Young Thug pleads guilty to ‘blind testimony’ in YSL trial, convicted

FULTON COUNTY, GA – Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, has entered into a no-negotiation plea deal in the YSL RICO trial and will soon be released from prison.

Williams was sworn in shortly after 4:00 p.m. Thursday during a plea hearing.

The 33-year-old Grammy winner failed to reach a plea deal with prosecutors after negotiations between the two sides broke down, lead prosecutor Adrian Love said. Sentencing is entirely up to the judge.

Williams was charged with conspiracy to violate RICO, 2 counts of participating in criminal street gang activity, 3 counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of an assault rifle. He pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges, but also pleaded no contest to another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning he chose not to contest those charges and is accepting the sentence for them

The prosecution is asking for 45 years with 25 in prison. The defense is asking for 45 years with 5 in prison, substituted for time served and house arrest for the rest, and 40 years on probation. Before deciding on the sentence, the judge heard from Love and attorney Brian Steele.

In the end, the judge sentenced him to 40 years, the first 5 of which he was supposed to serve in prison, but replaced it with time served. He will then serve 15 years on probation, with the first half required to report to a probation officer. He also faces up to 20 years in prison after probation if he fails to complete his probation.

He must leave the metro Atlanta area within 48 hours of his release and remain absent for the first 10 years of his probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illness of family members, the judge said.

She also ordered him to return to the Atlanta area four times a year during his probation to give a live speech against gang violence and gun violence at a school or community organization that serves children. She said it could count toward the 100 hours of community service she ordered him to complete each year during his probation.

Love outlined for the judge the evidence she would present to prove Young Thug guilty, including some of his rap lyrics. She asked the judge to sentence him to 45 years, 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.

The rapper’s lead attorney, Brian Steele, said they “vehemently disagree” with many of Love’s claims and said it was “insulting” that the state was using Young Thug’s lyrics against him.

Steele said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of tampering and concealing evidence, saying Young Thug was “falsely accused.” Steele said he told his client he thought they would win the trial and should have a jury verdict.

“But he told me, ‘I can’t wait another three months if there’s a chance to go home because I have children who are hurting. I have things to do,” Steele said.

Steele asked the judge to impose a sentence of 45 years in prison with five years of time served substituted and 40 years of probation.

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The wildly successful rapper Young Thug has launched his own label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL. Prosecutors said he also co-founded a violent criminal street gang and that YSL stands for Young Slime Life.

He was indicted two years ago in a sprawling indictment that accused him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He also faces gang, drug and firearms charges.

Young Thug’s plea comes nearly a year after the prosecution began presenting evidence in the troubled trial. Jury selection at the Atlanta courthouse began in January 2023 and lasted nearly 10 months. The trial of the six defendants began with opening statements last November, and since then prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses.

Clarification of the plea agreement without negotiations

A plea bargain, often called a “blind plea” or “open plea,” is an agreement in which a defendant pleads guilty without first agreeing to a sentence with the prosecution. Instead of discussing the sentence, the accused presents his plea directly to the judge, who then has full authority to decide the final sentence.

This type of plea means that the defendant waives his right to a trial without a guaranteed sentence determined in advance. The judge determines the punishment within legal parameters, taking into account factors such as the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history of the defendant.

Defendants may choose to plead guilty if they believe the judge may impose a more lenient sentence than the prosecution’s offer. However, this approach carries a significant risk, as it removes control over the outcome of the sentence.

“This case breaks all the rules of how we normally conduct complex criminal trials,” said Joshua Schiffer, a legal expert and longtime attorney.

Several plea deals have already been reached this week as a possible mistrial looms.

“It’s jury-rigged, nobody can predict how they’re going to get it. “The only thing we know for certain is that they went through a trial unlike any other in the history of Georgia,” Schiffer said.

How Gotti reneges on the deal: ‘Give it to the jury’

Yak Gotti rejected the latest plea deal from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office in the YSL trial, according to his attorney.

Douglas Weinstein, who represents Gotti, said his client “fully intends to take this to a jury, get an acquittal and go home.”

The trial has been in recess since last week when a the witness inadvertently read aloud a hashtag about the involvement of one of the defendants, encouraging defense counsel to request a mistrial. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker said if granted, the mistrial would be without prejudice, allowing the state to retry the case.

Since the incident, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has been negotiating plea deals with attorneys. Details of the potential deals were limited until Tuesday, when one of the defendants pleaded guilty in exchange for most charges being dropped.

Prior plea agreements in the YSL RICO trial

Events take place every other day two co-defendants in the trial entered into plea deals to their charges.

Rodalius Ryan, also known as Lil Rod, and Markwavious Huey, known as Qua, entered into plea deals Wednesday afternoon in Fulton County District Court.

Ryan, 18, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the state’s anti-racketeering law. His plea Wednesday meant his 10-year sentence on the RICO charge would be commuted to time already served, allowing him to focus on challenging a murder conviction he received at age 15.

One of Ryan’s lawyers, Leah Abbasi, said they “categorically and vehemently deny that YSL is the criminal, dangerous street gang it is being made out to be.” She said her client is making the best decision for his future.

Huey’s plea deal came shortly after Ryan’s deal. Huey was originally indicted on 19 charges, including violating the RICO Act, multiple counts of armed robbery and participating in a criminal street gang, but some of the charges were dropped or reduced.

One of Huey’s attorneys, Kerton Matthews Sr., said they “strongly and vehemently dispute” some of the charges read by the prosecutor, but they acknowledge there is enough evidence to support the counts to which he pleaded guilty. He also noted that his client has already been in custody for about four years, to which nine years of imprisonment should be added.

The judge sentenced him to 25 years, of which he will serve only nine in prison, and warned him not to violate the terms of the deal.

“You’re getting a huge opportunity to turn your life around,” she told him, noting that he would likely be out of prison in just a few years.

on Tuesday 29-year-old Quamarvius Nicholsaccepted a plea deal. All but one charge against Nichols was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the RICO charge.

YSL member on trial: Remaining defendants in YSL RICO trial

After the plea deals, only two defendants remain on trial: Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick and Shannon Stillwell.

Dimonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti): Conspiracy to Violate RICO, Murder (2015 Murder of Donovan Thomas), Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, 3 Counts Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession assault rifle, as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm.

Shannon Stillwell (Shannon Jackson or SB): Conspiracy to violate RICO, 2 counts of murder (2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr. and 2022 murder of Shimel Drinks), 2 counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, previously convicted of a crime related to the use or possession of a firearm, as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Another twelve are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was found guilty of murder in an unrelated case.

FOX 5 Atlanta has been following the process for nearly a year following the nearly 10-month jury selection process. This is now the longest trial in the history of Georgia.