On Wednesday, Hip-Hop artist Chauncey Hawkins, also known as “Loon” was released from federal prison due to the Covid-19 pandemic risk to his health.
What We Know:
- In 2012, Hawkins was arrested in Amsterdam and extradited for drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession of Heroin and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
- Hawkins was expected to be released from prison on August 2021. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, his release was this Wednesday.
- He filed an instant compassionate release motion on June 2nd, 2020 for his medical conditions that he suffers from such as Acute Laryngopharyngitis, Acute Bronchitis, and Bronchopneumonia. These are all respiratory illnesses that could cause severe health risks with the COVID 19. The judge ruled in favor of an early release and considered him no longer dangerous to society.
- However, a letter wrote by music producer, Weldon Angelos and signed by multiple artists such as Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Faith Evans and many others, went to President Donald Trump to free the Hip-Hop artist. It is not sure if the latter took part in the early release of Hawkins, but it helped the campaign of building bridges between the Trump government and the entertainment industry on clemency and criminal justice reforms, according to the Washington Examiner.
Hawkins was a hip hop artist for P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records. He appeared in P. Diddy’s hit record “I Need a Girl” Part one and Part two and released 4 studio albums. Hawkins quit his musical career in 2008 and later converted to Islam where he changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith.
