Oct 31, 2024
Rapper Young Thug will be released from jail after accepting a plea deal on Thursday in his ongoing racketeering case, though he will still serve at least 15 years on probation, multiple outlets report.
Key Facts
- Young Thug, legally known as Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty to three drug charges, two gun charges, and one gang-related charge.
- He also entered a no-contest plea to a racketeering conspiracy charge and a separate gang charge, which could expose him to further penalties for those counts.
- This plea agreement marks a significant reduction from the initial 45-year sentence Georgia prosecutors sought, which included 25 years in prison and 20 years of probation.
- Williams and his defense reached the 15-year probation deal after briefly considering a non-negotiated plea earlier on Thursday, which would have left his sentence to be determined by Georgia Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker, with recommendations from both sides.
- Conditions of his probation include staying out of metro Atlanta for the first 10 years, giving anti-gang presentations to children four times a year, and completing 100 hours of community service annually.
Surprising Fact
Williams’ case involved the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia’s history, with jury selection beginning in January 2023. The rapper has been held in jail since May 2022.
Key Background
Williams, a Grammy Award-winning rapper and founder of his label Young Stoner Life, faced scrutiny as prosecutors alleged the label was tied to a criminal gang. He was charged in 2022 alongside over two dozen co-defendants for alleged gang activity, with accusations ranging from murder and drug dealing to armed robbery. By November 2023, only six co-defendants remained, as many took plea deals or requested separate trials. This week, three of Williams’ co-defendants also accepted plea agreements, according to NBC News.