Federal judge Francisco Besosa sentenced convicted urban music producer Rafael Antonio Pina Nieves to 41 months in prison, three years of probation and a $150,000 fine.
Likewise, the magistrate ordered him to surrender today at 3:00 in the afternoon before the local office of the US Marshals Service to be admitted to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
On December 22, Pina Nieves was found unanimously guilty by a jury on two felony charges against him: possession of an illegal gun and possession of a machine gun (illegally modified handgun). This supposes to be the second conviction of Pina Nieves, after in 2015 he pleaded guilty to bank fraud.
Judge Besosa considered firearm violence in Puerto Rico as part of the sentence when establishing the sentence, something that has been shown to influence violence prevention. In addition, he mentioned that Pina Nieves was a federal convict for a previous case of bank fraud.
During the hearing, Pina Nieves was accompanied by his partner, the singer Natti Natasha, her children and her aunt Susana Pina Gómez, who had the opportunity to express herself in court. The singer Daddy Yankee also came to support the producer, whom he described as part of his family.
The couple and their children hugged him disconsolately after the judge ordered the music producer to turn himself in earlier today.
At the hearing, the lawyer María Domínguez spoke about the death of Pina Nieves’ father, and alluded to the fact that today marks the 22nd anniversary of the father’s death.
She also recalled the evidence presented in the case and the alleged discrepancies. She, in turn, insisted that Pina Nieves’ sentence not include a prison term and that, instead, she serve her sentence from his home.
Before being sentenced, Judge Besosa also allowed Pina Nieves’ aunt to make statements on behalf of her family.
Pina Gómez emphasized that the music producer has always put his family as a priority while generating economic development for the Island through his business.
“Raphy does not represent a danger to our society, he is not a criminal or a drug trafficker. Much less a tax evader, as he has wanted to show. He is a successful young producer who has worked hard to fulfill his dreams, fighting for well-being of his family and who has four great reasons in his life, his children, his partner, his family, his artists, his employees, and his businesses, “said the producer’s aunt.
Pina Nieves’s aunt concluded her appearance-on behalf of her children-by asking to be given the opportunity to continue sharing with them.
Federal prosecutor José Ruiz, for his part, tried to counteract the defense’s message by recalling a shooting that took place at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, just the day there was a Daddy Yankee concert in 2019. He also reproduced a Pina telephone conversation Nieves in which he admitted that he had weapons in his house located in Caguas.
Later, Ruiz insisted on his request that the music producer be sentenced to between 46 and 50 months in prison. “He knows what is missing in this case, acceptance and repentance (by the music producer),” said the prosecutor, who established that if the producer assumed responsibility, they would have asked for the minimum sentence and not the maximum.
He begged to be allowed with family.
Then, Pina Nieves took the floor to defend himself through tears.
“Today I face the most difficult situation that a citizen can face. Which is losing freedom,” he said. “Today before you I want to ask you with great respect to allow me to return to my family, who is waiting for me. They are waiting for their dad and the woman I love too. Allow me to see my daughter learn to walk that, thanks to you, your honor, I was able to celebrate her first year as well as attend the graduation of Antonio (his son) ”, he added.
“My future and the future of my family is in your hands,” he said.
As the judge began to read the sentencing guides, his daughter, Mia, burst into tears in the courtroom.
After the guilty finding in December, Pina Nieves’ defense notified the judge that they would be filing an appeal with the First Circuit.
The defense had asked the court last Friday to impose a sentence on probation. They argued that this would allow the convict to continue raising his children while serving the community.
Originally, Pina Nieves’ sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 1, a date that coincided with the second anniversary of the federal raid on her residence in Caguas Real, in which agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found the weapons of fire, ammunition and a safe with $135,794 and 10,000 Euros.
Subsequently, Judge Besosa reordered the sentencing hearing on five occasions.
On March 14, the defense asked the judge to allow Pina Nieves to remain free on bail while the appeal is being processed, a request they first made before Judge Besosa, who has not yet issued a decision.
Pina Nieves himself assured on December 22, when he was found guilty, that he would appeal the case.
