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Jumpherefor the latest update about the trials indefinite pause.
A month afterYoung Thugfound himself embroiled in a sprawling RICO case, he madea plea from jail.
Everybody just sign the Protect Black Art petition and keep praying for us.
I love you all.
The trial will be livestreamed on YouTube viaLaw and Crime Networkand11Alive news, a local Atlanta channel.
A grand jury in Atlantas Fulton County charged some individuals with violent crimes including attempted armed robbery and murder.
Gunnas five-year sentence was commuted to time served and 500 hours of community service as part of the deal.
Days later,seven more defendants took plea dealsand were released from jail just ahead of the New Year.
Young Thug was one ofsix defendantsset to stand trial.
The judge agreed to reconsider Yak Gottis bond that same day, but he wasdenied bondas well.
All the updates from the people involved to a summary of the charges and the cited lyrics.
The Trial
So, the trial is back on?
Whitaker has said she wants the trial to be over by the end of the year.
Why was the trial paused?
Glanville had denied previous motions until the July 1 hearing, when he recessed the court indefinitely.
Judge Whitaker picked up the case, holding her first hearing on July 19.
The judge held him in contempt after he refused to reveal how he heard about the conversation.
Glanville since released a full transcript of the meeting so everyone will have a chance to look at it.
Why Young Thugs attorney held in contempt of court?
This trial is more chaotic than your aunties favorite soap opera.
Hold up, an investigator for the prosecution was accused of sexually harassing a witness?
In a text message dated February 7, Hamilton wrote, Hit me up if youre bored later.
Were not gonna talk shop.
Bennett was summoned as a witness to a 2013 shooting at her apartment.
Wait, was another defense attorney arrested?
(She was not representing the suspect.)
Fegan was charged with criminal street-gang activity and criminal solicitation to commit the offense of tampering with evidence.
In the YSL case, Fegan represented Stunna (real name Tenquarius Mender).
Back in May 2023, Fegan was able to get Stunna cut from the main case with Young Thug.
He will have a separate trial.
This wasnt the only hiccup with an attorney so far.
She later stated the adjusted offer of $55,000 was still not enough.
What did we learn from opening statements?
Instead, Steel claimed, Young Thug was mobbing for God.
Truly humbled under God, Steeltoldthe jury.
Thats what Thug means.
Youre pushing P.
Young Thugs lawyer Brian Steel:Jeffery would listen to beat after beat after beat.
These are billions of musical chords that he would listen to.
Several delays have dogged the proceedings, which were alreadypredictedto be the longest trial in Georgia history.
Adefendant was stabbed in jailin December 2023, forcing a judge to suspend the trial until the following month.
Illnesses of an attorney and a judge paused the trial atleasttwice, per Fox 5 Atlanta.
Now, Judge Glanville is warning that hes not opposed to holding court on weekends to speed things up.
It didnt begin until November 27, 2023, after nearly two years of administrative setbacks and courtroom dramas.
Yak Gottis pretrial release was also denied.
The Indictment
Who is involved?
The rapper founded the record label Young Stoner Life in 2016 as an imprint of 300 Entertainment.
YSL Records calls its roster of artists the Slime Family.
Gunna was named in the indictment along with rappers Lil Duke, Yak Gotti, and Thugs brother Unfoonk.
It does not matter what your notoriety is or what your fame is.
So they have to be booted.
Brian Steel, Young Thugs lawyer, told theNew YorkTimesthat YSLis not a criminal street gang.
Hes committed no crime whatsoever.
He staunchly maintains his innocence despite entering a plea deal.
Seven other defendants walked free in December 2022.
Sledge and Stephens, for their part,must testifytruthfully if called to trial.
What are the charges?
The Georgia law closely resembles its federal counterpart and was created to ensnare large criminal organizations like the Mafia.
The prosecution alleges YSL engaged in a wide range of criminal activity.
Notably, the indictment portrays Thug as something of a mob boss.
Five YSL members, including Yak Gotti, were charged with murder in connection with Thomass death.
Lucci is currently in jail awaiting trial.
Gunna is charged with one count of racketeering.
He was arrested on May 11, 2022.
Why did the judge deny bond for Young Thug?
Defense lawyer Steel denied any witness tampering.
Gunna deserves better from our justice system.
Kristen Novay, an attorney for Gunna, asked prosecutors to share evidence that witnesses were being threatened.
We want to know what specific threats there are, Novay said.
Gunna maintains his innocence.
At the same time, seven additional defendants entered plea deals and were released.
There are currently six defendants standing trial.
How are song lyrics being used as evidence?
Rap lyrics are being used as evidenceagainst those charged in the YSL case.
(Boosie and Drakeo the Ruler were acquitted, though the others were not.)
In January 2021, the state of Maryland ruled that rap lyrics could constitute evidence of guilt.
The bill would limit the use of lyrics in criminal trials.
Prosecutors in the YSL case have cited multiple songs as evidence of gang affiliation and racketeering activity.
What does Lil Wayne have to do with the indictment?
In the original indictment,Young Thug and Birdman were listed as co-conspiratorsbut were never charged.
Everything Else to Know
The music industry supported Young Thug post-arrest.
Overall, the hip-hop community has come out in droves to support Young Thug and Gunna.
300 Entertainment circulated a petition to denounce using rap lyrics as evidence.
A post shared by 300 Entertainment (@300ent)
Gunna entered an Alford plea.
Gunna did not confess to his alleged crimes.
Niggas acting like they switching to a side But its only one side.
#YsltheLabel #FreeThug&Yak GUNNA BACC!!!!
!, wrote Gunna in an Instagram caption responding to the snitch allegations.
If asked to take the stand, Gunna can plead the Fifth if he chooses.
Fani Willis once represented YSL Mondo.
Before Willis was elected Fulton County district attorney, the tough-on-crime prosecutor once served as YSL Mondos defense attorney.
I done had auntie-to-nephew, mother-to-son punch in of talks with her, he continued.
I know this not her character.
Its politics behind this shit.
Its other people thats behind her pulling strings.
Willis appeared to confirm that she had represented Mondo, according toRolling Stone.
An attorney for Young Thug described inhumane jail conditions.
Cant see or talk to anyone.
Using rap lyrics as evidence remains a fraught policy.
The optics look like gang stuff, Lance Williams, a professor at Northeastern Illinois University, toldTheNew Yorker.
But the reality is that most of it is just music.
If theres violence, its interpersonal not organized.
He continued, Once they hit you with this RICO thing, youre finished.
Now, Im using those lyrics that theyre admitting to doing that.
Im going to continue to do that; people can continue to be angry about that, she added.
This post has been updated throughout with additional information and reporting.
