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In May 2022, Jeffery Lamar Williams, who goes by the stage name “Young Thug,” and 27 other associates of his were detained on gang-related charges.
The Go Crazy rapper allegedly conspired to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations or RICO Act and participated in criminal street gang activity.
In November 2023 — about 10 months after the jury selection started — a panel of Georgia citizens was chosen for the trial of Young Thug and several other individuals accused of participating in violent gang activities.
The trial for their case begins on November 27, 2023, possibly lasting several months.
Suppose you’re a fan of Young Thug or intrigued about the legal developments surrounding one of the most influential rap artists in the 21st century.
In that case, you might wonder why Young Thug remains in jail. What’s the nature of his alleged crime? How is the trial progressing?
LookUpInmate.org is a free, comprehensive online resource for topics related to inmates and the criminal justice system in the United States.
Our online search tool can help you locate people in various corrections facilities countrywide.
This article explores the events leading to Young Thug’s incarceration, including the charges against him, legal proceedings, and the people who might have played a role in the alleged crime.
Read to learn more about the reason for Young Thug’s arrest and subsequent trial.
Everything We Know About YSL’s RICO Case
You likely want to get to the bottom of Young Thug’s legal woes immediately. Don’t worry. You will read all about Thug’s case in a bit.
But first, some terms must be defined:
- RICO Act: This act aims to strengthen legal tools for evidence gathering by establishing new laws and harsher penalties to suppress organized crime effectively.
- YSL: In this article, YSL refers to two things:
- “Young Stoner Life,” the record label Young Thug established in 2016
- “Young Slime Life,” an Atlanta-based street gang that Young Thug allegedly co-founded in 2012
The accusations were against YSL, the alleged criminal street gang, not the record label.
The charges formed part of a 56-count indictment that names 28 YSL associates.
These individuals include Gunna (real name Sergio Giavanni Kitchens), Young Thug’s fellow rapper, and Christian Eppinger, who allegedly seriously wounded an Atlanta police officer in a February 2022 shooting incident.
The 88-page grand jury indictment characterized YSL as a criminal street gang.
It alleged 182 instances of its involvement in gang activity and criminal conspiracies, citing social media posts, lyrics, and accessories and clothing with SLIME emblazoned on them as evidence.
Specific allegations against Young Thug include the following:
- Theft by acquiring a stolen firearm in 2013
- Threatening to kill a Perimeter Mall employee when Young Thug was banned from the premises in 2015
- Possession of hydrocodone, methamphetamine, and marijuana in 2017
In the most egregious instance of alleged racketeering, prosecutors indicted Jeffery Williams for renting an Infiniti Q50 sedan.
This vehicle was allegedly used in a 2015 deadly drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of supposed rival gang member Donovan Thomas Jr.
A separate charge detailing criminal street gang activities from May 2018 to May 2022 accuses Atlanta rapper Young Thug of occupying a leadership position in YSL, overseeing a long list of alleged crimes, including the following:
In May 2022, Authorities took Williams into custody during a police raid at his Buckhead residence in Atlanta. They booked him into the Fulton County Jail.
As mentioned, many charges cite Thug’s lyrics as proof of an intentional act to further the conspiracy.
The claims drew criticism from rap circles due to their aggressive coverage. For example, Metro Boomin (real name Leland Tyler Wayne), an American record executive, tweeted, “YSL is not a gang.”
Mr. Wayne added that YSL is a registered limited liability company (LLC) that has provided many jobs and opportunities for marginalized black people.
Young Thug made a plea from jail a month after the RICO indictment. He said that the case against him was neither about him nor YSL.
Taking issue with the prosecutor’s use of lyrics as evidence for their charges, Young Thug said that he has always used his music to express his artistic vision.
He added that Black artists and rappers seemed they no longer have that freedom. Thug concluded his prerecorded address by encouraging people to sign the Protect Black Art petition.
Kevin Liles, the co-founder and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of 300 Entertainment, co-wrote the petition.
Liles was the first record executive to sign Thug. He also helped YSL get off the ground as 300 Entertainment’s subsidiary company.
The petition asks the state and federal legislators to adopt bills limiting the use of rap lyrics as proof in a court of law.
