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YSL RICO Trial carries on without Young Thug
After a weekend recess, the YSL RICO Trial resumed at the Fulton County Courthouse without high-profile defendant Young Thug, who took a plea deal.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The ongoing YSL gang and racketeering trial in Fulton County took on a different tone Monday as four defendants, including rapper Young Thug (Jeffrey Williams), are no longer part of the proceedings after taking plea deals last week. This leaves Shannon Stilwell and Deamonte Kendrick, known as Yak Gotti, as the remaining defendants in the high-profile trial.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker addressed the jury, instructing them to disregard the absence of certain co-defendants and not to speculate on the reasons for their departure.
"The prosecution of those co-defendants is no longer a part of this trial," Whitaker stated, emphasizing that jurors should base their verdict solely on the evidence presented and make individual determinations for each defendant.
Young Thug takes plea deal
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YSL trial resumes with only 2 defendants
The YSL RICO trial resumed on Monday with only 2 defendants after Young Thug and 3 others took plea deals last week.
On Thursday, the rapper, whose given name is Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty to gang, drug, and gun charges at the Fulton County Courthouse.
"I want to say sorry to my family, my mom … my mom's got 11 kids - I can't say all their names - you know. My managers, my kids are not here … really everybody that's got anything to do with this situation, I'd like to say sorry," he told the court.
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Trial resumes for remaining YSL co-defendants
Two defendants remain part of the longest trial in Georgia history after Young Thug and three others took plea deals last week.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Young Thug to 40 years with the first 5 to be served in prison, but commuted to time served. He will then serve 15 years on probation, with the first half requiring him to report to a probation officer. In addition, he faces 20 years in prison following probation if he is unsuccessful with his probation.
SEE MORE: Young Thug sentenced: Legal expert reacts to judge's decision
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Young Thug attorney: 'Jeffery just wanted to go home'
Young Thug's attorney, Brian Steele, speaks on the steps of the Fulton County Courthouse following a plea hearing, essentially freeing his client, placing him on strict probation.
As part of his plea deal, the rapper had to leave the metro Atlanta area after his release and must stay away for the first 10 years of his probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illness of family members.
Young Thug will also be required to do four annual live anti-gang, anti-gun violence presentations at metro Atlanta schools or community organizations that work with children.
"I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem," Whitaker said.
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Young Thug's sentence: Was it a win?
Friday marks one year since the jury in Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial was seated. It comes a day after Young Thug took a plea deal in that same case.
Previous plea deals in the YSL trial
Along with Young Thug, three other co-defendants entered plea deals for their charges. Rodalius Ryan, also known as Lil Rod, and Marquavius Huey, known as Qua, took deals Wednesday afternoon in the Fulton County court. On Tuesday, 29-year-old Quamarvious Nichols, accepted a plea deal. All but one charge against Nichols were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea to a RICO charge.
Before the trial began, Gunna, another high-profile Atlanta rapper, pleaded guilty to a charge with a deal that allowed him to avoid additional time in custody. Gunna said that he did not admit guilt and was pleading guilty in his best interest.
After the plea deals, only two defendants remain on trial: Deamonte "Yak Gotti" Kendrick, and Shannon Stillwell.
On the same day that Young Thug took his deal, Gotti announced that he would continue standing trial.
Douglas Weinstein, who represents Gotti, stated his client "fully intends to take this to the jury and get our not guilty verdicts and go home."
What the remaining YSL Trial co-defendants are charged with
Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti): Conspiracy to violate RICO, murder (2015 murder of Donovan Thomas), participation in criminal street gang activity, 3 counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm.
Shannon Stillwell (Shannon Jackson or SB): Conspiracy to violate RICO, 2 counts of murder (2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr. and 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks), 2 counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Twelve others are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.
FOX 5 Atlanta has been following this trial for nearly a year following a jury selection process that took almost 10 months. It's now the longest running trial in the history of Georgia.