Taxstone has taken a moment to address the 35-year prison sentence he was handed this week, claiming that contrary to popular belief, he will not be serving his entire bid.
On Tuesday (June 20), immediately after finding out his fate, the former Tax Season podcast host took to Twitter to issue a defiant message that explains his mindset toward the hefty sentence.
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“Just got 35 years for being victimized and reversing the situation,” he said. “The beauty in it all is, I’m not doing 35. Be safe though.”
Taxstone’s confident tone toward not doing the totality of his prison time caused many fans and supporters to leave comments, with most of them suggesting that he seek an appeal to overturn his sentence.
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Despite the barrage of positive support, Tax opted to respond to a someone choosing to chastise him instead of offer up compassion.
“You earned it, now wear it!!!!!! Be safe beloved see ya in 2050,” the user wrote, to which Taxstone fired back: “Let’s make a bet.”
It’s unclear as of now what measures or legal moves Tax could make to lessen his time or have his sentence absolved altogether.
Taxstone was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday in relation to his involvement the 2016 shooting of Troy Ave’s bodyguard Banga.
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Reporter Shawn Setaro was present at the New York courthouse for the former podcast host’s sentencing. In a series of tweets, Setaro confirmed the term handed down and added that Tax called Troy Ave a liar on his way out.
“#Taxstone gave a defiant statement during the hearing,” Setaro tweeted. “His final words were, ‘Half the stuff that was told on the stand by Troy Ave is a complete lie to protect himself from going to jail.’ The judge was absolutely clear in stating his belief that during the trial, #Taxstone was ‘obviously’ engaged in ‘the procurement of false testimony.'”
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In March, Taxstone was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting, which went down at New York City’s Irving Plaza amid a T.I. concert in 2016.
Troy Ave was set to perform at the event when a fight broke out between both camps, and gunfire was exchanged. In addition to the death of Banga (real name Ronald McPhatter), the melee resulted in three other people being seriously injured, including Troy Ave, who received treatment for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg.
Surveillance video emerged immediately after the shooting showing Troy Ave firing a gun. He was apprehended and cuffed at NYU Langone Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for his gunshot wound. Later, the weapon used in the shooting was recovered in his vehicle. However, Troy maintained his innocence, claiming self-defense.
In January 2017, Taxstone was arrested in connection to the incident and charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of receipt of a firearm in interstate commerce, after his DNA was reportedly found on the semiautomatic handgun used in the fatal shooting.
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Ahead of Troy Ave’s testimony, the former Loud Speakers Network podcast host claimed that the rapper was a “lying bozo” and couldn’t wait to see him take the stand.
In March, the New York rapper dropped a diss song aimed at his longtime rival. Billed as a “Taxstone Diss,” “Black Church” hears Troy reflecting on his life and what he plans on after taking the stand.