Atlanta’s Fulton County grand jury indicted several people with violent crimes, including attempted armed robbery and murder.
The YSL case arrived against the backdrop of a 60% spike in violent crime in Atlanta, an urgent problem that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has vowed to fight.
However, the YSL case has caused an uproar in the hip-hop community.
Many argued that the trial is another instance of the criminal justice system unfairly linking rappers to illegal activities through their art.
Meanwhile, Gunna walked free on December 14, 2022 — a little over seven months following his arrest in May 2022 — after the court denied his and Young Thug’s multiple bond requests.
The “fukumean” rapper pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge via an Alford plea, allowing the rapper to plead guilty while maintaining his innocence.
As part of the deal, the court commuted Gunna’s initial five-year sentence to time served and 500 hours of community service.
Days after Gunna’s release, seven other defendants took plea deals and were released from jail just a few days before the New Year.
As of November 2023, most defendants had their cases separated from the trial. Four lacked legal representation, and two remained unarrested by early January 2023.
There are currently six defendants remaining in the YSL trial.
Meanwhile, Young Thug remains in prison and is one of the six defendants standing trial. Their opening statements begin on November 27, 2023.
To add to Thug’s existing legal problems, Fulton County prosecutors claim co-defendant Kahlieff Adams attempted to give the Hot rapper a Percocet (a prescription pain medication) in open court on January 20, 2023.
The Grammy Award-winning artist’s defense attorney denied Young Thug’s involvement in the alleged drug transaction.
In January 2023, YSL Mondo, a YSL co-founder, publicized his past relationship with the current district attorney (DA) Willis.
The DA served as YSL Mondo’s defense attorney in a 2019 aggravated assault case and helped keep the rapper out of jail.
Meanwhile, Young Thug continued to attempt to get out on bond. However, Judge Ural Glanville rejected the rap artist’s bond application for the third time.
In a hearing on July 21, 2023, Judge Glanville cited the threat of witness intimidation, the threat of fleeing, and dangers to the community as reasons why he denied the rapper bond.
The judge agreed to reconsider Yak Gotti’s bond that same day, but the YSL rapper was denied bond as well.
The following sections discuss everything you should know regarding the RICO charges against Young Thug and his YSL associates.
What’s the Current Status of the Trial?
On November 1, 2023, a jury was seated for the YSL indictment trial ten months after the selection began. This pick is the longest jury selection process in Georgia’s judicial history.
Jury selection for this trial began in January 2023 with hundreds of candidates. Prosecutors and defense lawyers chose 12 jurors and six alternates.
During jury selection, the court faced many delay-causing challenges, including transporting defendants from different facilities daily, contraband brought to court, and arresting a defense lawyer and a courtroom deputy.
Some potential jurors expressed concern that serving on the jury for the lengthy trial would adversely affect their personal and professional lives.
Seven defendants are left in the trial, including Young Thug, Bebee, Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick, Marquavius Huey, Rodalius Ryan, Quamarvious Nichols, and Shannon Stillwell.
How Long Will Young Thug Be in Jail?
As of November 2023, Young Thug remains behind bars and awaiting trial. The YSL co-founder has been incarcerated for over a year.
The length of his imprisonment and release depends on the legal proceedings and the case’s resolution.
Although his friend, Gunna, was released in December 2022, it is unclear whether Young Thug will regain his freedom.
How Young Thug Is Passing His Time in Jail
The organized crime trial involving Young Thug proceeds slowly. During the long wait, the Atlanta-based rapper has reportedly found a pastime.
Mariah the Scientist, Young Thug’s R&B singer girlfriend, told HipHopDX, an online publication, that the rapper has become a Candy Crush Saga expert. She added that his boyfriend plays the game on his iPad daily.
As shown above, the jury selection period is the longest in Georgia’s history. The trial itself could last over a year.
Moreover, Young Thug faces eight criminal counts under a federal law (RICO Act) enacted to combat organized crime.
Given the expected trial duration and the case’s slow progress, Young Thug may have no choice but to continue passing his time in prison by playing Candy Crush.
Why Are Some Members of YSL on Trial?
As mentioned, prosecutors alleged that YSL is a violent street gang responsible for various heinous crimes, including shootings, carjackings, and murders.
The prosecution says YSL committed those crimes to raise money for the gang, boost its reputation, and extend its reach and territory.
Initially, 28 people were accused of conspiring to violate Georgia’s RICO.
Who Is Involved?
As shown above, the grand jury indictment identifies Gunna, Young Thug, and 26 associates as members of the YSL gang.
Young Thug rose to fame after his rap debut as a teenager. Eventually, the Atlanta-based rapper became the CEO of his record label, YSL (Young Stoner Life).
Artists on his record label are part of the “Slime Family.”
Slime Language 2, a compilation album, rose to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in April 2021.
Prosecutors claimed that YSL has ties with the national Bloods gang.
Other people named in the indictment include rappers Yak Gotti, Lil Duke, and Thug’s brother Unfoonk.
Meanwhile, Fani Willis is the DA prosecuting the case. She is a Democrat known for probing whether former president Donald Trump and his team engaged in election fraud in Georgia.
In a press conference in May 2022, Willis asserted that people who commit crimes in Fulton County, Georgia, will be targeted and focused on by the DA’s office, regardless of their fame or notoriety.
This commitment especially applies to those who committed crimes in the interest of furthering street gangs.
Willis concluded her remark by reiterating that violent criminals will be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law, adding that street gangs were responsible for 75% to 85% of violent crime in the community.
What’s 300 Entertainment’s Involvement?
300 Entertainment is the distributor behind YSL Records. Consequently, it offered support to Young Thug and Gunna in many ways.
For example, the 300 Entertainment co-founder and Atlantic Records circulated a Protect Black Art petition following Thug’s bail hearing.
The petition calls the state and federal legislators to enact policies that limit the admissibility of rap lyrics as proof in a court of law.
300 Entertainment even recorded Thug’s speech, where the rapper urged people to sign the petition. The YSL distributor shared the audio recording with a crowd at Hot 97’s Summer Jam in June 2022.
The company also distributed Gunna’s open letters to fans and the public. In it, the Young Thug’s co-star said, “I don’t have freedom. But I am innocent.”
Did Young Thug Attempt a Drug Deal in Court?
A motion filed on January 19, 2023, alleged that co-defendant Kahlieff Adams passed a Percocet pill to Young Thug.
The courtroom surveillance cameras allegedly caught the exchange.
However, Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, denied the allegations, saying an investigation into the incident concluded that the rapper was innocent.
Young Thug Denied Bond Again As YSL Gang Trial Drags On With Delays
In July 2023, Judge Ural Glanville denied Young Thug’s bond request. This rejection is the fourth time Thug was denied bond.
During the hearing, Steel argued that his client was not a flight risk, especially since Williams is experiencing health issues.
However, Judge Glanville cited claims by prosecutors that recent conversations with witnesses suggested that Young Thug was threatening to harm others.
The Superior Court concluded that Young Thug posed a significant risk to the community and did not qualify for a bond.
Here’s How Young Thug’s Attorney Is Trying to Get the Rapper Out of Jail
During the jury selection period, Brian Steel, Thug’s lawyer, has been relentless in his efforts at least to get his client out of jail on bond and, at most, dismiss all of the criminal charges brought against the rapper.
In late April, Brian Steel filed a motion to secure bond, saying Mr. Williams has languished in the county jail since May 2022 without bond.
He also asserted that Williams had previously provided compelling evidence qualifying him for a bond.
How Is the Music Industry Reacting?
Overall, the hip-hop industry has rallied around Young Thug and Gunna.
The internationally acclaimed Canadian rapper and singer Drake’s new song Sticky referenced Young Thug’s case:
Hey, yo Eric, bring them girls to the stage,
‘Cause/ Somebody’s getting paid and/
Free Big Slime out of the cage.
The Toronto chart-topper featured “Free YSL” briefly in the music video for the song Falling Back.
In an ABC News interview, American rapper and activist Killer Mike said that people do not think of hip hop as an art because they do not recognize Black people as full human beings.
Killer Mike criticized the courts for prosecuting hip-hop artists based on the stories and characters they tell in rhyme.
Who Is Young Thug?
Jeffery Lamar “Young Thug” Williams was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 16, 1991.
The multi-awarded rapper grew up in a large family, the ninth of 11 siblings.
Young Thug’s most well-known songs include Solid, Go Crazy, and Bubbly.
Throughout his career, Young Thug has collaborated with notable artists, including Chris Brown, Drake, and Travis Scott.
He has been active in the American rap community since the early 2010s.
After joining Gucci Mane’s record label, Young Thug would become one of the most influential rappers at the peak of contemporary hip-hop and trap music.
What Is YSL?
The answer to this question depends on who you ask.
Fulton County prosecutors allege that YSL is a violent criminal street crew affiliated with the national Bloods gang.
However, the defendants assert that YSL is not a criminal entity and must not be confused with Young Stoner Life Records, the music label Young Thug co-founded.
Thug’s fellow rapper Gunna said he did not consider YSL a street gang. Instead, it is a group of individuals in metro Atlanta who share common interests and artistic aspirations.
For Gunna, YSL members and associates are rap artists who write and perform music exaggerating and glorifying urban life in the Black community.
Young Thug Releases New Album From Georgia Jail As Jury Selection Continues
In June 2023, Young Thug teased a new album, Business Is Business, with a QR (quick response) code.
An Instagram (IG) teaser included a recording that sounds like Thug is making a collect call from inside the Cobb County Jail, the facility currently holding Young Thug.
That same month, Young Thug released Business is Business, the rapper’s first project since getting arrested due to racketeering charges.
The new album features well-known rap artists, including Future, Drake, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott. Metro Boomin is the album’s executive producer.
The album cover displays Young Thug posing in a courtroom with six other Black men dressed in black suits.
Despite his extensive jail time, Young Thug has appeared on several new songs, including Killer Mike’s Run, Yeat’s My Wrist, Rae Sremmurd’s Royal Flush, and Calvin Harris’ Potion.
Thug received two nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards for his appearance on Gunna’s Pushin P.
How Are Song Lyrics Being Used as Evidence?
As you learned, the prosecution used rap lyrics as evidence against YSL defendants.
While some experts argue that this practice violates free speech, using lyrics to incriminate rap artists has been done before.
For example, Boosie, 6ix9ine, and Drakeo the Ruler’s lyrics have been used in court as evidence against them. Only Drakeo the Ruler and Boosie were acquitted.
In January 2021, a Maryland court ruled that rap lyrics are admissible to court as evidence.
Meanwhile, Jay-Z and other prominent artists publicly endorsed Senate Bill S7527, a proposed New York law known as the Rap Music Trial.
This bill would limit the use of creative expression, such as song lyrics, in courts of law as evidence in a criminal case.
Gunna Calls for Young Thug’s Release During First Post-jail Performance: ‘Free Jeffery’
On September 9, 2023, Gunna took the stage at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
That was Gunna’s first show following his release from jail in December 2022. The “fukueman” rapper demanded Young Thug’s release by displaying visuals that read “Free Jefferey.”
Did Gunna Confess?
Gunna, Young Thug’s friend and YSL associate, did not admit to the allegations against him.
Instead, he entered an Alford plea. This legal option allowed the rapper to maintain innocence while acknowledging the possibility of a conviction.
Gunna pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy as part of the deal. This act allowed him to go on early release. It also changed his sentence into time served.
While Gunna did not technically confess, some hip-hop artists were disappointed he took the deal.
Footage of the plea hearing showed the Georgia rapper admitting his association with YSL and affirming the organization has some gang elements.
In a recent snippet, Lil Durk implied that Gunna told on YSL. Meanwhile, Meek Mill, Polo G, and Lil Baby unfollowed Gunna on Instagram.
Gunna addressed rumors of him “switching sides” or snitching on YSL on his IG account by posting hashtags like #FreeThug&Yak and #Yslthelabel.
Who Is Gunna Signed to?
Gunna (Sergio Giavanni Kitchens) is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter signed to Young Thug’s YSL Records, 300 Entertainment, and Atlantic Records.
Was Fani Willis a Lawyer for YSL Mondo?
The tough-on-crime prosecutor served as YSL Mondo’s defense attorney before she became a DA at Fulton County.
In a January 25, 2023 interview, the YSL co-founder told Rolling Stone that Willis was acting differently from what he remembered.
YSL Mondo added that he had an “auntie-to-nephew, mother-to-son” type of talks with the Fulton County DA.
He suspected there was more to the YSL case than meets the eye, suggesting that politics was behind the thing.
What Is Young Thug’s Net Worth?
Despite his legal woes, Young Thug’s financial situation remains impressive. Some estimate his net worth to be around $10 million, owing to his extensive career in the music industry.
Young Thug’s versatile hip-hop and trap music artistry earned him a loyal fan base and notable commercial success.
What Is the RICO Act?
The RICO Act refers to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act 1970.
This legislation aims to enhance legal evidence-gathering tools by setting new prohibitions.
The RICO Act also provides improved sanctions and new approaches for addressing the illegal activities of those involved in organized crime.
Here are some examples of racketeering activities:
- Homicide
- Kidnapping
- Robbery
- Arson
- Embezzlement
- Bribery
- Counterfeiting
- Mail fraud
- Money laundering
- Wire fraud
- Witness tampering
- Distribution of a controlled substance
- Extortion
- Gambling
A RICO conviction has grave consequences. The RICO statute not only provides criminal penalties, like 20 years in prison, but also harsh financial sanctions.
People convicted of a RICO charge may face a $250,000 fine or a fine equal to twice the proceeds from the unlawful activity.
The prison time may also extend to a life sentence, depending on the underlying crime.
What Does Lil Wayne Have to Do With the Case?
In 2015, Grammy-award-winning rapper Lil Wayne’s tour bus was shot up on Interstate 285 outside of Atlanta.
Peewee Roscoe (real name Jimmy Carlton Winfrey), one of the defendants in the YSL case, was charged with aggravated assault over this shooting incident.
Young Thug was named as an uncharged co-conspirator in that case, with prosecutors saying Winfrey made multiple calls to him before and after the shooting.
On July 10, 2023, PeeWee Roscoe was arrested by the Las Vegas Police Department after 14 months as a fugitive.
Winfrey’s arrest record showed he was charged with battery and forging an ID.
References
- US rapper Young Thug arrested on gang-related charges, Gunna also indicted
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/10/us-rapper-young-thug-arrested-on-gang-related-charges-gunna-also-indicted - Young Thug Arrested in Georgia on Gang-Related Charges
https://web.archive.org/web/20230629045913/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/young-thug-grand-jury-rico-indictment-1350975/ - Jury selected after almost 10 months for rapper Young Thug’s trial on gang, racketeering charges
https://apnews.com/article/young-thug-atlanta-rico-indictment-trial-jury-3bb8f2d5f2096b6302ec9921f036173c - Why Young Thug is the 21st Century’s most influential rapper
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191021-why-young-thug-is-the-21st-centurys-most-influential-rapper - RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) Statute – Implications for Organized Labor
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/rico-racketeer-influenced-and-corrupt-organizations-act-statute - Young Thug rap lyrics used as alleged evidence in YSL gang indictment
https://abc7chicago.com/young-thug-ysl-gang-gunna-lyrics/11888992/ - Young Thug arrested in Atlanta, named in gang indictment
https://web.archive.org/web/20230429121338/https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/breaking-young-thug-arrested-in-atlanta-charged-with-2-gang-counts/BIYGW7E37NDABA5N74QYLF3BYA/ - Young Thug Carried the Weight of Atlanta on His Shoulders. Now, It Could Crush Him
https://web.archive.org/web/20230617200428/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/young-thug-ysl-rico-gang-indictment-1352992 - Everything We Know About YSL’s RICO Case
https://www.vulture.com/article/ysl-young-thug-gunna-arrest-charges-explained.html - Alford plea
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/alford_plea - Young Thug YSL Trial: Jury Finally Seated After More Than 10 Months
https://web.archive.org/web/20231105193803/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/young-thug-ysl-trial-jury-1234868136/ - ‘Slime Language 2’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart
https://www.billboard.com/pro/slime-language-2-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart/ - Young Thug denied bond again in RICO case as jury selection enters 8th month
https://abcnews.go.com/US/young-thug-denied-bond-rico-case-jury-selection/story?id=101550747 - This YSL Affiliate Has Been Arrested. Here’s Why That Could Be a Big Deal
https://web.archive.org/web/20231107100557/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/peewee-roscoe-arrest-young-thug-ysl-1234792593/