Rapper Jeffery Lamar Williams, more commonly referred to as “Young Thug” on his songs and social media has been sentenced to 15 years parole for leading a street gang involved in murder, armed robbery and drug dealing called YSL short for Young Slime Life.
The trial which began last November, reopened following an improper testimony which provoked talk of a potential mistrial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have opted to strike a deal, rather than starting the lengthy trial over again.
Williams will serve parole and will need to perform 100 hours of community service each year due to a plea deal agreement made on October 31.
“There better be no violations, but if there are any, you’re coming back to see me,” Judge Paige Whitaker said.
Williams’s music career will likely continue despite the verdict. He would have faced a maximum of 120 years in prison if he was convicted on all charges.
“I think he definitely should have been pounded harder with more years in prison for the crimes he did, 15 years parole just seems like a slap on the wrist” NHS junior Ryan Payne said.
Young Thug was first indicted in May 2022 for allegations that his record label YSL was not only for creating music, but rather a violent Atlanta gang spearheaded by Thug. The case was based around Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law and claims YSL committed crimes such as murder, drug dealing, and carjacking during the past ten years. Racketeering is defined as dishonest and fraudulent business dealings.
Plea deals mainly resulted following an incident on October 23 in which a state witness revealed sensitive information to the jury. This prompted the defense to demand a mistrial as defense attorneys claimed the mistake was caused by errors by the prosecution. Judge Paige Whitaker criticized the prosecution for their “sloppiness.”
At a hearing, Marquavius “Qua” Huey pleaded guilty to robbery, racketeering conspiracy and several other counts. Prosecutors struck a deal with Qua and his defense which resulted in a sentence of 25 years with only nine to serve in prison. This is a much nicer sentence than the life sentences Qua was facing if he was convicted on all charges.
Another notable deal which came to a conclusion at the end of October was with another defendant named Rodalius “Lil Rod” Ryan. Lil Rod pled guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge which he received a 10 year sentence, adding onto his life sentence he was dealt for a murder in 2019.
With these pleas going through, now only Thug, Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick, and Shannon Stillwell remain on trial. Kendrick and Stillwell are the most prominent in the prosecution's case. The two are accused of the murder of a rival gang leader Donavan Thomas in 2015.
The defense denied that YSL is a street gang and contends that RICO law is being used unjustly to limit the success of Black Hip-hop artists like Thug. Thug has been largely attributed to the growth and influence of several rap stars and Atlanta “trap gangsta rap.”
Thug's song lyrics were a prominent weapon for the prosecution. One song in particular “Lifestyle” by Rich Gang, (a music collective which features Young Thug) was played in the courtroom as evidence of Thugs involvement in leading gang related activity.
“No, lyrics should not be able to be used as evidence in a trial because they are not always the whole truth,” NHS senior Grayson Renkert said.
Thug’s 2019 album titled So Much Fun debuted at number one. And despite being jailed since mid-2022, Thug has continued to create and release music, releasing an album in June 2023 through YSL records. The album cover is a black and white depiction of Thug in a courtroom surrounded by his co-defendants. In the album Thug references his crimes and the prosecution he undergoes.
"I know the heights I've reached and I know the impact I've got on people in the community." Young Thug said.
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