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The most notable instance to date of “rap on trial” is about to get underway in Atlanta. Jury selection in the YSL RICO trial started on Jan. 4, and that phase is expected to last into February as prosecutors and defense attorneys vet more than 600 people to determine the best set of jurors for the high-profile case. Multi-platinum rapper Young Thug, a.k.a. Jeffery Williams, is the most well-known defendant standing trial. He’s facing eight counts in the 65-count indictment, with prosecutors alleging that he’s the leader of a subset of the Bloods called Young Slime Life that they claim are responsible for murders and other violence in the Atlanta area.
Eight months ago, on May 9, 2022, Fulton County prosecutors announced the indictment of Williams as well as rappers Sergio “Gunna” Kitchens, Arnold “Lil Duke” Martinez, Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick, Williams’ brother Quantavious “Unfoonk” Grier, and 23 other people that District Attorney Fani Willis accused of being part of a YSL criminal organization. Their defense attorneys have repeatedly stated their innocence, with Williams’ lawyer Brian Steel declaring, “Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever, and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him.”
The prosecution’s usage of lyrics, music videos, and social media posts as evidence has sparked outrage from criminal justice reform advocates who see this as a First Amendment violation that exemplifies the racially motivated criminalization of rap.
In the seven months leading up to jury selection, numerous defendants have struck plea deals, including Kitchens, who took an Alford plea that a source told Rolling Stone was devised “to neutralize him and keep him out of the game“ by keeping him from testifying (without conceding guilt). Currently, there are 14 defendants set to stand trial simultaneously, with eight defendants previously taking plea deals, four defendants being severed from the trial for not having legal counsel, and two men having not been arrested.
Jury selection is ongoing as of this writing. Close observers of the case have said that opening arguments are unlikely to begin before mid-February.
The 65-count indictment charges 28 people with crimes such as murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft, drug dealing, carjacking, racketeering, and witness intimidation. The indictment claims that YSL isn’t just a record label named Young Stoner Life, but a gang called Young Slime Life that’s been operating since 2012 and has “affiliation with the national Bloods gang,” with some members also claiming “the Blood subset gangs Sex Money Murder or 30 Deep.”
Young Thug is charged with eight counts: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (also known as RICO), participation in criminal street gang activity, three counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and possession of a machine gun.
The most serious allegation Williams faces is the prosecution’s assertion that he was involved in the 2015 murder of Donovan “Big Nut” Thomas Jr., an alleged Inglewood Blood gang member who was fatally shot outside an Atlanta area barbershop. Thomas aided Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci (a rival of Young Thug’s) at the outset of his career, and Fulton County DA Fani Willis claims the shooting sparked a rivalry between the YSL and YFN crews which “created violence like Atlanta has never seen.” Prosecutors allege that Williams rented the Infiniti sedan that was used in commission of Thomas’ murder, and co-defendant Antonio “Mounk Tounk” Sledge will reportedly testify that Thug gave him money to “lay low” after Thomas’ murder. Thug’s lawyers, again, deny this.
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The indictment frames Williams as a gang leader, noting an alleged conversation in which two co-defendants are said to have discussed “how to get permission from… Young Thug … to kill Rayshawn Bennett (YFN Lucci) and what the payment would be to do so.”
The rapper is facing up to 20 years in prison.
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Timecodes
0:00 – Intro
2:33 – 1. Castleberry Hill
4:23 – 2. Donovan “Big Nut” Thomas
5:31 – 3. YFN Lucci
8:03 – 4. The Case Against Lucci and YFN
13:15 – 5. YSL vs. YFN
19:43 – 6. The Case Against Young Thug and YSL
30:50 – 7. The Informant
35:03 – 8. Protect Black Art
#youngthug #ysl #yfnlucci #yfn #atlanta #fultoncounty
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