Young Thug Pleaded Guilty to Counts in RICO Case

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Young Thug has pleaded guilty to count 57 of participation in illegal street gang activity, 59 of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, 60 of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, 61 of possession of a firearm during a felony, and 62 of possession of a machine gun.

He could go home today under a plea deal but did not agree to the special conditions terms. Young Thug pleaded no contest to the RICO and gang leader counts. The state disputed these but accepted by the judge. The state also wished to seize Thug’s cars and jewelry, to which Thug and his team did not agree.

This story is developing.

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Hotboii Celebrates Prison Release Three Years After RICO Conviction

The Florida hip-hop scene got some heartening news this week, as reports emerged that Hotboii has been released from prison. For those unaware, he had turned himself in back in July of 2021 on RICO charges against him and almost three dozen other alleged gang members in the state. Following his conviction, the rapper served around three years of jail time, during which he still released plenty of music from behind bars. Still, the circumstances around this release are still pretty murky, so we encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for any significant updates. After all, this story is still developing and in its early stages in the press cycle.

Furthermore, the last we heard from Hotboii before this reported prison release was the October 2023 track “NASA” produced by ATL Jacob. New music releases became understandably scant ever since he turned himself three years ago, but the fact that they never completely disappeared is at least admirable or satisfying for fans. Other artists don’t connect to the outside world during their terms at all, and others flood the market with their moves in almost unrealistic ways.

Read More: Hotboii & Kodak Black Reunite For “Live Life Die Faster”

Hotboii Reportedly Released From Prison

Clearly, Hotboii doesn’t really fall into any of these two categories, and his case might not compare easily to others in the rap world. For example, this RICO case involved a lot of individuals, and we still don’t know the extent to which his actual career was a factor. Nevertheless, the Orlando native will probably make a more official comeback, perhaps through a track or two. In fact, maybe he follows up 2022’s Blinded By Death quickly with a new album, shorter project, or perhaps something else entirely.

In any case, congratulations are in order. We wish Hotboii the best with his newfound freedom, and hope he can reconnect with family and loved ones with peace and joy. We’ll see what happens with his career, and whether or not the “Throw In The Towel” MC decides to re-plant his flag ASAP or eschews the spotlight altogether. We can’t say we could blame him either way. Since this story still needs further development, make sure to keep an eye out for the next update.

Read More: Hotboii Follows Up Kodak Black Collab With “Tell Me Bout It”

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Young Thug Trial: Lil Woody Confesses He Lied To Police In Intense Rant

There’s been two major storylines coming out of the Young Thug YSL RICO trial so far this month. One of which has been the testimony of Lil Woody. Last week it was revealed that he would be compelled to testify in the case or face jail time and after his first appearance in court it looked like he would opt for the latter. But in a surprise move, he decided to testify after all and his time on the stand has been grueling over the past few days. At first, videos made the rounds online of his testimony where he appeared to be purposefully dragging out answers and taking questions exceedingly literally.

Later in his testimony, Lil Woody fired his lawyer while still on the stand. That’s why it’s no surprise that even more surprising revelations have spawned from his testimony. Earlier today during an intense rant he confessed that he lied to police. In fact, he cut off the prosecutor in the middle of a question. He did so to reveal that he had extensively lied to the police in order to protect his own innocence. In the comments, fans treat the revelation as yet another example of the unprofessionalism of the entire trial. Check out the full rant Lil Woody went on below.

Read More: Young Thug Trial: Judge Determined To Find Out Who Told Brian Steel About Controversial Ex Parte Meeting

Lil Woody Confesses He Lied To Police During Young Thug Trial

The other major storyline from the YSL RICO trial this week has revolved around Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel. He was found in contempt of court after accusing the judge and prosecution of coercing witnesses. Though he was hit with 20-day jail sentence after being taken into custody he was granted emergency bond in order to return to the trial.

What do you think of Lil Woody confessing that he extensively lied to police in order to protect his own innocence? Do you think his testimony will help Young Thug beat the charges he’s facing or hurt his chances? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Kodak Black’s Lawyer Speaks Up For Brian Steel After Young Thug’s Attorney Is Taken Into Custody

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Young Thug Trial: Lil Woody Fires His Lawyer In The Middle Of Giving Testimony

The calls for Young Thug’s YSL trial being compromised have been louder than ever before in the past week. Since it got back underway earlier this month there’s been one turbulent moment after another for the already notoriously rocky trial. It started with an extensive back and forth over the testimony of Lil Woody. Woody was given the choice to testify or face jail time and initially it looked like he was going to opt out of giving testimony at all.

But earlier this week he changed his mind choosing to testify after all. The resulting testimony he gave seemed to be purposefully wasting time and interpreting statements exceedingly literally. The testimony led fans to debate where he was actually helping or hurting Thug’s case. According to Meghann Cuniff, Woody was back on the stand today and even more drama ensued. That came when Woody fired his lawyer in the middle of giving testimony. His attorney had previously told the judge that she wanted to quit the case and got her wish granted when Woody declared “she fired” while on the stand. Check out the video of the moment where he fired his attorney below.

