Young Thug trial: Rapper pleads guilty to gang, drug, 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 placed back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.

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

Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges. He also pleaded no contest to another gang charge and a the rocket conspiracy charge, meaning he has decided not to contest those charges but can be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.

The judge imposed a sentence of 40 years, with the first five to be served in prison but commuted to time served, followed by 15 years of probation. If he successfully completes that probation period without violations, another 20 years will be commuted into the enforcement term. But if he violates the conditions, he will have to serve the 20 years.

Young Thug must stay away from the Atlanta metro area for the first 10 years of probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illness 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 and gun violence presentation at a school or community organization that serves children. She said that can count toward the 100 hours of community service she was ordered to perform each year during her probation.

He is also not allowed to associate with gang members or the victims or other defendants in the case, except for his brother and rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. It also may not promote any street gang or gang activity and may not use hand signs or terminology promoting a street gang.

Additional conditions include submitting to random drug tests and not possessing a weapon. But he is allowed to travel both domestically and internationally for work, even while on probation.

Love had presented the judge with the evidence he 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 “vehemently disagree” with many of the statements Love made and said it was “offensive” that the state was using Young Thug’s lyrics against him.

Steel said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of distorting and concealing evidence, saying Young Thug was “falsely accused.” Steel said he told his client that he believed he was winning the case and that it should go 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’ve got babies that hurt. I have things to do,’” Steel said.

Steel asked the judge to impose a sentence of 45 years with five suspended and 40 years of probation.

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

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

The judge said she appreciated realizing the impact she has on people around the world. She said rap music can involve a lot of posturing, but that kids are emulating some of the dangerous behaviors mentioned in the songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage kids to do the right thing.

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

A wildly successful rapper, Young Thug started his own record label, Young Stoner Life or YSL. Prosecutors said he also co-founded a violent criminal street gang and that YSL stood for Young Slime Life, the gang’s name.

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

The rapper entered the plea nearly a year after prosecutors began presenting evidence. Since then, the high-profile trial has faced several interruptions and delays, including leaking a juror’s identity onlinestabbing a defendant in Fulton County Jail and multiple changes to the judge overseeing the trial. The trial of six defendants began with opening statements last November, and since then prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses.

With his pleas, Williams joins three co-defendants who pleaded guilty this week after reaching deals with prosecutors. The fate of two other co-defendants remains undecided.

Nine people charged in the indictment accepted plea deals before the trial began. Another 12 are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against a defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.

Originally from Atlanta, Young Thug began his hip-hop career in 2010. Known for his hits “Best Friend” and “Floyd Mayweather,” Young Thug helped elevate Atlanta’s rap scene, garnering Grammy and MTV Video Music Award nominations and has performed at major events including the BET Awards and the Coachella music festival.

Despite being imprisoned in Georgia since his 2022 arrest, Young Thug has continued to release music, including his 2023 album “Business Is Business” and recent songs with rap artists Ye (ex-Kanye West), Ty Dolla Sign and 21 Savage.

Brumback writes for the Associated Press. Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.