After pleading guilty to gang, drug, and firearm charges, US rapper Young Thug —real name Jeffrey Lamar Williams—was released from prison. After more than two years, the longest criminal trial in Georgia history comes to a dramatic finish with this plea agreement.
The Grammy-winning musician Young Thug has been incarcerated for more than 900 days since his arrest in May 2022 on charges of gang involvement and racketeering. Prosecutors claimed that a large amount of violent crime in Atlanta was committed by an organized crime gang operating under his record label, Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records.
tremendous outcry, with detractors charging prosecutors with utilizing rap lyrics as proof of criminal intent—a move perceived as an assault on the right to free expression and a black-dominated art form.
Young Thug entered a plea deal on Thursday, accepting responsibility for his crimes. As part of the agreement, he pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges, and two gun charges. He also entered a no-contest plea to leading a gang and violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Judge Paige Whitaker, who presided over the case, sentenced him to time served and 15 years of probation, effectively releasing him from custody.
Young Thug’s legal team has accused Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville of holding an “improper” meeting on June 10th with prosecutors and a key witness. They claim the judge sought to pressure the witness into testifying, leading them to request his recusal. These motions were denied by Judge Glanville.
Contempt of Court
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lead attorney, was found in criminal contempt of court in June after refusing to disclose how he learned about the judge’s alleged meeting with the witness.
Unfortunately, during this same trial, a Fulton County deputy was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband to a defendant. Also, the court’s Zoom account was hacked by an apparent Young Thug supporter who yelled “Free Thug!”
Earlier this week, three of Young Thug’s co-defendants accepted plea deals, reducing the number of defendants in the case. Two defendants, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, are reportedly moving forward with their trials.
This resolution brings an end to a highly publicized and controversial trial that has sparked debate about the intersection of music, race, and the justice system. The case has raised questions about the use of artistic expression as evidence in criminal proceedings and the potential for bias in the application of RICO statutes.
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