Rapper Sheff G, Who Appeared With Trump, Sentenced to Five Years for Gang Violence

Who are the two New York City rappers who appeared with President Donald Trump at a rally last year, and what has happened to them since? It's a question that could be rephrased: What happens to people who get too close to Donald Trump? It turns out they all end up in prison.

One of those rappers, Sheff G, was sentenced to five years in prison after he admitted to using his music earnings to finance gang violence in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Michael Williams, will also serve five years of supervised release after he's released.

A Guilty Plea

Williams' sentence was agreed upon when he pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy and attempted murder. Prosecutors had pushed for a 20-year prison term.

"This defendant had talent and opportunity but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said after the sentencing.

The charges against Sheff G were public before he appeared with Trump in May 2024. Prosecutors say he provided money and jewelry to his gang, the 8 Trey Crips, as they fought with rival gangs. On one occasion, he allegedly acted as a getaway driver in a 2021 shooting that injured two bystanders. He also allegedly celebrated another shooting with a lavish dinner at a Manhattan steakhouse.

Another rapper, Sleepy Hallow, who also appeared with Sheff G and Trump at the rally, was sentenced to a year in jail for a conspiracy charge. The rapper, whose real name is Tegan Chambers, had also pleaded guilty.

At the time of the rally, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign was asked if they were aware of the charges against the rappers and whether the campaign had sought their support. "As Sheff G said: 'They always whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures,'" campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded.