ATLANTA — Day four of the YSL trial concluded with the jury hearing testimony about a Sept. 2013 traffic stop where Young Thug was arrested. The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and five others are standing trial in Fulton County.
On Thursday, prosecutors brought up Act 4 of the indictment's "acts in furtherance of the conspiracy" that make up the case that the six individuals on trial violated Georgia's RICO Act.
This particular act alleges that Young Thug, "an associate of YSL, did comment the felony offense of theft by receiving stolen property" when he allegedly had a firearm that belonged to Andrew Phillips.
Phillips, an Atlanta resident, took the stand to testify about a burglary he reported in July of 2013. He said he returned home from a vacation and noticed a door ajar. He testified that he called the police, and he was able to determine that a handgun, a shotgun, a computer and a blanket were stolen from the Buckhead house.
He said that eventually, he was notified by authorities that the handgun was recovered. However, he was never able to retrieve it.
That brought the prosecution to call Atlanta Police Department officer Michael Monheim to the stand. He testified that during a Sept. 2013 traffic stop, he pulled a driver over in the Midtown area after witnessing the driver make an improper turn. The driver, who didn't have a license on him at the time, turned out to be Williams, the officer said. He was able to verify his identification by looking him up in their database.
Monheim said he arrested Williams - who was the only person in the car - for not having a license, an improper left turn, and for failure to obey a traffic control device. However, the officer said he also found pills in the cupholder that appeared to be Xanax, along with a handgun underneath the front passenger seat. Monheim said he checked to see if the gun was stolen; it came back that the firearm had been reported stolen by Phillips during the July burglary.
Williams was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and theft by receiving a stolen firearm during the traffic stop.
Brian Steel, Williams' attorney, made sure to ask Monheim if he had any information that would suggest that his client was involved in the burglary at Phillips' home; the officer answered no. Steel also asked questions to point out that the police report shows that someone else owns the vehicle and that the car was not reported stolen. Williams was the driver of the car, but it was not registered to him.
Steel also asked the officer if there was evidence to indicate Williams touched the firearm; he also answered no to that question as well.
Monheim was the last witness of the day. The jury was given a 3-day weekend, and court will reconvene on Monday, Dec. 4, at 9 a.m.
The five others standing trial with Williams are Shannon Stillwell, Deamonte Kendrick (another rapper, who performs by the name Yak Gotti), Marquavius Huey, Rodalius Ryan and Quamarvious Nichols. Young Thug faces nine charges in the case, Kendrick faces 12, Huey faces 19, Stillwell faces eight, Ryan faces one and Nichols faces seven.