Read More: Young Thug Trial: Court Erupts In Laughter After State’s Witness Calls “Lifestyle” A “Banger”

Lil Woody Fires His Lawyer While On The Stand In Young Thug Trial

The even bigger story from the Young Thug trial this week relates to the rapper’s lawyer Brian Steele. Yesterday Steele accused the judge and the state of coercing witnesses and was found in contempt of court. He decided to take jail time in order to keep fighting for Thug and was sentenced to 20 days, though he was allowed to return to the trial where he appeared in court today.

What do you think of Lil Woody firing his lawyer while on the stand giving testimony in Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial? Do you think his antics help or hurt Thug’s chances of beating the charges he’s facing? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Gunna Subtly Calls For Young Thug’s Release Amid RICO Trial

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R. Kelly Appeal Update: Attorney Claims State Is Pushing RICO Charges Too Far

R. Kelly is still fighting for his presumed innocence in federal appeals court, and on Monday (March 18), his attorney took aim at the framework that seeks justice for his crimes. Moreover, Jennifer Bonjean argued that the prosecution stretched out RICO laws “to the point of absurdity,” meaning that they misconstrued many aspects of this case for criminal gang activity. Not only that, but she believes this could set a dangerous precedent moving forward when it comes to other groups and crimes that RICO could wrongfully cover. During a hearing for the Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit, Bonjean told a judge panel that his employees were just staffers who did their job, not co-conspirators pushing crimes as RICO outlines.

Furthermore, she believes prosecutors were “preposterous” in their invocation of RICO laws to convict R. Kelly, a conviction and framework that she seeks to reverse. “The government has extended the RICO statute to a set of circumstances that is so beyond what the framers intended, which was to get at organized crime,” Jennifer Bonjean expressed. “Now, we’re talking about an organization with an alleged criminal, but not organized crime.” The singer’s 2021 conviction on nine RICO charges referenced his organized and long-running plot to gather and take advantage of women, both of age and underage. For this and much more, he received a 30-year prison sentence in 2022.

Read More: Gillie Spots “Wallo” In The Background Of Diddy & R. Kelly Party Photo

R. Kelly Performing In 2013

R. Kelly Appeal Case Attorney RICO Sexual Abuse Music News
R. Kelly performs onstage at the 2013 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)

Regardless, at Monday’s hearing Jennifer Bonjean claimed that R. Kelly’s employees knew nothing of these crimes. Since the government could not prove otherwise, she argued, then RICO laws and convictions shouldn’t apply here. “The defendant had a system in place that lured young people into his orbit and then took over their lives,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kayla Crews Bensing counter-argued. She brought up evidence that the disgraced R&B star’s team knew enough of what was going on, including testimony that one of his colleagues approached a 16-year-old at a McDonald’s, gave her his number, and told her to call him. In addition, another employee alleged to have answered phones for the Chicago native’s “girlfriends,” and according to this worker, some of them were “mid-aged teenagers.”

“This is all evidence that the jury was entitled to infer that Kelly’s inner circle knew what was going on: that he was recruiting and maintaining underage women for sexual activity,” Bensing stated. While federally overturned convictions, Bonjean achieved this for Bill Cosby back in 2021 for similar crimes. After Monday’s hearing, which comprised of a lot of legal muddy water, the court will decide on this appeal in the next few months. “RICO is looking at organizations, that are then used to commit criminal acts,” Judge Denny Chin remarked. “It doesn’t have to be a criminal organization. It could be a completely legitimate organization. But if it engages in racketeering activity, it violates RICO.” For more news and updates on R. Kelly, stay posted on HNHH.

Read More: R. Kelly Picked Up A Girl At A High School, Chicago Man Alleges In Wild Story

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Young Thug Accused Of Being The Shooter In 911 Audio Played During Trial

After a few weeks of relative silence a bomb dropped earlier today in Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial. But earlier today the 32nd day of the trial got underway with a piece of evidence that grabbed fans attention. The evidence was a 911 call from a shooting that took place all the way back in 2013. In a damning moment the woman who made the phone call names Thugger directly as the shooter in the incident. She does claim that she didn’t see it directly and only passed the information on from someone else.

The phone call is part of a continued effort on behalf of the prosecution to tie the YSL label to years of gang activities. Fans in the comments can’t help but point out how loose the evidence feels. ?She said it was a young thug that could be anybody! 😭😭😭 free this man they all lying on him” one of the top comments on the post reads. “Somebody said young thug…. Girl don’t piss me off” and “So you did NOT see. Hear. Or know Young Thug …. NOT GUILTY 😂 wrap it up by lunch on Friday” two other comments agree. Listen to the audio being played in court and read the fan reactions to it below.

