Young Thug Accepts Plea Deal in YSL Trial

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Superstar rapper Young Thug has accepted a plea deal in his internationally watched YSL criminal trial.

Just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jeffery Williams (Young Thug's real name) was sworn in and listened as Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Adriane Love read the charges against him. Williams was accompanied by his attorneys, Brian Steele and Keith Adams.

Williams agreed to a non-negotiated plea deal, which can result in a defendant and prosecutors being unable to agree on a sentence. With such a plea, the defense attorneys give the judge full authority to decide the sentence. The judge could follow the state's recommendation, the defense's recommendation, or impose a completely different sentence.

Love recommended a 45-year sentence, including 25 years in custody and 20 years on probation.

This story is developing.

Three of Young Thug's remaining co-defendants have reached plea deals in the last 72 hours, leaving only Williams (Young Thug) himself, Shannon Stillwell (SB), and Deamonte Kendrick (aka Yal Gotti) remaining.

On Thursday, Douglas Weinstein, Kendrick's attorney, said his client had rejected a plea deal. Weinstein said his client “fully intends to present the matter to the jury, receive our acquittals and go home.”

On Wednesday, Rodalius Ryan (aka “Lil Rod”) pleaded guilty to one count of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Ryan, who was previously convicted of the 2019 murder of Jamari Holmes, is already serving a life sentence and was sentenced to an additional 10 years.

Also on Wednesday, Marquavius ​​Huey (aka “Qua”) pleaded guilty to a RICO violation and accepted reduced sentences for robbery (reduced from armed robbery); and weapons possession charges.

On Tuesday, Quamarvious Nichols (aka “Qua”) accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to attempt to violate the RICO Act. In exchange, Fulton County prosecutors dropped remaining charges of murder, participation in a criminal street gang, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Nichols was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with seven suspended.

The plea agreements came after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker halted the trial last week after defense attorneys objected to the testimony of Wunnie Lee (aka Slimelife Shawty), who had previously been released in exchange for his testimony had reached an agreement.

A social media post containing the hashtag was shown in court #freequaa reference to a previous prison sentence for one of the YSL co-defendants now on trial along with Jeffery Williams, Young Thug's real name.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors should have removed that image and that the jury now learned of the co-defendant's previous incarceration.

Opening statements were held in Young Thug's trial on November 27, 2023. Jury selection took longer than any other trial in Georgia history, and the actual testimony itself is likely to exceed state records. Both records were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teachers scandal and trial in 2014-15.

Young Thug celebrated his 33rd birthday on August 16, 2024, after being arrested on May 9, 2022 along with 27 other alleged gang members in Buckhead as part of a 56-count indictment.

The trial itself began on November 27, 2023. Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the length of the trial, and Fulton County prosecutors still have to call more than 100 witnesses.

Prosecutors are trying to prove that YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous crimes. Defense attorneys say YSL is not a gang, just the name of a record company.

Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

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