Young Thug has found himself in between a rock and a hard place. His legal trial is getting everyone’s attention online.
Memes are already being made, and the internet is wondering if he will get a sentence for years.
But what has he done to make everyone believe he might get this eyebrow-raising prison sentence?
Rapper Young Thug or Jeffery Lamar Williams faces a 65-count indictment after being arrested in May 2022. Young Thug is charged with being involved in criminal street gang activity, having a firearm during a felony, and drug-related charges. If convicted under the RICO Act, he could face a maximum sentence of 120 years.
What Has Young Thug Done That Has Landed Him In Jail?
Rapper Young Thug or Jeffery Lamar Williams found himself in legal trouble in May of 2022.
He was apprehended and faced two charges. The first charge was related to conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for an offense dating back to January 2013.
The second charge accused him of involvement in criminal street gang activity, an offense dating back to May 2018.
Then, in a bombshell comprehensive 56-count indictment filed on May 9, 2022, Georgia authorities accused the rapper of playing a pivotal role as a founding member of the criminal gang known as Young Slime Life, or YSL.
Interestingly, this criminal gang’s acronym resembles Young Thug’s Young Stoner Life label. The 88-page indictment encompassed a wide-ranging list of 181 acts from 2013 to 2022.
Prosecutors contended that these acts, which included references in social media posts and rap songs alluding to the gang, were part of an alleged racketeering conspiracy aimed at advancing YSL’s interests.
On November 9, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville shocked the internet when he made a significant ruling- he allowed prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics as evidence to support allegations of criminal activity by Young Thug and others.
This decision contradicted the defense’s argument that lyrics should be protected as constitutionally defended speech and were unfairly prejudicial.
Prosecutor Mike Carlson emphasized that these were not just rap lyrics but rather “gang lyrics” that functioned as party admissions (via LA Times).
In August 2022, an updated 65-count indictment escalated Young Thug’s legal woes. The new charges included:
- Criminal street gang activity
- Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- Possession of a machine gun
- Drug-related charges
If Young Thug is ultimately convicted under the RICO Act, he could face a maximum sentence of 120 years, as reported by the New York Times.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is prosecuting the high-profile RICO case. Willis is also overseeing the election fraud case involving former President Trump in Georgia.
Young Thug’s Co-Defendants Admitted To Some of The Charges
Among the 28 individuals allegedly associated with YSL, notable figures like rappers Gunna and Unfoonk were also included.
As expected, a significant portion of Young Thug’s co-defendants faced severe charges, including violent crimes such as murder and attempted armed robbery, alongside accusations of participation in criminal street gang activity.
Numerous other co-defendants of Young Thug chose to enter guilty pleas for racketeering charges the previous year. In doing so, they openly acknowledged that YSL functioned as a music collective and a criminal entity.
During a hearing concerning rapper Slimelife Shawty, who opted for a plea deal in December 2022, a prosecutor was reported to have posed a question.
It was to ascertain whether his co-defendants had been involved in any of the following activities under the banner of YSL: murder, aggravated assault, robbery, theft, and/or illegal firearms possession.
“Yes, ma’am,” responded Slimelife Shawty, whose real name is Wunnie Lee (via LA Times).
Meanwhile, Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, has gone viral trying to defend his client. His arguments are being memed online endlessly. As Billboard reported, Steel made the case that Thug’s lyrics are artistic expressions, not criminal confessions.
He said the “Thug” name is an acronym that means something. As per the lawyer (via Billboard):
“To Jeffrey, ‘Thug’ had a different meaning… It was his pact. If he could ever make it as a musical artist and help his family, himself, and as many others out of this endless cycle of hopelessness, he would be Truly Humbled Under God. That’s what ‘Thug’ means.”
What happens to Young Thug now remains to be seen.
Should the rap lyrics have been included as part of the evidence? What sentence do you see the rapper Young Thug ultimately getting?
Let us know your opinions in the comments below.
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