MIAMI — A jury on Wednesday found Cuban rapper Chocolate MC — whose real name is Yosvanis Sierra Hernandez — guilty of soliciting a murder-for-hire plot targeting the man accused of killing his best friend, singer El Taiger.

Jurors unanimously convicted Sierra-Hernandez of first-degree murder solicitation after hearing days of testimony and reviewing what prosecutors called overwhelming digital evidence.

Prosecutors said the rapper offered a $20,000 bounty on Damian Valdez-Galloso, who is charged in El Taiger’s 2024 killing.

A video shown in court appeared to capture Sierra-Hernandez calling on fellow inmates to attack Valdez-Galloso. Prosecutors argued that the recording proved his intent to seek revenge for his friend’s death.

Sierra-Hernandez, visibly emotional on the witness stand, denied ever asking anyone to kill Valdez-Galloso. Through an interpreter, he told jurors he was mourning and had “not expressed himself the right way.”

After the verdict was read, the rapper appeared in disbelief as deputies fingerprinted him and escorted him from the courtroom.

Sierra-Hernandez will be sentenced at a later date. He also faces charges in a separate case, in which prosecutors allege he kidnapped a fan who had asked to take a photo with him.

Cuban rapper Chocolate MC found guilty in murder-for-hire case

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Aaron Maybin