A New York City rapper who appeared onstage at a Republican campaign rally last year has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder and conspiracy charges.

Sheff G, whose real name is Michael Williams, admitted that he used money from his music career to bankroll gang violence in Brooklyn. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced him to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

The rapper, 27, entered a guilty plea earlier this year. He and the judge had already agreed on the terms of his sentence, even though prosecutors had pushed for a much longer prison term of 20 years.

“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 sentencing.

Sheff G, a popular New York City drill rapper, has amassed millions of streams on YouTube and Spotify. He was among dozens of people arrested as part of a broad investigation into gang-related shootings in Brooklyn. More than 30 members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliate, the 9 Ways gang, have been indicted. Authorities say Sheff G not only provided money and jewelry to members but also participated in violent incidents.

Prosecutors said he acted as a getaway driver during a 2021 shooting that targeted a rival but instead struck two bystanders. They also accused him of treating fellow gang members to a steakhouse dinner after a 2020 shooting that killed one person and wounded five others.

Fellow rapper Sleepy Hallow, who also shared the stage with Sheff G during the campaign rally, pleaded guilty in a related case and was sentenced to one year in jail last week.

“Sheff G said: ‘They always whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures,’” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told the AP when asked about the rapper’s political appearance.