ATLANTA — Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci accepted a plea deal Tuesday in connection to a longstanding Fulton County racketeering case. He was among 11 other men indicted in a 75-page, 105-count indictment on racketeering influenced and corrupt organization (RICO) charges in May 2021 related to alleged Bloods gang activity.
The rapper, whose legal name is Rayshawn Bennett, pleaded guilty to one count of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Bennett originally faced numerous felony charges, including felony murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life without parole.
“After three years of pretrial litigation, more than two weeks of jury selection and three years of incarceration waiting for his jury trial, today, the prosecution finally relented and dismissed the murder and RICO charges against Rayshawn Bennett,” defense attorneys Drew Findling, Gabe Banks and Marissa Goldberg said in an emailed statement. “As he has maintained for three years now, Mr. Bennett will NOT cooperate in any other case.”
This comes after the rapper initially rejected the Fulton County District Attorney's previous plea offer in June.
The indictment, which has been said to have set the framework for the ongoing RICO case against YSL, showed the alleged organized criminal activity dating back to 2010, though Bennett's activity wasn't named until February 2020, around the time the "Shine On" music video was created. Authorities accused the lyrics of promoting criminal gang activity and displaying "common Blood gang identifiers including hand signs, language, clothing and colors."
YFN Lucci was sentenced to 20 years with 10 years to serve in prison and the other 10 on probation. A plea of guilty statement signed and submitted by Bennett notes the State recommended the sentence given in court Tuesday. It includes a provision that prosecutors will “write a letter to Parole Board recommending release when you are first eligible so long as you comply with your sentence.”
An additional court document notes that Bennett has been in jail for 989 days since his booking following the May 2021 indictment. It’s not yet clear when he will be parole-eligible, though the State Board of Pardons and Paroles website states that “most parole-eligible inmates become statutorily eligible for parole consideration after serving one-third of their prison sentence."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.