Mamdani Crime Adviser is Convicted Robber

Zohran Mamdani has appointed a rapper-turned-activist who served a seven-year prison sentence for armed robbery to advise him on the criminal justice system.

Mysonne Linen, 49, who was convicted of robbing two taxi drivers, was appointed to sit on the New York mayor-elect’s criminal legal system committee as part of his transition team.

Linen, also known as “the general”, denies carrying out the robberies.

He refused to take a plea deal, instead going to trial where he was found guilty of three counts of robbery, weapons possession and possession of stolen property.

Following the announcement he was joining Mamdani’s transition team last month, Linen shared a post from Until Freedom, an activist group he founded to combat systemic racial injustice.

“We are proud that Until Freedom leaders have been chosen to serve on Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team on committees for public safety and criminal justice respectively”, the post read.

“This is a testament to our decades of work advocating on behalf of Black and Brown communities and our expertise in gun violence prevention, legislative advocacy and criminal justice reform.

“We are building something different.”

Linen was convicted in 1999 for being part of a group that robbed two taxi drivers in the Bronx – Joseph Exiri on June 8 1997 and Francisco Monsanto on March 31, 1998, according to the New York Daily News.

His conviction came just before his debut album was set to be released by Def Jam Recordings.

Linen served seven years in state prison and became a prominent activist following his release.

His appointment was criticised by Jews Fight Back, which wrote: “Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just appointed a convicted armed robber to help shape NYC’s crime and policing policy.”

Alongside his activism, Linen has written two children’s books, I Know My Rights and Raising Kings: 10 Principles of Manhood.

At the weekend, Mamdani shared a video telling immigrants about their right to refuse to speak to or comply with ICE agents.

In the video, the democratic socialist said he would protect the city’s 3 million immigrants, saying, “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”

“ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If you’re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you,” said Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on Jan 1.

His comments came a week after demonstrators gathered as ICE attempted to detain people on Canal Street near New York’s Chinatown. A similar immigration sweep in the same neighborhood last October was also met with protests.

“New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Mamdani said.