Ricky Hawk, better known by his stage name Silento, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks.
On Wednesday, June 11, Silento appeared in DeKalb County Court in Georgia, where he entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to multiple charges stemming from the fatal incident. As part of a plea deal, the initial charge of malice murder was dropped. In exchange, Silento pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and concealing the death of another.
According to court records confirmed by XXL, Silento received a 20-year sentence for the voluntary manslaughter charge, with an additional five years each for aggravated assault and firearm possession. He was credited for time already served since his arrest in February 2021.
Silento rose to fame in 2015 with his viral hit song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” which became a massive success on social media and helped launch his music career.
