Tekashi 6ix9ine's associate Kooda B granted temporary release from prison amid coronavirus fears
Rapper Kooda B, a known associate of hip-hop star Tekashi 6ix9ine, has recently been freed from prison on bond after citing medical reasons and convincing authorities that he was in danger of being affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Both Kooda B and Tekashi 6ix9ine aka Daniel Hernandez are currently serving time for a host of federal charges, including armed robberies, shootings and their heavy involvement with the Nine Tr3y Blood gang, which operates on the East Coast of the United States.
Tekashi 6ix9ine and Kooda B had previously requested a temporary release from prison due to respiratory health concerns, but those pleas had been previously denied.
In 2019, Kintea "Kooda B" McKenzie was convicted for assault with a dangerous weapon and racketeering in legal proceedings related to the 6ix9ine case, specifically with regard to the Chief Keef shooting that occurred outside the W Hotel in Times Square in 2018.
Although Kooda B was not the actual shooter, he was primarily involved in the shooting. He subsequently pleaded guilty and was imprisoned in the New York Metropolitan Correction Center.
It has now emerged that since Kooda B suffers from asthma, a chronic respiratory condition, he was extremely vulnerable to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic threat.
On March 27, his lawyer Lisa Scolari asked Judge Paul A Engelmayer for her client to be released on a $300,000 bond, stating that Kooda was more susceptible to contracting Covid-19 due to his asthmatic condition.
In light of the fact that four inmates at Kooda B's prison had already contracted the coronavirus, "the MCC (Metropolitan Correctional Center) has identified him as 'high risk' with respect to COVID-19."
According to court documents, Scolari revealed that when Kooda B entered the prison facility, he was given an albuterol inhaler "to address incidents of shortness of breath." In addition, his attorney stated, "He has needed to use the inhaler at least once in the last month."
Scolari also stated that jail conditions were "inherently unsafe during this time." She argued, "They are overcrowded, making it impossible to enforce the social distancing necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. Inmates live in close quarters, share facilities such as sinks and showers. The MCC also has shortages of soap and disinfectants."
It is understood that the temporary release plea had initially been opposed by the government, which claimed that the 22-year-old Kooda only suffered from a minor form of asthma.
According to legal documents, the government countered that Kooda's "reliance on the current health crisis to secure his release — post-conviction and less than three months from sentencing — is unfounded and should be denied."
However, the bail was later granted by Judge Engelmayer, and Kooda B's release was promptly sanctioned as a precautionary measure, in light of his current medical condition.