LIVE: Young Thug pleads guilty as part of ‘blind plea’ in YSL case

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Williams, signed an unnegotiated plea agreement in the YSL RICO case. Williams was sworn in before the court shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday.

Attorney General Adriane Love said the 33-year-old Grammy-winning artist could not reach an agreement with prosecutors after negotiations between the two parties failed. This leaves the punishment entirely to the judge.

The prosecution is asking for a prison sentence of 25 to 45 years. The defense is asking for a 45-year prison sentence, including 5 years of imprisonment, with the remaining term commuted to prison and house arrest, and 40 years of supervised release. The judge met with Love and defense attorney Brian Steel before handing down the sentence.

Williams was charged with conspiracy to violate RICO, 2 counts of participating in criminal street gang activity, 3 counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a machine gun. He pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges, but also entered a no-contest plea to another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning he decided not to contest those charges and accepted the sentence.

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

He was charged two years ago in a sweeping indictment charging him and more than two dozen others with conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He was also charged with gang, drug and weapons offences.

Young Thug’s plea comes almost a year after the prosecution began presenting evidence in the troubled case. Jury selection at the courthouse in Atlanta began in January 2023 and lasted about 10 months. The trial of the six defendants began with opening statements last November, and prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses since then.

Non-negotiable plea deal announced

An unnegotiated plea agreement, often referred to as a “blind plea” or “open plea,” is an arrangement in which the defendant pleads guilty without a predetermined sentencing agreement with the prosecution. Rather than negotiating the sentence, the defendant presents his defense directly to the judge, and the judge has full discretion regarding the final sentence.

This type of plea means that the defendant waives his right to a trial without a definitive sentence being determined in advance. The judge determines the punishment within the framework of legal parameters, taking into account factors such as the severity of the crime and the criminal history of the defendant.

Defendants may opt for a non-negotiated plea if they believe the judge may impose a lighter sentence than the prosecution offers. However, this approach carries significant risk as it relinquishes control over the outcome of the sentence.

“This case breaks all the rules for how complex criminal cases are typically conducted,” said legal expert and longtime attorney Joshua Schiffer.

Multiple plea deals have already been reached this week amid the emergence of a possible mistrial.

“The jury, no one can predict how they will receive this. All we know for sure is that they had a trial that is unprecedented in Georgia history,” Schiffer said.

Yak Gotti rejected deal: ‘Take this to the jury’

Yak Gotti rejected the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office’s final plea deal in the YSL case, according to his attorney.

Douglas Weinstein, who represents Gotti, said his client “fully intends to take this to the jury, get our not guilty verdicts and go home.”

The trial had been paused since last week. A. The witness mistakenly read aloud a hashtag incriminating one of the defendants, encouraging defense attorneys to request a mistrial. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker stated that, if granted, the mistrial would be without prejudice and would allow the state to retry the case.

Since the incident, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has been in talks with defense attorneys about plea agreements. Details about potential deals were limited until Tuesday, when one of the defendants agreed to plead in exchange for dropping most of the charges.

Previous plea agreements in the YSL RICO case

Developments coming one day later Two defendants in the trial took plea deals for their charges.

Rodalius Ryan, also known as Lil Rod, and Marquavius ​​Huey, also known as Qua, reached agreements in Fulton County court Wednesday afternoon.

Ryan, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to violate the state’s anti-racketeering law. His plea on Wednesday meant his 10-year prison sentence for the RICO charge was commuted to time already served and he could focus on appealing a murder conviction he received when he was 15.

Leah Abbasi, one of Ryan’s lawyers, said they “categorically and steadfastly deny that YSL is the dangerous street gang that it is believed to be.” He said he made the best decision for his client’s future.

Huey’s plea deal came shortly after Ryan’s. Originally indicted on 19 charges, including violating the RICO Act, multiple counts of armed robbery, and participation in a criminal street gang, Huey saw some of the charges dropped or dismissed.

Careton Matthews Sr., one of Huey’s attorneys, said they “absolutely and categorically deny” some of the allegations read by the prosecutor, but acknowledged there was sufficient evidence to support the charges to which he pleaded guilty. He also pointed out that his client had already been detained for approximately four years and that this should be counted towards the nine years of detention.

The judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison, of which he will serve only nine, and warned him not to violate the terms of his deal.

“You are facing a great opportunity to turn your life around,” he said, noting that he will likely be released from prison within a few years.

on tuesday 29-year-old Quamarviv Nicholsaccepted a plea deal. In exchange for his guilty plea to the RICO charge, all but one of the charges against Nichols were dropped.

YSL member on trial: Remaining defendants in YSL RICO Case

Only two defendants remain on trial following plea agreements: Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick and Shannon Stillwell.

Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti): conspiracy to violate RICO, murder (2015 murder of Donovan Thomas), participation in criminal street gang activity, 3 violations of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, machine gun possession of a rifle and possession of a firearm by a felon previously convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm.

Shannon Stillwell (Shannon Jackson or SB): Conspiracy to violate RICO, 2 counts of murder (2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr. and 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks), 2 counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, 2 counts of murder a firearm by a felon convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Twelve people are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against a defendant convicted of murder in an unrelated case.

FOX 5 Atlanta has been following this case for nearly a year, following a jury selection process that lasted nearly 10 months. This is now the longest running case in Georgia history.