Young Thug will be released from prison after pleading guilty to gang charges

US rapper Young Thug will be released from prison after pleading guilty to gang, drug and gun charges, in a dramatic twist that could end the longest criminal trial in Georgia history.

The 33-year-old Grammy Award winner, born Jeffrey Lamar Williams, has spent more than 900 days behind bars since his arrest on racketeering and gang charges.

In May 2022, prosecutors alleged that the rap label he founded was a front for an organized crime syndicate responsible for “75-80% of violent crime” in Atlanta.

On Thursday, he was sentenced to 15 years of conditional imprisonment.

“I take full responsibility for my crimes, for my charges,” Mr Williams told the court.

“I want to apologize to everyone involved in this situation in any way.”

In the five-minute speech, he described himself as a “good guy with a good heart” who found himself “in a lot of things because I was just nice or cool.”

“And I understand that you can’t be like that when you get to a certain height because it can end badly… and it can come down on you.”

Prosecutors planned to sentence him to 45 years in prison, including 25 in prison and 20 on probation.

But plea negotiations were unsuccessful, and Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker instead chose his sentence, replacing the sentence with time he had already served, paving the way for his release.

“I want you to try to be more of a solution and less of a problem,” Judge Whitaker told him.

As part of the deal, Mr. Williams pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges.

He also pleaded guilty to running a gang and violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico). This means that he has decided not to contest the charges and is accepting the punishment for them.

In addition, Judge Whitaker ordered 100 hours of community service, no contact with gang members or former co-defendants, and a ban on being in the Atlanta metropolitan area for the first 10 years of his 15-year probation, except in special circumstances – including weddings, funerals and anti-gang and anti-gun presentations, which he must hold four times a year.

Thursday’s plea change likely ends a multi-defendant case that has been plagued by numerous delays, courtroom chaos and motions to mistrial.

When the man known to his fans as “Thugger” was arrested in May 2022, prosecutors charged him and 27 colleagues at his rap label Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records with conspiracy to violate the Ricoh Act, which is known to be used in harassment the mafia

Claiming that YSL actually stood for a crime group called Young Slime Life, they linked the men, including fellow rap superstar Gunna, to a series of heinous crimes including murder, armed robbery and carjacking on the streets of Atlanta.

But the indictment sparked widespread outrage because prosecutors used YSL’s rap lyrics as evidence of the gang’s actions and criminal intent. Critics have argued that the charges infringe on the rappers’ free speech and are part of a growing assault on the black-dominated art form.

Several of Mr. Williams’ co-defendants took plea deals or had their cases separated, and one was even acquitted after being convicted of an unrelated murder — leaving just six defendants at trial.

Jury selection began in January 2023 and lasted almost 10 months.

In July of this year the case was adjourned indefinitelyy after lawyers for Mr Williams asked the previous judge to recuse himself over allegations of misconduct.

Attorneys said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “inappropriate” meeting June 10 when he met privately with prosecutors and a key witness.

They argued that Judge Glanville tried to compel the witness to testify, and lawyers asked him to recuse himself, motions the judge denied.

Mr Williams’ lead lawyer, Brian Steele, was also found in contempt of court in June this year after refusing to say how he found out about the meeting.

The trial also featured a number of unusual incidents, including the arrest of a Fulton County deputy for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband to the defendant.

In another incident, the court’s Zoom account was hacked by an apparent supporter of Mr Williams shouting “free the thug!”.

Earlier this week, three of Mr. Williams’ co-defendants in the case took plea deals.

Two other defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Dimonte Kendrick, reportedly plan to continue their trials.