Rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Atlanta to charges related to gang activity, drugs, and firearms. He is set to be released from jail, but could face re-incarceration if he breaches the conditions of his sentence.
The 33-year-old Grammy winner entered his guilty plea without a plea deal, as negotiations between his defense and the prosecution fell through, according to lead prosecutor Adriane Love. This left the sentencing entirely at the discretion of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.
Young Thug’s plea comes two and a half years after his initial arrest and nearly a year after the prosecution began presenting evidence in a trial that faced multiple challenges. Jury selection started in January 2023 and took nearly ten months, with prosecutors calling numerous witnesses since the trial began last November for six defendants.
The trial has encountered several delays, notably in July when the original judge was removed. This occurred after two defendants requested his recusal, pointing to a meeting the judge had with prosecutors and a state witness as the reason for their concern.
Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges, and two gun charges. He also entered a no contest plea for another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning he won’t contest those charges but can be punished as if he had pleaded guilty.
The judge sentenced him to 40 years, with the first five years to be served in prison, commuted to time served, followed by 15 years of probation. If he completes his probation successfully, another 20 years will also be commuted to time served. However, if he violates any terms of his probation, he will face those additional 20 years along with any penalties for the violation.
During the first 10 years of his probation, Young Thug must avoid the metro Atlanta area, except for weddings, funerals, graduations, or serious family illnesses, as specified by the judge.
The judge also mandated that Young Thug return to the Atlanta area four times a year during his probation to give live presentations on anti-gang and anti-gun violence at schools or community organizations that serve children. These presentations can count towards the 100 hours of community service he is required to complete annually during his probation.
He is prohibited from associating with gang members or the victims and other defendants in his case, except for his brother and rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. Additionally, he cannot promote any gang activity or use signs or language that support street gangs.
Other conditions include submitting to random drug tests and refraining from possessing firearms. However, he is permitted to travel both nationally and internationally for work during his probation.
Prosecutor Adriane Love had previously outlined evidence she would have used to demonstrate Young Thug’s guilt, including some of his rap lyrics. She requested a sentence of 45 years, comprising 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of probation.
Young Thug’s lead attorney, Brian Steel, expressed strong disagreement with many of the statements made by prosecutor Adriane Love, calling it “offensive” that the state is using the rapper’s lyrics against him. Steel criticized the evidence presented against his client, claiming it is weak and accusing prosecutors of misrepresenting and concealing evidence, asserting that Young Thug was “falsely accused.” He mentioned that he believed they were winning the trial and encouraged his client to continue to a jury verdict.
However, Young Thug expressed a desire to avoid further delay, stating, “I can’t wait another three months if there is any possibility I could go home because I have children that are hurting. I have things to do,” according to Steel.
Steel requested a sentence of 45 years, with five years in prison commuted to time served and 40 years on probation. Young Thug also appealed to the judge to allow him to go home, emphasizing that he wouldn’t find himself in a similar situation again.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes, you know. I come from nothing and I’ve made something, and I didn’t take full advantage of it. I’m sorry,” he said.
The judge acknowledged Young Thug’s awareness of his influence on people around the world. She pointed out that while rap music often involves exaggeration, children can imitate the dangerous behaviors depicted in songs. She urged Young Thug to leverage his talent and influence to encourage positive choices among kids.
“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Judge Whitaker stated.
As a highly successful rapper, Young Thug founded his own record label, Young Stoner Life (YSL). Prosecutors have alleged that he co-founded a violent criminal street gang, asserting that YSL stands for Young Slime Life.
He was charged two years ago in a wide-ranging indictment that accused him and over two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, along with charges related to gang activity, drugs, and firearms.
This week, three of Young Thug’s co-defendants pleaded guilty after striking deals with prosecutors, leaving the outcomes for two other co-defendants still uncertain.
Prior to the trial, nine individuals charged in the indictment accepted plea deals, while twelve others are being tried separately. Additionally, prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.
