image above shows Tekashi6ix9ine with bodyguards in Philadelphia in September 2018. There is no suggestion any of the men in this picture are the men who have been indicted
Tekashi 6ix9ine pled guilty in Feb 2019 to conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery. The crimes took place during the time he spent as a member of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods
The rapper, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, is seen above in a New York court in October 2018. He testified against his fellow Nine Trey gang members in order to get a reduced sentence
The 26-year-old rapper was released early from prison in April 2020 and remained under house arrest for the last four months of his two-year sentence
Kristian Fuhse, another member of the security detail, is alleged to have then stomped on the phone.
The fan quickly got out of his car and tried to retrieve his phone. He ‘wrestled’ with another member of the rapper’s entourage, Egardo Cortez, according to prosecutors.
Laperuta is then alleged to have approached the fan and the other bodyguards with his hand on his holstered gun.
Moments later, another bodyguard, Christian Cortez, pulled out a Taser and aimed it at the fan, it has been alleged.
An unmarked police car arrived at the scene soon afterward, prompting the bodyguards to quickly get back into their SUVs and flee, according to the criminal complaint.
Anthony 'Harv' Ellison (left) was sentenced last November to 24 years in prison for kidnapping Tekashi6ix9ine at gunpoint in July 2018
Laperuta is then alleged to have gone to the NYPD’s 28th Precinct to file a formal complaint against the fan. He once again is alleged to have claimed that the fan threatened the bodyguards with a gun.
When an NYPD lieutenant cast doubt on the plausibility of Laperuta’s claims, Laperuta is alleged to have withdrawn his complaint and left the precinct.
Laperuta, a resident of Central Valley, New York, has been charged with robbery in the first and second degrees; criminal impersonation in the first degree; and falsely reporting an incident in the third degree.
Sprouse, Christian and Egardo Cortez, and Fuhse have all been charged with robbery and criminal impersonation.
If convicted, they could face up to 25 years in state prison.
Tekashi 6ix9ine’s security detail has made headlines in recent years.
Nearly two weeks after the alleged incident with the fan, the rapper and four of his security guards were seen on a New York City subway maskless - this despite rules mandating riders wear face coverings to guard against COVID-19.
Earlier this year, the rapper was sued by a California-based private security firm alleging that he failed to pay a $75,000 bill for services provided.
A hospital photo of Tekashi69's injuries after he was kidnapped and robbed. He claimed he escaped by jumping out of his captors' vehicle
Tekashi 6ix9ine hired bodyguards from the Metropolitan Patrol three months after he was kidnapped, beaten, and robbed of almost $800,000 in jewelry and cash.
Last November, Anthony Ellison, 33, was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for his role in the kidnapping.
Ellison was also sentenced for the slashing of another man that left him permanently disfigured.
After his own arrest, Tekashi 6ix9ine pleaded guilty and became a cooperator.
At Ellison’s trial last year, the rapper testified about his involvement with the gang, the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.
He described the kidnapping, saying Ellison and another man forced him into a stolen car at gunpoint.
He said the men drove him around, stopping sometimes to beat and taunt him as he begged for his life.
The men ultimately took him to his Brooklyn home, where they stole a bag full of jewelry before driving him a few blocks away and releasing him, he said.
In 2018, Tekashi 6ix9ine had a multiplatinum hit song, Fefe, with Nicki Minaj, which peaked at No. 3 on the pop charts, and Stoopid, featuring imprisoned rapper Bobby Shmurda.
In April of 2020, Tekashi 6ix9ine began serving home confinement for the last four months of a two-year prison term he was given for his role in a drive-by shooting in New York that he committed when he was with the gang.
Weeks later, he released a new video, Gooba.
The rapper declined to enter the witness protection program, insisting that he could pay for his own private security detail.
The decision is considered risky given the fact that the gangs that he testified against at trial in order to get a lighter sentence may seek revenge.
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