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

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

The 33-year-old Grammy-winning artist, whose given name is Jeffery Williams, entered his pleas without reaching a deal with prosecutors after negotiations between the two sides broke down, chief prosecutor Adriane Love said. That left sentencing entirely up to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.

Young Thug’s plea comes two and a half years after he was arrested and charged and nearly a year after prosecutors began introducing evidence in the trouble-plagued trial. Jury selection at the courthouse in Atlanta started in January 2023 And lasted almost 10 months. Prosecutors have since called dozens of witnesses opening statements last November in the trial of six suspects.

The trial has suffered many delays, including in July when the case was closed original judge was removed after two defendants requested his recusal, citing a meeting the judge had with prosecutors and a state witness.

Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges. He also entered a plea to another gang charge and a racketeering charge, meaning he decided not to contest those charges but could be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.

The judge imposed a sentence of 40 years, with the first five serving in prison, but it was commuted to prison, followed by 15 years of probation. If he successfully completes that probation without any violations, another twenty years will be commuted to time served. But if he violates the terms, he will have to serve 20 years, in addition to any sentence for a probation violation.

Young Thug must stay away from metro Atlanta 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 anti-gang, anti-gun violence presentation at a school or community organization that serves children. She said this could count toward the 100 hours of community service she assigned him each year while on probation.

He is also prohibited from associating with gang members or with the victims or other defendants in the case, with the exception of his brother and rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. He may also not promote any criminal street gang or gang activity and may not use hand gestures or terminology that promotes street gang activity.

Additional conditions include submitting to random drug screenings and not owning a weapon. But he is allowed to travel both nationally and internationally for work, even during his probationary 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, with 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.

The rapper’s lead attorney, Brian Steel, said they “strongly disagree” with many of Love’s statements and said it was “offensive” for the state to use Young Thug’s lyrics against him.

Steel said the evidence against his client is weak and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting and hiding evidence, saying Young Thug had been “falsely accused.” Steel said he told his client he thought they were winning the trial and should move on to a jury verdict.

“But he said to me, ‘I can’t wait another three months if there’s any chance I can go home, because I have children who are in pain. I have things to do,” Steel said.

Steel asked the judge to impose a 45-year prison sentence, with five prison terms commuted to prison and 40 years’ probation.

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

“I’ve learned from my mistakes, you know. I came from nothing and I created something and I didn’t take full advantage of it. I’m sorry,’ he said.

The judge said she appreciated him realizing the impact he has on people around the world. She said rap music involves a lot of posturing, but children mimic some of the dangerous behavior mentioned in songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage children to do good.

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

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

That was him charged two years ago in a sweeping indictment accusing him and more than two dozen other people of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He was also charged with gang, drug and gun crimes.

Three of his Young Thug’s co-suspects had done the same has already pleaded guilty this week after reaching agreements with prosecutors. The pleas still leave the fate of two other co-defendants undecided.

Nine people charged in the indictment accepted plea deals before the trial began. Twelve others are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against one suspect after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.