httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iILZIGcjG0
Imprisoned Harlem rapper Max B had his 75-year sentence for a deadly 2009 robbery trimmed by at least 55 years in a momentous legal victory for the hip-hop icon.
A conflict of interest on the part of one the artist’s former attorneys led Bergen County Judge James Guida to re-sentence him to 20 years after he took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter.
The new sentence means the 38-year-old rapper, whose real name is Charly Wingate, could be released by 2025, when he is 47 years old.
“I just want to thank you for the fair treatment, you know, looking into the situation to at least give me another opportunity to someday reunite with my children and my family,” Wingate said to the judge on Friday while his fans and family filled a New Jersey courtroom, NorthJersey.com reported.
Before Wingate wound up behind bars, he collaborated with rappers including Cam’ron and Jim Jones, and was made famous as the father of “Wavy” hip-hop.
Prosecutors charged Wingate as an accomplice and mastermind behind the deadly robbery, although he didn’t personally carry out the crime.
Leerdam was later sentenced to life plus 35 years while Conway, who pleaded guilty for her role, testified against Wingate and took a plea deal.
Wingate rejected a plea deal for a 10-year sentence at the counsel of Saluti, opting instead to go to trial.
Wingate released a statement following the court’s decision, thanking his supporters that have been “Holding it down for me all these years, still banging my music and still keeping it wavy. I love you all. Stay Wavy.”.