Young Thug Pleads Guilty to Criminal Activity Charges, Ending Georgia's Longest Ever Criminal Trial

Young Thug pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation on Thursday, Oct. 31, ending his nearly year-long racketeering trial in Atlanta — the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history.

According to WSB-TV, Rolling Stone and ABC News, the 33-year-old rapper — whose real name is Jeffery Williams — entered into a plea deal with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday.

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Williams to 40 years but commuted to time served and probation, per CNN and the Associated Press. He will be released from custody on Thursday and have to serve 15 years on probation. If he violates probation, he could serve 20 years, per the judge’s ruling.

As a part of the deal, Williams pleaded guilty to several charges, including three drug charges, two gun charges and one gang charge. He also pleaded no contest — meaning that he accepted the conviction but did not admit guilt in the crimes — to racketeering conspiracy and participation in a criminal street gang in a leadership role.

The “Go Grazy” rapper was first indicted in May 2022, along with 27 others including rapper Gunna, of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. The group is accused of taking part in an alleged street gang, Young Slime Life, or YSL (named similarly to the chart-topping artist’s label Young Stoner Life Records). Members are accused of committing several crimes, including murder, armed robbery, dealing drugs and carjacking.

A second indictment was brought forth in August 2022, bringing six more felony charges against Williams, per the Associated Press.

Among the most serious charges in the case, Williams was accused of being connected to the killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., a rival gang member who died in a January 2015 drive-by shooting. Prosecutors allege Williams rented the vehicle that was used in the shooting.

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Williams has been in custody since 2022, and attorneys have filed multiple motions for a mistrial, including a filing last week. The jury selection process took more than a year, CNN reported.

Williams’ case has also been marked with controversy and drama, including past judges being recused from the case and the rapper’s attorney, Brian Steel, being charged with contempt of court.

If he was convicted at trial, Williams could have faced a maximum of 120 years in prison, Rolling Stone reports.

Three of Young Thug’s co-defendants — Quamarvious Nichols, 29, Marquavius Huey, 28, and Rodalius Ryan, 18 — also took plea deals this week, CNN reported.