Is 6ix9ine in Jail? The Latest on the Controversial Rapper’s Legal Troubles

Posted: May 1, 2025 | By US Prison Guide Team

6ix9ine, the rainbow-haired rapper whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, has been a lightning rod in the music world since his 2017 breakout hit “Gummo.” Known for his aggressive style, gang affiliations, and a knack for stirring controversy, he’s as famous for his legal battles as his chart-topping tracks. With a history of arrests spanning nearly a decade, fans are always asking: Is 6ix9ine in jail? As of May 1, 2025, 6ix9ine is not in jail. He was released from federal custody on December 13, 2024, after serving 45 days for violating his supervised release, following an arrest on October 29, 2024, per Vice. He’s now under a year of extended probation with electronic monitoring and home confinement restrictions. Let’s dive into his tumultuous legal history, his polarizing career, and what’s next for the rapper who can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

Who Is 6ix9ine? The Rise of a Controversial Star

Daniel Hernandez, born May 8, 1996, in Bushwick, Brooklyn, grew up in a tough neighborhood, raised by his Puerto Rican mother after his father was murdered when he was 13. Dropping out of school in eighth grade, Hernandez worked odd jobs before diving into music in 2014 under the name 6ix9ine, inspired by Japanese anime and his affinity for the number 69, per Wikipedia. His 2017 single “Gummo” exploded, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, per Billboard. With rainbow hair, face tattoos, and a brash persona, he became a viral sensation, collaborating with Nicki Minaj on the 2018 hit “Fefe,” which hit No. 3 on the Hot 100, per Billboard.

6ix9ine’s debut album, Dummy Boy (2018), went platinum despite leaking early, per Forbes. But his ties to the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, a violent New York gang, led to his 2018 arrest on racketeering and weapons charges, per BBC. His decision to testify against the gang in 2019 made him a polarizing figure, earning him the label “snitch” in the rap community, per NME. Since then, his career has been a rollercoaster of legal drama and musical comebacks, keeping fans asking, “Is 6ix9ine in jail?”

The Nine Trey Fallout

6ix9ine joined Nine Trey in 2017, seeking street cred to boost his image, per BBC. He funded their activities and ordered violent acts, including a shooting targeting rival rapper Chief Keef, per Forbes. But after his 2018 arrest, he flipped, testifying against gang members Anthony Ellison and Aljermiah Mack, who were convicted of kidnapping and drug charges, per BBC. His cooperation slashed a potential 47-year sentence to just two years, per NBC News. The betrayal made him a pariah in hip-hop, but he leaned into the controversy, releasing music like TattleTales (2020) post-prison, per NME.

6ix9ine’s Legal History: A Decade of Chaos

6ix9ine’s legal troubles started long before his rap fame and have followed him relentlessly. From child sex charges to racketeering and probation violations, his rap sheet is extensive. Here’s a breakdown of his major legal battles, answering why fans keep asking, “Is 6ix9ine in jail?”

2015: Child Sex Charges

At 18, Hernandez pleaded guilty to using a minor in a sexual performance after filming a friend in a sex act with a 13-year-old girl, per Vulture. He was sentenced to four years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service in October 2015, avoiding jail but earning a spot on the sex offender registry, per Forbes. The case set a precedent for his legal woes, with Hernandez later admitting during his 2019 trial to domestic abuse against his ex-girlfriend from 2011 to 2018, per Vulture.

2018: Racketeering and Gang Involvement

In November 2018, 6ix9ine was arrested on federal charges of racketeering, firearms offenses, and conspiracy to commit murder, tied to his role with Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, per BBC. Facing a minimum of 47 years, he pleaded guilty in February 2019 to nine counts, including ordering violent acts like shootings and robberies, per NBC News. His testimony helped convict two gang leaders, slashing his sentence to two years, per BBC. Judge Paul Engelmayer credited his 13 months served, sentencing him in December 2019 with an expected release by November 2020, per BBC.

2020: Early Release Amid COVID-19

In April 2020, 6ix9ine was granted compassionate release four months early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, per CNN. His severe asthma and recent bronchitis hospitalization made him vulnerable, his lawyer Lance Lazzaro argued, per The Guardian. Judge Engelmayer approved, noting the “extraordinary” risk in New York jails, where 180 cases were reported, per The Guardian. Hernandez completed his sentence under home arrest with a GPS monitor, per BBC. Posts on X celebrated his release, with @Akademiks noting he could resume social media, per posts on X.

2023-2024: Domestic Violence and Assault Allegations

6ix9ine’s post-prison life was far from smooth. In March 2023, he was assaulted by several men at a Florida gym, suffering facial injuries, per USA Today. In October 2023, he was arrested in the Dominican Republic for allegedly assaulting a music producer, per USA Today. Then, on January 17, 2024, he was arrested again in Santo Domingo on domestic violence charges after Wanda Díaz, mother of his girlfriend Yailin La Más Viral, accused him of assaulting them, per Daily Mail. Yailin denied the claims, and a judge released 6ix9ine on January 25, 2024, with a $509 bond, ordering counseling and bi-monthly check-ins, per Daily Mail.

October 2024: Probation Violation Arrest

On October 29, 2024, 6ix9ine was arrested in New York for violating his supervised release, per NBC News. The violations included failing drug tests (testing positive for methamphetamines), traveling without permission to Las Vegas and Sarasota, Florida, and skipping drug treatment, per Vulture. He was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a facility known for harsh conditions, alongside figures like Sean "Diddy" Combs, per Newsweek. After two weeks in solitary confinement, he struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to 45 days in jail, per The Independent. On November 12, 2024, Judge Engelmayer sentenced him to 45 days, applying time served since October 29, per AP News. 6ix9ine was released on December 13, 2024, per Vice.

Current Status: Is 6ix9ine in Jail?

As of May 1, 2025, 6ix9ine is not in jail. After his December 2024 release, he’s under a year of extended probation, with a month of home incarceration, a month of home detention, and a month of curfew, all with electronic monitoring, per Vice. He must hold a full-time job, adhere to home address restrictions, and is barred from international travel, per AP News. His probation, originally set to end in December 2024, now extends to late 2025, per Vulture. Judge Engelmayer, who sentenced him in 2019, expressed frustration at his “profound” rule-breaking, per NME. So, is 6ix9ine in jail? No, but he’s on a tight leash.

Why the Jail Rumors Persist

The question “Is 6ix9ine in jail?” trends because his legal drama never stops. His 2018 racketeering case, 2019 testimony, and 2020 early release were global news, per BBC. The October 2024 arrest reignited fears, with X users speculating a connection to rival Lil Durk’s arrest, though no link exists, per Forbes. Posts on X reflected panic, with some fans assuming he’d face years, per posts on X. His silence on social media since the arrest—due to bail conditions banning posts—fuels speculation, per BBC.

6ix9ine’s persona keeps him in the crosshairs. His music, like “Zaza” (2021), brags about snitching, per Wikipedia. His 2023 album Leyenda Viva and 2024’s Blackballed tried to reclaim his spot, but controversy overshadows his talent, per NME. Reddit’s r/hiphopheads debates his legacy, with u/Advanced-General9360 calling him “a liability,” per Reddit. His history—2015 child sex plea, 2023 gym assault, 2024 Dominican arrests—makes jail a constant threat.

Life After the Latest Release

Since his December 2024 release, 6ix9ine is under strict probation. He’s reportedly in Florida, adhering to home confinement, per Vice. He hasn’t posted on Instagram or TikTok since October 2024, per Instagram. Sources told Complex he’s working on new music, aiming for a 2025 comeback, but his probation limits live performances, per Vulture. He’s also required to hold a lawful job, a challenge given his career struggles since 2019, per LADbible, which reported financial woes in 2022.

Fans on X are split—some, like @culturevibe, hope he “drops heat soon,” while others, like @rapalert6, say “he’s done,” per posts on X. Reddit’s u/DerangedBehemoth noted, “His snitch label won’t fade,” per Reddit. Is 6ix9ine in jail? He’s out, but his freedom feels fragile, with probation violations a constant risk.

The Music Legacy: Can He Reclaim His Throne?

6ix9ine’s discography—Day69 (2018), Dummy Boy (2018), TattleTales (2020)—showcases his knack for catchy hooks, per Wikipedia. “Fefe” with Nicki Minaj remains his biggest hit, per Billboard. But post-2019, his music has struggled commercially, with Leyenda Viva (2023) failing to chart, per NME. His 2022 claim of financial hardship—he said his career “stalled” after jail, per LADbible—suggests the snitch label and legal drama have taken a toll. A source told Complex he’s planning a Spanish-language EP, leveraging his Colombian roots, but his probation restrictions may delay it.

The Bigger Picture: Fame, Controversy, and the System

6ix9ine’s story reflects the perils of fame in hip-hop, where street credibility and legal scrutiny collide. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reports 1 in 3 Black and Latino men face imprisonment, a reality 6ix9ine, of Puerto Rican descent, embodies, per BJS. His 2015 child sex plea at 18 set a pattern, and his 2019 testimony, while sparing him decades, alienated him from rap’s core, per NME. His repeated violations—2024’s drug tests and travel infractions—show a disregard for rules, as Judge Engelmayer noted, per AP News.

Fans debate his future. X users like @ukrapvibes call him “a survivor,” while Reddit’s u/True_Action_3294 says “he thrives on chaos,” per X and Reddit. His 2024 stint at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, alongside figures like Diddy, highlighted systemic jail issues—1,153 inmates face dire conditions, per Newsweek. Is 6ix9ine in jail? He’s free, but his story—fame, betrayal, redemption—shows the tightrope he walks.

What’s Next for 6ix9ine?

6ix9ine’s 2025 is uncertain. His probation, now extended to late 2025, restricts his movements, per Vice. A new EP could drop by year’s end if he stays compliant, per Complex. But another violation could mean years in prison, per NBC News. “I’m not a bad person,” he told Engelmayer in 2024, per The Independent. Whether he can rebuild—or if his past will keep dragging him down—remains the question. Is 6ix9ine in jail? For now, he’s out, but his freedom is a gamble.