YSL Records racketeering trial
| State of Georgia v. Young Stoner Life (YSL) | |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Fulton County |
| Full case name | State of Georgia v. Kahlieff Adams, Martinez Arnold, Derontae Bebee, Damone Blalock, Javaris Bradford, Justin Cobb, Cordarius Dorsey, Christian Eppinger, Miles Farley, Jevon Fleetwood, Damekion Garlington, Quantavious Grier, Marquavius Huey, Deamonte Kendrick, Sergio Kitchens, Wunnie Lee, Demise McMullen, Tenquarius Mender, Walter Murphy, Jayden Myrick, Quamarvious Nichols, Rodalius Ryan, Antonio Sledge, Trontavious Stephens, Shannon Stillwell, Antonio Sumlin, Jeffery Williams & Jimmy Winfrey |
| Submitted | May 9, 2022 |
| Started | November 27, 2023 |
| Decided | December 3, 2024 |
| Verdict | Not guilty on all counts (Deamonte Kendrick) except for count 64, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131 (Shannon Stillwell) |
| Charge | Conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Murder (2), Armed robbery (4), Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (4), Possession of firearm during commission of a felony (7), Theft by receiving stolen property (2), Violation of the Georgia controlled substances act (3), Possession of a firearm by convicted felon (3), Participation in criminal street gang activity (14), Hijacking motor vehicle in the first degree (2), Possession of firearm by first offender probationer (3), Theft by taking, Attempted murder (3), Possession of weapon by incarcerated individual (2), Possession of telecommunication device by incarcerated individual, Conspiracy to commit crime (2) & Possession of firearm by convicted felon previously convicted of felony involving the use or possession of a firearm (2) |
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The YSL Records racketeering trial was a criminal case in Fulton County, Georgia, which involved American rapper Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) and several of his associates, including some from his record label, YSL Records (Young Stoner Life Records). The trial began on November 27, 2023, following the May 2022 indictment that charged 28 individuals associated with YSL under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Prosecutors alleged that YSL functioned as a criminal street gang (Young Slime Life) while simultaneously operating as a hip hop music record label (Young Stoner Life). Fulton County Chief Judge Ural D. Glanville presided over the case until he was recused in July 2024 after complaints were registered about a secret meeting he held with prosecutors and a key witness. Judge Shukura L. Ingram replaced him, but 2 days later she recused herself due to personal connection to one of the courthouse deputies that was arrested for smuggling contraband and having a "inappropriate relationship" with one of the indicted co-defendants. She was replaced with Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who presided over the case until it ended.
While numerous affiliates were removed from the case through actions such as taking probation and plea deals, Thug and five other individuals remained as defendants in the trial. They were denied bond numerous times, all facing multiple charges of racketeering, drug possession, and participation in criminal street gang activity, among other charges. Some indicted co-defendants involved in the case did not attend the trial dates due to various reasons, such as insufficient funding for lawyers and unavailability of public defenders. The case is currently the longest criminal trial in Georgia as well as the most expensive criminal trial in Fulton County and one of the costliest criminal trials in Georgia state history. Many fellow artists, such as Travis Scott, Nav, Drake, Future, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla Sign, Post Malone and others expressed support for Thug and other co-defendants during the case through songs and social media posts.
On October 29, 2024, Quamarvious Nichols pleaded guilty to a single count of violating Georgia's anti-racketeering laws in exchange for his other charges being dropped and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with seven to be served and 13 years of probation. On October 30, Marquavius "Qua" Huey pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, robbery, and several other counts and was sentenced to 25 years in prison with 9 to be served; Lil Rod (real name Rodalius Ryan) pleaded guilty to a single racketeering conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 10 years in prison which was commuted to time served due to him already serving a life sentence for a 2019 murder. Two days later, Thug entered a non-negotiated plea that would get him released from jail, after being sentenced to 40 years: 5 years in prison (commuted to time served), 15 years of probation, and a backload of 20 years in prison if probation is violated. On December 3, the jury reached a verdict on Yak Gotti and SB, the two remaining defendants in the trial. Yak Gotti was found not guilty on all counts, while SB was found guilty on count 64, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison to serve with two commuted to time served alongside credit for time served and the balance (eight years) served on probation. The jury was officially released and the trial ended. Other indicted co-defendants uninvolved in the trial took plea deals or are still waiting to be tried in separate cases.