Tekashi 6ix9ine and his old crew had their first hearing today at Thurgood Marshall Courthouse in Manhattan, with Judge Paul A. Engelmayer presiding.
Tekashi, dressed in a jumpsuit and shackles, sat two rows behind his co-conspirators Tr3yway Bloods Shotti, Butler, and Jones, who all sat in a row. He pleaded not guilty.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that the FBI is using Tekashi's Instagram account in the case and that the evidence is "so voluminous" they haven't even finished going through it yet.
Prosecutors are also using 6ix9ine's former manager Shotti's Instagram account and Snapchat account and everyone's icloud accounts and phones. In addition, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Longyear revealed that a confidential informant recorded interactions that will be used against Tekashi in court.
The trial will begin in September of 2019, but the judge expects that some or all of the defendants will plead out before the trial even starts. The Feds have about a 90 percent conviction rate, so that's probably a solid strategy.
But it looks like Shottie doesn't care. On the way out of court, he hollered "We don't fold, we don't bend, we don't break, It's Tr3yway."