‘I take full responsibility’: Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty to gang, drug and gun charges

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - Rap star Young Thug has accepted a plea deal in his internationally watched criminal trial.

Jeffery Williams (Young Thug’s real name) was released from jail Thursday night as part of his plea though he could be put back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.

With his release, Williams will serve 15 years on probation.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker said if Williams is successful on his probation, then the rest of his sentence will be commuted to time served.

Williams is also prohibited from having contact with any of the other YSL co-defendants or witnesses in the trial except his biological brother, Quantavious Grier (aka Unfoonk), and Sergio Giavanni Kitchens (aka Gunna).

Accompanied by attorneys Brian Steele and Keith Adams, Williams agreed to a non-negotiated plea, which can result when a defendant and prosecutors cannot agree on a sentence.

Defense attorneys give the judge complete authority over the sentence. The judge could follow the state’s or defense attorneys’ recommendations or impose a sentence entirely different.

Earlier Thursday, Williams was sworn in and listened while Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love read the charges against him. Williams was accompanied by his attorneys, Brian Steele and Keith Adams.

Williams pleaded guilty to the remaining of the charges against him, including violations of Georgia’s drug and firearms charges.

Here are the charges against Williams and how he pleaded:

• Violation of Georgia RICO Act - nolo contendere (no contest);
• Organizer of a criminal street gang activity (leadership charge) - nolo contendere (no contest);
• Participation in a criminal street gang activity - guilty;
• Possession of a machine gun - guilty;
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony - guilty;
• Three violations of Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act - guilty.

Love asked Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker to impose a 45-year sentence, with 25 years served in custody and 20 on probation.

Williams’ attorneys requested a 45-year sentence on the charges with 40 years on probation and be given credit for time served. They also requested Williams be placed under house arrest for three years and agreed to wear an ankle monitor for one year.

The attorneys also pledged $100,000 would go to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to host a firearms buyback event. Williams is to refrain from being in the vicinity of the Cleveland Avenue area and perform 100 hours of community service for the next three years.

“I take full responsibility for my crimes,” Williams said. “I am a smart guy; I am a good guy. I hope you allow me to go home and trust in me to do the right thing.

Williams added, “I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

Williams’ plea deal was the latest development in what has become Georgia’s longest criminal trial in history.

Earlier this week, Whitaker commented, for the first time publicly since she took over the trial less than six months ago, that she believed there is evidence of an organized crime-like conspiracy.

In accepting a plea deal from one of Williams’ co-defendants, Quamarvious Nichols, Whitaker said, “I find having heard the evidence up to the point of the trial right now that there is evidence of at least one overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy and that there is evidence that would fall within the required statute of limitations to establish this RICO conspiracy.”

Since then, Williams and three of the remaining co-defendants reached plea deals, leaving only Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick (aka Yak Gotti) remaining on trial.

On Thursday, Douglas Weinstein, Kendrick’s attorney said his client has rejected a plea deal. Weinstein said his client “fully intends to take this to the jury and get our not guilty verdicts and go home.”

Opening statements were held in Williams’ trial on Nov. 27, 2023.

The trial’s jury selection lasted longer than any other in Georgia history, and actual witness testimony itself will likely surpass state records. Both records were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teacher scandal and trial of 2014-15.

Williams marked his 33rd birthday on Aug. 16, after being arrested on May 9, 2022, along with 27 other suspected gang members in Buckhead as part of a 56-count indictment.

The trial itself began on Nov. 27, 2023.

Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the trial’s length, and Fulton County prosecutors still have more than 100 witnesses to call.

Prosecutors are attempting to show that Young Slime Life or YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous offenses. Defense attorneys say YSL is not a gang but simply the name of a record label.

Williams was also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun.