Young thug, YSL Rico trial: Co-defendant accepts plea deal and receives verdict

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – After several days of speculation and plea negotiations, 29-year-old Quamarvious Nichols has accepted a plea deal in the YSL-RICO trial in Fulton County.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that all but one of Nichols' charges, including a murder charge, would be dropped in exchange for his guilty plea to a RICO (racketeering) charge.

During the sentencing phase, defense attorney Bruce Harvey made an impassioned plea for leniency. He highlighted Nichols' difficult childhood, his role as a husband and father of three children, and his potential for a positive future.

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker then agreed to the negotiated agreement to serve 20 years in prison, serve seven years and the remainder on probation. Judge Whitaker expressed sympathy for Nichols' difficult upbringing and urged him to view the sentence as a “birthday present” as he nears his 30th birthday. After the verdict was announced, Nichols was taken into custody. He will be given credit for the time served, which is 31 months.

Plea deal progress and courtroom disruptions

Earlier in the day, it emerged that Nichols accepted the plea deal. Before the announcement, Judge Whitaker admonished two bloggers for making recordings in the courtroom during the restricted time. She therefore instructed them to remain in the media room in the future and noted that the trial was likely to continue.

Additionally, defense attorney Doug Weinstein, who represents Deamonte Kendrick, urged his client to be present in court to witness Nichols' plea agreement. Weinstein posted on social media earlier in the day that Kendrick had been wrongly accused and vowed to continue the fight.

Judge Whitaker apologized for the disruption and called for a short recess before the trial resumed.

Delays and developments

There were already delays in court proceedings on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, the public and media were kept away from the courtroom as prosecutors discussed possible plea deals with defense attorneys. The courtroom doors remained closed Tuesday morning until Nichols' plea agreement was finalized.

Judge Whitaker released the participants at 3:30 p.m. on Monday and ordered them to return at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, only for the proceedings to be delayed again.

It is unknown at this time whether additional defendants will enter into plea agreements. More than one defense team is believed to have negotiated with prosecutors on behalf of their clients.

Ongoing YSL RICO trial

The trial, which involves Young Thug – real name Jeffery Williams – and several co-defendants, faced numerous challenges. Last week, defense attorneys filed for a mistrial after a witness accidentally mentioned a hashtag that implicated one of the defendants. Many people believed that more defendants would do business with the state and Judge Whitaker would finally grant a mistrial.

Here are the remaining defendants, including Jeffery Williams:

Jeffery Williams (Young Thug or Slime): Conspiracy to Violate RICO, 2 counts of engaging in street gang criminal activity, 3 counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a machine gun.

Marquavius ​​Huey (Qua): Conspiracy to Violate RICO, 3 counts of Armed Robbery, 4 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 4 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, First Degree Hijacking of a Motor Vehicle, 4 counts of Contributing to a Street Offense gang activity, possession of a weapon by an incarcerated person and possession of a telecommunications device by an incarcerated person.

Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti): Conspiracy to violate RICO, murder (murder of Donovan Thomas in 2015), engaging in criminal street gang activity, three counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon who has previously been convicted of a crime involving the use or possession of a firearm.

Rodalius Ryan (Lil Rod): Conspiracy to Violate RICO. Currently serving a life sentence for the 2019 murder of Jamari Holmes.

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

Young Thug and 27 others were charged in 2022 with violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law and committing multiple violent crimes. After the longest jury selection in history (10 months), the trial against Young Thug and several co-defendants began in November 2023. It is now the longest trial in Georgia history. Prosecutors are trying to prove that YSL (Young Slime Life) is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous crimes, including murder. The defendants claim that YSL stands for Young Stoner Life and is the name of a record label founded by Young Thug. Young Thug faces eight criminal charges. The trial was plagued by various disruptions, including illness, the arrest of a juror and attorney, the stabbing of defendant Shannon Stillwell, the removal of the original judge in charge of the case, and more.

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