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Young Thug, YSL RICO trial day 10 | Trial delayed on Monday
The YSL trial was delayed on Monday because of a medical issue.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The jury for Young Slime Life (YSL) was dismissed Monday morning because of a "medical issue" connected with one of the "participants" in the trial, according to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville.
The judge told the jury they are expected to return at 9 a.m. Tuesday and he will let them know at that time if they are able to continue.
According to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, defendant Shannon Stillwell was stabbed multiple times on the evening of Dec. 10. He was reportedly stabbed by another inmate named Willie Brown.
Brown was initially arrested by the East Point Police Department on July 2020 on several charges, including aggravated assault, murder and cruelty to children, and is being held without bond.
Willie Brown
Stillwell, also known as Shannon Jackson and "SB," is one of five defendants charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the death of Donovan Thomas Jr. in 2015. Thomas, 26, was shot and killed at a barbershop in Castleberry Hill. Two other victims - one a 14-year-old boy - were also shot. Prosecutors say Thomas was a major figure in a rival gang and whose death is said to have sparked an escalation in violence. Young Thug is accused of renting the car used in the drive-by shooting.
Stillwell is "stable," according to the sheriff's office. It was unknown what led to the fight, according to the sheriff's office. Stillwell and Brown were housed in the same zone at the jail.
A spokesperson from the sheriff's office told FOX 5 Stillwell would be "placed appropriately," following the incident but could not explain exactly what that meant.
Meanwhile, Stillwell's attorney assured FOX 5 they would not request a delay in the trial as he recovers.
"Out of respect for Shannon’s privacy, I will not go into specifics about his health other than to say that I was happy to be able to see him and converse with him this afternoon," the lawyer said. "I encouraged him to rest, as he will need to be strong as we continue to fight the false allegations contained in the RICO indictment. We have never and will not be asking for a delay in this trial, but also recognize that the doctors will let us know what is best for Shannon in the immediate future. I hope to reunite Shannon with his family and loved ones in short order."
Stillwell has been charged with violating Georgia's (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, murder, participation in a criminal street gang, and gun charges.
According to court documents filed by Young Thug's lawyer Brian Steel in July, Stillwell was arrested at his home in East Point "while in the midst of a religious ceremony which involved supposed sacrifice of goats." Steel had requested video of Stillwell's arrest be excluded from being used as evidence.
During testimony on Dec. 4, an investigator with the Atlanta Police Department described pulling Quamarvious Nicols and Stillwell and noticing a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The police officer and his partner recovered drugs and a gun during the stop.
RELATED STORY: Young Thug, YSL RICO Trial Day 6 | More police testimony expected
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, is on trial with several other defendants in connection with multiple criminal acts.
The trial began in Fulton County on Nov. 25 after 10 months of jury selection.
What are the charges young Thug faces?
A Fulton County grand jury indicted Young Thug in May 2022, and more charges were added in a subsequent indictment in August of that year. The second indictment accuses Young Thug and 27 other people of conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. The rapper is also accused of participation in criminal street gang activity, as well as drug and gun charges.
Prosecutors say Young Thug and two other people co-founded a violent criminal street gang in 2012 called Young Slime Life, or YSL, which they say is associated with the national Bloods gang. The indictment says Young Thug "made YSL a well-known name by referring to it in his songs and on social media."
In addition to specific charges, the August indictment includes a wide-ranging list of 191 acts that prosecutors say were committed between 2013 and 2022 as part of the alleged conspiracy to further the gang’s interests.
Included in that list is an allegation that Young Thug threatened in July 2015 to shoot a security guard who was trying to get him to leave an Atlanta-area mall. The indictment also says Young Thug rented a silver Infiniti sedan that was used in the killing of a rival gang member. And, on numerous occasions, he and others are alleged to have possessed various illegal drugs that they intended to distribute.
What do Young Thug's defense lawyers say?
Young Thug’s lawyers have said in multiple court filings that he is innocent of all crimes charged in the indictment. They argue YSL is simply a record label. The rapper has pleaded not guilty.
Multiple defense attorneys in the case have said prosecutors were overzealous in their use of the RICO statute and the anti-gang law, both of which carry heavy penalties.
Who else is charged in the Young Thug YSL RICO trial?
Rapper Gunna, whose given name is Sergio Kitchens, was charged with a single count of racketeering conspiracy. He entered an Alford plea in December, which means he maintains his innocence but recognizes that it’s in his best interest to plead guilty.
During Gunna’s plea hearing, the rapper responded, "Yes, ma’am" when a prosecutor said that "YSL is a music label and a gang" and that he had knowledge that its members or associates had committed crimes in furtherance of the gang.
The other two people accused of co-founding the YSL gang — Walter Murphy and Trontavious Stephens — were also charged. They each pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-racketeering law.
The remaining defendants are Marquavius Huey, Deamonte "Yak Gotti" Kendrick, Quamarvious Nichols, Rodalius Ryan and Shannon Stillwell.
What penalties does Young Thug face if he's convicted?
Young Thug’s racketeering conspiracy charge and two gang charges each carry a penalty of five to 20 years in prison. The other five charges also carry potential prison time.