Mendeecees Harris, star of VH1's hit reality TV series "Love and Hip Hop New York," was sentenced to eight years in prison in Rochester Federal court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges in April, local paper the Democrat and Chronicle reported. Harris' charges stem from his role in shipping large amounts of cocaine and heroin from New York City to the Rochester region.
At his sentencing, the hip-hop music manager apologized to U.S. Judge Frank Geraci Jr. "for any trouble I have caused the city of Rochester," according to the Democrat and Chronicle. The father of three also explained that "ever since (having children), I've been trying to right my wrongs."
Yandy Smith, Harris' wife and "Love and Hip Hop" co-star, attended his court hearing with Skylar, the couple's 10-month old daughter. The couple also shares a son, Omere Harris, and Harris has another son from a previous relationship, according to the New York Daily News.
Harris' legal troubles played out in episodes of the VH1 reality series, and the couple's wedding ceremony was celebrated with its own TV special in May.
One month prior to the ceremony, Harris pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges for a conspiracy that ran between New York City and Rochester from 2005 to 2012, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. From 2006 through 2008, about 2 to 5 kilograms of cocaine reached Rochester monthly, and up to 7 kilograms of heroin also made its way to the city.
Harris has attempted to turn his life around by using his celebrity status to reach out to disadvantaged youth after his involvement with drug trafficking, and Geraci took that into account when he chose the lesser sentence for Harris. Shortly after his sentencing, Harris posted a statement to his fans via Instagram.
"Young men let my life be an example to you now before it's too late," Harris wrote on Instagram. "Better who you are now in your children's lives and in society so you can change the path of your fate."
See Harris' full Instagram statement below.
