Mysonne Linen, left, and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Udo Salters Photography/Getty Images)
In 1999, a Bronx jury found him guilty in two armed robberies of taxi drivers, according to the New York Daily News.
Prosecutors said Linen was part of a group that robbed cab driver Joseph Exiri June 8, 1997, striking him with a beer bottle, and he held up cab driver Francisco Monsanto at gunpoint on March 31, 1998, stealing cash and a ring before fleeing.
Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral race in November. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
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The New York Daily News reported that Linen’s defense argued he had no reason to commit the crimes because he was earning money writing songs for artists such as Lil’ Kim and Mase, and his music was slated to appear on an all-star album featuring LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip.
He faced up to 25 years in prison and ultimately served seven years. Linen maintained at the time that he had been falsely accused, according to reports.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-reveals-why-he-appointed-convicted-armed-robber-nyc-transition-team