Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, has entered a guilty plea related to his involvement in gang activities, a development that could potentially conclude his lengthy trial, according to reports from US media. The 33-year-old musician was apprehended in May 2022 on charges of racketeering and other offenses connected to his purported role as a leader within the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang.
Initially, prosecutors sought sentences of up to 120 years for Williams. However, it seems an agreement was reached regarding his plea, although it still requires a judge’s approval. This case is noted for being one of the longest-running criminal trials in Georgia’s history. Earlier this week, three of Williams’s co-defendants opted for plea agreements.
Williams’s plea deal is categorized as a non-negotiated plea, meaning that there was no consensus between prosecutors and his defense team. The final sentence for Williams will be determined by Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker. Prosecutors in Georgia employed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act—often associated with mafia prosecutions—against Williams and 27 others thought to be linked to YSL.
Jury selection for the trial began in January 2023, but opening statements were delayed until November of the same year, by which time only six co-defendants remained alongside Williams. The trial faced an indefinite pause in July after Williams’s legal team requested the recusal of a prior judge due to allegations of misconduct.
The defense claimed that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “improper” private meeting with prosecutors and a critical witness on June 10. They alleged that this meeting was aimed at pressuring the witness into testifying against Williams and sought the judge’s recusal, which he denied. Additionally, lead attorney Brian Steel faced criminal contempt charges after refusing to disclose how he learned about the private meeting.
The proceedings have been marked by several unusual occurrences, including the arrest of a deputy accused of trying to deliver contraband to one of the defendants and an incident involving the court’s Zoom account being hacked by someone who shouted “free Thug!” It remains uncertain whether two remaining defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, have also come to any agreements regarding their charges.
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