Tekashi 6ix9ine has scored a tiny victory in his racketeering case. According to legal documents obtained by Complex, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer has permitted the rapper’s attorney Lance Lazzaro to resume working on the case.
Judge Engelmayer issued an order allowing Lazzaro to rejoin the case on Friday (March 22).
Lazzaro was previously barred from representing 6ix9ine in January after the judge realized he’d previously represented two of 6ix9ine’s co-defendants.
Between 2004 and 2015, Lazzaro represented Kifano “Shotti” Jordan on four separate cases. One of the cases resulted in a misdemeanor charge, while the others were dismissed.
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He also represented Faheem “Crippy” Walter in an assault case stemming from a shooting incident last October during 6ix9ine’s celebratory dinner in New York City. Ultimately, those assault charges were also dropped.
The judge was concerned Lazzaro had “intimate knowledge” of Jordan and Walter’s affairs and would be privy to “privileged communications,” which could be used in 6ix9ine’s defense. As a result, Lazzaro was asked to submit “letters detailing the extent of his previous dealings with Kifano and Walter” in order to stay on the case.
After thoroughly reviewing Lazzaro’s affidavit, the judge concluded there was no “risk.”
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The order reads in part:
The Court is satisfied, given the brief nature of Mr. Lazzar’s prior representations of Mr. Jordan and Mr. Walter, the fact that those representations appear unrelated to the present case, and Mr. Lazzaro’s apparent lack of any privileged information of any consequences regarding them, that Mr. Lazzaro’s representation of Daniel Hernandez in this matter would not present an risk to these former clients, neither of whom has moved for Mr. Lazzaro’s disqualification.
6ix9ine is expected back in court on Thursday (March 28) to formally accept Lazzaro’s reinstatement.
Although he’s been cooperating with feds, he still faces at least 47 years in prison after pleading guilty to nine felony counts stemming from his involvement with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.
