Young Thug accepts plea deal, admits guilt in RICO trial

The rapper was arrested in May 2022 as part of a sweeping investigation into a conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Young Thug is coming home.

The rapper, who’s been on trial since last November on racketeering charges, pleaded guilty in the long-running case on Thursday but avoided prison time with probation.

The Atlanta-born rap star (real name: Jeffery Lamar Williams) changed his plea to guilty in Georgia court following a brief recess. “Is it your decision to waive these rights and enter a guilty plea because you are in fact guilty?” Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love asked Young Thug, to which he replied, “Yes.”

Before the plea change, Whitaker asked if the rapper agreed to a non-negotiated plea, meaning prosecutors and the defense could not agree on a sentencing deal and the judge decides his punishment, according to NBC News.

Young Thug was given a commuted 40-year sentence by the judge, which would have required the rapper to serve five years in prison. The sentence was adjusted to account for time previously served. He was also given 15 years of probation − along with a “backloaded” 20 years, a sentence that will be served in custody if Young Thug does not complete his probation.

Prior to his final sentencing, Young Thug faced a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison. Prosecutors sought a 45-year sentence, which consisted of 25 years in prison and 20 in probation.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Young Thug for comment.

Young Thug required to perform community service, anti-gang presentations

As part of his probation, Young Thug is prevented from visiting the metro Atlanta area for the first 10 years of the probation period, with the exception of special occasions in his immediate family.

The rapper will also retain his passport for domestic and international business travel.

Further, he was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service each year of his probation. The rapper will be required to return to Atlanta to make four community presentations a year that focus on anti-gang and anti-gun violence messaging.

Young Thug’s legal about-face comes after co-defendants Quamarvious Nichols, Rodalius Ryan and Marquavius Huey each pleaded guilty this week, according to Rolling Stone. Nichols was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Ryan and Huey were sentenced to 10 and 25 years, respectively.

Co-defendants Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick and Shannon Stillwell remain on trial, per Rolling Stone, with both men charged in the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas.

The rapper’s trial, the longest in Georgia’s history, resumed Aug. 12 following a nearly two-month hiatus and a rotating cast of judges. Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, Young Thug’s former associate and a key witness for state prosecutors, spent several hours on the witness stand.

Copeland reportedly admitted he cast blame on Young Thug in interviews with police.

“In my mind, I knew the police would never go mess with him,” he said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It was easy for me to try to throw the blame off on him to get them off of me.”

Young Thug says he has ‘a good heart’ following guilty plea

Ahead of his sentencing, Young Thug apologized to the court and his loved ones for the time spent on his lengthy trial, saying he takes “full responsibility for my crimes.”

“I am a smart guy. I am a good guy. I really got a good heart,” Young Thug said. “I found myself in a lot of stuff because I was just nice or cool. And I understand that you can’t be that way when you reach a certain height because it could end bad.”

The “Oh U Went” emcee also took a moment to thank the judge.

“Through these last two-and-half years of my life, you are really truly, honestly, the best thing that has happened to me because you made everything fairer for me and everyone involved,” Young Thug told Whitaker.

Judge in Young Thug case considered mistrial ahead of rapper’s guilty plea

A week before Young Thug changed his plea in his RICO trial, Judge Whitaker considered declaring a mistrial after a witness revealed sensitive information to the jury, according to Fox 5 Atlanta and Billboard.

During the Oct. 23 hearing, rapper Slimelife Shawty — one of the case’s original 28 defendants — was asked by prosecutors to review social media posts to identify other co-conspirators. Shawty read aloud the caption, “FREE QUA,” which disclosed details about which defendants had been incarcerated (both Nichols and Huey go by the alias “Qua.”)

“Now the jury has repeatedly heard about Mr. Nichols being in jail, being in prison, and we cannot un-ring that bell, so we will ask for a mistrial,” said Nicole Westmoreland, one of Nichols’ attorneys, at the time , per Fox 5.

In response, Judge Whitaker reportedly said a mistrial with prejudice, a ruling that would have swept the state of Georgia from retrying the case, was not on the table. But Whitaker added that a mistrial without prejudice, which would allow for a retrial, was a possibility.

Mariah The Scientist, more react to Young Thug’s release

Singer Mariah The Scientist reacted to the news of her beau Young Thug’s release on her Instagram stories, writing, “Thank you God!”

She then reposted a photo of her and the rapper and a story from a friend, who wrote: “I commend @mariahthescientist I love her so much! She’s the only person that made sure he talked to his kids everyday throughout this whole trial! Forever “grateful for you.” The singer responded: “This is what we prayed for.”

Other stars reacted to the news, including Travis Scott, who wrote in an Instagram story: “My brudda otw home,” and TI, who wrote on X: “Welcome Home lil bruddah It’s been too long… Time to get back to it! !!”

Why was Young Thug on trial?

On May 9, 2022, Young Thug was arrested as part of a sweeping investigation into a conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as RICO. He was accused of co-founding a violent criminal street gang, Young Slime Life, and following two indictments in May and August 2022 he faced racketeering, drug and gun charges.

Jury selection began in January 2023, and the trial for the Grammy-winning rapper began 10 months later. The case has suffered multiple delays since November 2023.

Whitaker took over the case after Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed in July and Superior Court Judge Shakura L. Ingram recused herself days later.

Young Thug initially pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. Several of the initial 28 defendants, including rapper Gunna, have entered plea deals since they were charged in 2022.

This story was updated to add new information.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

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