Young Thug Pleads Guilty in YSL Case

Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty to six of eight charges in the lengthy RICO trial against him and the alleged YSL street gang. The charges he pleaded guilty to include participation in criminal street gang activity, three counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a machine gun. He also entered no-contest pleas to conspiracy to violate the RICO statute and being a leader of a criminal street gang.

Williams was sentenced by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker to 40 years, with the first five years commuted to time served, followed by 15 years of probation. An additional 20 years of the sentence are contingent on him not violating his probation. As part of his probation, Young Thug must stay away from the metro Atlanta area for the first 10 years, except for specific family events, and must make regular anti-gang and anti-gun violence presentations in the Atlanta area. He is also prohibited from associating with gang members, victims, or other defendants in the case, except for his brother and the rapper Gunna, and is not allowed to promote any criminal street gang activity or use related hand signs or terminology.

The trial, which began in January 2023, was marked by several complications, including a mishap where a witness read redacted information from the stand, leading to several defendants accepting plea deals. Young Thug's guilty plea brings an end to his involvement in what has been Georgia's longest trial.

The prosecution had accused Young Thug of being the leader of YSL, a part of the Bloods gang, and charged him with violating state racketeering laws. The underlying offenses included murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, and theft. The defense argued that YSL was merely a hip-hop label and not a gang, but the prosecution highlighted lyrics from Young Thug's songs that they claimed had connections to real-life violent events.

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