ATLANTA — Atlanta rapper Young Thug has been in the headlines since his arrest in Fulton County two years ago after prosecutors alleged that his record label YSL, also known as Young Slime Life, was a criminal street gang.
Now, he has pleaded guilty to some charges and pleading nolo contendere to violating the Rackeetering, Influence and Corrupt Organization Act and two counts of participation in a criminal street gang activity. This is also known as a no contest plea.
The trial involving the rapper whose real name is Jeffery Williams started with a months-long jury selection in January 2023. Testimony officially started in November 2023 Now, nearly a year since a jury has been seated, Williams knows his sentence.
Who is Atlanta rapper Young Thug?
The young artist, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was raised at the Jonesboro South Apartments, part of the Atlanta Housing Authority.
Young Thug attributes his sense of community from how he was raised in Jonesboro South. Over the years, he chronicled his life story through interviews which captured his upbringing, rise to success and carving out his own lane as a hip-hop artist.
Jeffery Williams, a.k.a. Young Thug, was able to hit the music scene at a young age. After releasing a series of mixtapes, music videos and booking at local venues, his brand gained momentum and success.
How the YSL trial started
Award-winning rapper Young Thug and 27 other people were named in an 88-page indictment - all allegedly tied to the gang "Young Slime Life." In the indictment, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis accuses Young Thug of being the ringleader, operating under the guise of YSL Records.
When was Young Thug arrested?
Jeffery Wiliams was arrested in Atlanta, accused of being the founder and leader of Young Slime Life on May 9, 2022. He had his first appearance the next day. Formally accused of participating in "criminal street gang activity," he, along with rapper Sergio Kitchens or Gunna were the most prominent figures named in the indictment.
Kitchens turned himself in two days after Williams was taken into custody. Kitchens took a deal and was released in December of last year.
What happened during the YSL trial -- leading up to now?
The trial took many twists and turns before reaching an unexpected sentencing.
Between arguments over whether lyrics were admissible in court and several judges recusing themselves with Judge Paige Whitaker finally presiding over the trial and, ultimately, deciding his sentence.
However, last week, while on the stand, Slimelife Shawty, whose real name is Wunnie Lee, was asked to identify others involved in the case based on social media posts. While reading a caption for one of the posts in question, Lee accidentally read an unredacted version on the paper exhibit instead of the redacted version displayed on a monitor.
The unredacted version featured the hashtag #FreeQua, which Lee read aloud to the jury. Defense teams quickly moved for a mistrial as the jury was not supposed to know which defendants had been incarcerated.
Following the mishap, Whitaker excused the jury and witness and instantly began admonishing the prosecution. The motion for mistrial led to several more defendants taking plea deals, including rapper Young Thug.
View the timeline for more details about how the case has played out: