ATLANTA– Two more people are on trial, along with rapper Young criminal pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Wednesday after reaching agreements with prosecutors.
Pleas came from Rodalius Ryan and Marquavius Huey just a day later another co-defendant, Quamarvious Nichols, took a plea deal.
Ryan, 18, pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate the state’s anti-racketeering law. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker accepted the terms of the plea agreement and sentenced Ryan to 10 years, which was commuted to time served. But he will remain behind bars because he is already serving a life sentence for murder, although that sentence is being appealed.
One of Ryan’s attorneys, Leah Abbasi, said they “categorically and adamantly deny that YSL is the criminal, dangerous street gang they are portrayed to be.” She said her client made the best decision for his future.
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. The rapper, whose given name is Jeffery Williams, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Huey, 28, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, robbery, firearms, gang and aggravated assault charges, with prosecutors agreeing some sentences could be served concurrently. Whitaker also accepted that plea deal and sentenced Huey to 25 years, with nine years in prison, eleven on probation and five years of probation.
One of Huey’s attorneys, Careton Matthews Sr., said they “emphatically and categorically deny” some of the charges read by the prosecutor, but they acknowledge there is sufficient evidence to support the charges to which he pleaded guilty. He also pointed out that his client has already been in pretrial detention for about four years, which should count towards his nine years in pretrial detention.
Noting that Huey faced three consecutive life sentences plus about 100 years, Whitaker said it was “quite frankly remarkable” that the state agreed to the sentence he received for these “very serious charges.” She warned him not to violate the terms of his agreement, and said she would likely not show much leniency if he appeared before her again, given his relatively light sentence.
“You have a tremendous opportunity to turn your life around,” she told him, noting that he will likely get out of prison within a few years.
The pleas still leave the fate of Young Thug and two others undecided in what has become Georgia’s longest criminal trial. Jury selection at the courthouse in Atlanta started in January 2023 And lasted almost 10 months. The process started with opening statements last November, and prosecutors have since called dozens of witnesses.
Young Thug, a Grammy winner, was 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 is also accused of gang, drug and gun crimes.
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.