US rapper Young Thug was released from jail on Thursday night after pleading guilty to several charges, including those related to gang activity, drugs, and firearms.
His release marks the end of what has been the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history, according to the BBC.
The 33-year-old Grammy winner, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, spent over 900 days in custody following his arrest in May 2022 on racketeering and gang-related charges. Prosecutors initially claimed that his record label, Young Stoner Life Records, acted as a front for an organized crime group involved in violent crimes in Atlanta.
During a hearing on Thursday, Williams was sentenced to time served plus 15 years of probation, with jail records confirming his release that evening.
“I take full responsibility for my crimes and charges. I want to sincerely apologize to everyone involved in this situation,” Williams stated in court.
He expressed regret, describing himself as a “good guy with a good heart” who found himself in trouble due to his friendly nature. He acknowledged, “I understand that you can’t be that way when you reach a certain level because it can have serious consequences.”
Although prosecutors initially sought a 45-year sentence, Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker reduced it to the time he had already served. “I want you to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Judge Whitaker advised him.
As part of the plea deal, Williams pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges, and two gun charges, and entered a no-contest plea for leading a gang and violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
His probation includes 100 hours of community service, restrictions on gang-related contact, and a ban on staying in the Atlanta area for the first ten years, with exceptions for family events and anti-gang presentations.
The protracted trial faced multiple delays and disruptions. Young Thug, affectionately known to fans as “Thugger,” and 27 associates at YSL Records were charged under the RICO Act. Prosecutors contended that YSL stood for “Young Slime Life,” an alleged gang involved in violent crimes like murder, robbery, and carjacking in Atlanta.
The prosecution’s use of rap lyrics in the indictment drew criticism, with many arguing it infringed on artistic freedom and unfairly targeted a predominantly Black genre.
Numerous co-defendants accepted plea deals or had their cases separated, while jury selection took nearly ten months, beginning in January 2023. In July, the trial was paused after Williams’s lawyers accused Judge Ural Glanville of misconduct by allegedly pressuring a witness to testify.
Throughout the trial, several unusual incidents occurred, including the arrest of a deputy for smuggling contraband to a defendant and a security breach where someone shouted, “Free Thug!” during a Zoom call for the court.
With Williams’s release, the remaining defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, are expected to proceed with their trials.
Peoplesmind
