Zohran Mamdani taps ex-con rapper to serve as criminal justice adviser on mayoral transition team
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has picked a controversial rapper who did seven years in state prison for armed robbery to advise him on the criminal justice system.
Mysonne Linen, 49, a Bronx convict-turned-activist who was found guilty of two felony heists in the late 1990s, was appointed by the democratic socialist to sit on a “criminal legal system” committee for his transition team as he prepares for the move to City Hall next month.
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“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,” Linen wrote on Instagram last month. “We are building something different.”
Linen was a promising young rapper when he was convicted in 1999 for being part of a crew that robbed two cab drivers in The Bronx, The New York Daily News reported at the time.
The conviction came just as Linen’s debut album was due for release by Def Jam Recordings.
Bronx prosecutors said his crew pulled off the June 8, 1997, robbery of taxi driver Joseph Exiri, and the March 31, 1998, gunpoint theft from cabbie Francisco Monsanto, according to the News.
Linen, who faced up to 25 years behind bars, continued to deny he was involved and rebranded himself as a community activist following his release from state prison.
But his appointment by Mamdani, whose anti-cop and anti-Israeli rhetoric ruffled feathers during the mayoral campaign, has raised new concerns as the former state lawmaker from Queens prepares to take over as mayor.
“Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just appointed a convicted armed robber to help shape NYC’s crime and policing policy,” Jews Fight Back posted on X.
“Insane. New York City is being handed over to radicals, extremists and outright terrorists,” the group said. “Watch this space. This is going to get even uglier.”
The post included a photo of Linen with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Linen and reps for Mamdani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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