US rapper Young Thug was released from jail on Thursday evening after pleading guilty to charges related to gang involvement, drug offenses, and firearms. This decision marked a significant conclusion to what had become the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history. The 33-year-old artist, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, spent over 900 days incarcerated following his arrest on racketeering and gang-related charges.

In May 2022, prosecutors contended that his record label served as a front for an organized crime group implicated in up to 80% of violent incidents in Atlanta. On Thursday, he received a sentence of time served along with 15 years of probation, subsequently leading to his release that night. During the court proceedings, Williams expressed full accountability for his actions and extended apologies to all involved parties.

In a heartfelt five-minute address, he characterized himself as “a good guy with a good heart” who found himself embroiled in negative situations due to his nature of being approachable and friendly. He acknowledged the challenges that come with fame and the potential consequences of such vulnerability.

Initially, prosecutors sought a lengthy sentence of 45 years, which included 25 years in prison and an additional 20 on probation. However, negotiations did not yield an agreement, leading Judge Paige Whitaker to impose a lighter sentence based on the time already served. The judge encouraged him to focus on being part of the solution rather than contributing to problems.

As part of the plea agreement, Williams admitted guilt to one gang-related charge alongside three drug-related counts and two firearm charges. He also entered a no-contest plea regarding leading a gang and violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act. This meant he accepted penalties without contesting those specific charges.

Judge Whitaker mandated that he complete 100 hours of community service, refrain from any contact with gang members or former co-defendants, and avoid the Atlanta metropolitan area for ten years of his probation unless there are exceptional circumstances—such as attending weddings or funerals or conducting required anti-gang presentations four times each year.

This recent plea change brings closure to a complex case characterized by numerous delays and courtroom disruptions. Young Thug’s arrest in May 2022 involved charges against him and several associates linked to alleged criminal activities under YSL Records, which prosecutors argued stood for Young Slime Life—a purported gang responsible for serious offenses like murder and armed robbery in Atlanta.

The case has sparked significant debate over the use of rap lyrics as evidence against artists, raising concerns about free speech rights within the hip-hop community. As others involved have accepted plea deals or had charges dismissed, only six defendants remained by the trial’s start earlier this year. The jury selection process took nearly ten months before being indefinitely halted due to allegations against Judge Ural Glanville concerning misconduct.