Anuel AA, the Puerto Rican rapper who has garnered a massive online following, was just sentenced to 30 months in jail for unlawful possession of a firearm, according to Primera Hora. Born Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago, the Boricua rapper was arrested on April 3, 2016 after officers found three guns, a dozen clips, and 152 rounds of ammunition in the car he was traveling in. Anuel is currently incarcerated in Guaynabo’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
In late December, Santiago pled guilty to the charges. According to Primera Hora, the 24-year-old rapper expressed regret for his actions in the courtroom. “I will show everyone that I’m not the negative person that people think I am because of my music,” he said.
Primera Hora reports that the prosecution recommended a sentence of 18 months, though Judge Aida Delgado-Colon selected a final sentence of 30. The publication also speculates that Anuel could be released within a year. It is not clear if the time Santiago has already served in prison will count towards the sentence.
Anuel AA first gained notoriety for his sexually explicit and violent lyrics, which critics have cited as a negative influence on Puerto Rican society. Both Anuel and fans have claimed that his lyrics reflect the reality of violence and drug use on the streets of San Juan. Since he was incarcerated last spring, the rapper has cultivated his fan base under the #FreeAnuel movement, releasing new music, selling merchandise, and racking up millions of followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Read our feature Meet Anuel AA, the Viral Boricua MC Building a Hip-Hop Empire From Prison here.
[H/T Primera Hora]