Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty to gang, drug and weapons charges

ATLANTA– Rapper Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang, drug and weapons charges in Atlanta on Thursday and will be released from prison. However, he could be put back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.

The 33-year-old Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, filed his lawsuit without reaching a deal with prosecutors after negotiations between the two sides failed, said lead prosecutor Adriane Love. That left the sentencing decision entirely up to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.

Young Thug's plea comes two and a half years after his arrest and indictment and nearly a year after prosecutors began presenting evidence in the troubled trial. Jury selection at the Atlanta courthouse began in January 2023 and lasted nearly 10 months. Prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses since testifying in the trial of six defendants last November.

There have been numerous delays in the trial, including in July when the original judge was removed after two defendants requested that he be recused, citing a meeting the judge had with prosecutors and a state witness.

Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang-related charge, three drug charges and two firearm charges. He also entered a no-contest plea to additional charges of gang violence and conspiracy, meaning he chose not to contest those charges but can be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.

The judge imposed a sentence of 40 years, with the first five years served in prison, but the sentence commuted to time served, followed by 15 years probation. If he successfully completes this probation period without any violations, an additional 20 years will be commuted to time served. However, if he violates the conditions, he will have to serve those 20 years in addition to any sentence for violating probation.

Young Thug must stay away from the Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illnesses of family members, the judge said.

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

He is also not allowed to have contact with gang members or the victims or other defendants in the case, except for his brother and rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. He also may not promote criminal street gangs or gang activity or use hand signals or terminology that promotes a street gang.

Other conditions include participating in random drug checks and possessing a weapon. However, he is also allowed to travel domestically and internationally for work during his probation period.

Love had outlined to the judge the evidence she would have presented to prove Young Thug's guilt, including some of his rap lyrics. She asked the judge to sentence him to 45 years in prison, with 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.

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

Steel said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting and hiding evidence and said Young Thug had been “falsely accused.” Steel said he told his client he believed they would win the trial and should get a jury verdict.

“But he told me, 'I can't wait another three months if there's a chance I can go home because my kids are hurt.' “I have things to do,” Steel said.

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

Young Thug asked the judge to let him go home, saying he wouldn't be in a similar situation again.

“I learned from my mistakes, you know? I came from nothing and created something without taking full advantage of it. I’m sorry,” he said.

The judge said she appreciated that he recognized the impact he had on people worldwide. She said that while rap music involves a lot of posturing, children mimic some of the dangerous behaviors mentioned in songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage children to do the right thing.

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

Young Thug, a hugely successful rapper, founded his own record label, Young Stoner Life or YSL. Prosecutors said he was also a co-founder of a violent criminal street gang and that YSL stood for Young Slime Life.

Two years ago, he was indicted in a sprawling indictment that accused him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia's anti-crime law. He was also accused of gang, drug and gun crime.

Three of his Young Thug's co-defendants had already pleaded guilty this week after making deals with prosecutors. The plea deals still leave the fate of two other co-defendants unclear.

Nine of those charged in the indictment accepted plea agreements before the trial began. Twelve more are being negotiated separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against a defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.