Read More: Young Thug’s Apparent Weight Gain Goes Viral

Young Thug Named In 911 Audio Played In Court

Last week, there was a very surprising new development in the YSL RICO trial. One of the defense attorneys in the case was arrested and hit with charges related to gang activity. The attorney’s name is Nicole Fegan and she was accused of tampering with evidence ad participation in criminal street gang activity. Though Fegan doesn’t represent Thug directly, it’s yet another dramatic twist in a trial that has had near constant intrigue.

What do you think of the 911 audio played in court during the YSL trial earlier today? Do you agree that it’s too much conjecture to hold against Thug in the case? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Meek Mill Weighs In On Young Thug’s Trial

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Young Thug’s Lawyer Tries To Disprove Bloods Affiliation By Naming Other Artists Using Cs Rather Than Bs

The RICO case against YSL, and Young Thug in particular, has referenced their musical output as a collective a lot over the past year and a half or so. Moreover, one of their co-founders recently tried to provide evidence of its leader’s “Truly Humble Under God” moniker during a testimony. On Thursday (February 8), it was defense attorney Brian Steel’s turn to defend Thugger’s music and highlight how the prosecution is wrong for using it as a basis for their arguments. While questioning a witness during a court hearing, he specifically brought up rappers and artists who use Cs instead of Bs, mentioning Meek Mill, Post Malone, and more.

If that sounds odd to you, here’s the breakdown: the prosecution had suggested that Young Thug is a member of the Bloods gang, who say Bs instead of Cs so they don’t reference their rival gang, the Crips. As such, Brian Steel wanted to not only call out a double standard here, but also prove that the Atlanta rapper is not the only artist who uses language in this manner. It’s part of a larger defense that aims to separate his art -– and that of the rest of YSL -– from the actual crimes that they are accused of. It’s been a tough battle so far, yet one with no end in sight with plenty of room to turn hopeful or despondent in a matter of seconds.

Read More: D.A. In Young Thug & Donald Trump Case Allegedly Had An Affair With Prosecutor

Brian Steel Tries To Disprove Young Thug’s Association With Bloods: Watch

Meanwhile, old footage concerning this case also surfaced recently, which caught fans’ interest. This is of a police search authorities conducted in Young Thug’s jail cell back in June of 2022, and it’s hard to believe it’s been this long with no result or verdict. Nevertheless, many fans pointed out how he seemed to have a lot of books and magazines in his cell, which was a heartening sign for some that he was staying entertained and stimulated while behind bars. The “Metro Spider” lyricist surely had to make some staggering day-to-day life adjustments to cope with prison time.

However, not everything surrounding him in the headlines these days relates strictly to his court case. For example, the 32-year-old’s romantic history recently came up again in the news thanks to multiple interactions and gossip about current and past flames. Hopefully the RICO trial itself keeps moving forward, regardless of what people are talking about. With that in mind, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Young Thug and the YSL case.

Read More: Young Thug & Jerrika Karlae: Relationship Timeline

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Gunna Cites His “Gift From God” In Resurfaced Letter To Judge

After getting arrested in a major RICO indictment, Gunna was released from prison in December of last year. The indictment saw the arrest of 25 alleged YSL members, including Young Thug. Since Gunna’s release, the performer has been bombarded with allegations that he “snitched” on his co-defendants, though he vehemently denies this.

Nowadays, the Georgia native is enjoying his freedom, reveling in the success of his latest album, A Gift & a Curse. Amid the first anniversary of his release, social media users have dug up a letter the rapper wrote to the judge while still behind bars, in which he defends his innocence. The emotional letter has re-sparked conversations surrounding his incarceration, and of course, Thugger’s ongoing RICO trial.

Read More: “fukumean” Nabs Gunna This Incredible Streaming Milestone For Rap In 2023

Gunna Maintains His Innocence In Powerful Letter

“2022 has been one of the best years of my life, despite this difficult situation,” his letter begins. “This year I had the whole world pushing P.” He continues, citing his upbringing, and how his art has allowed him to make a positive impact on the lives of others. “I use my art form, my gift from God, to change my circumstances,” he wrote. “For now, I don’t have any freedom. But I am innocent. I hate being falsely accused and will never stop fighting to clear my name! The picture that is being painted of me is ugly and untrue… I have all faith that God will grant me justice for the purity in my heart and the innocence of my actions.”

“Nothing will stop me from chasing my dreams,” he added. “I won’t stop being a good person, even if some unnamed and unknown accusers want to see me as a bad person.” What do you think of Gunna’s letter to the judge resurfacing? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Young Thug’s Dad Calls Out Lil Baby For Gunna Diss: “Shut The F*ck Up”

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Casanova Denied Early Prison Release

Casanova 2x

Casanova faces a setback in pursuing freedom as a federal court ruling rejects his plea for compassionate release. Despite expressing remorse and distancing himself from the gang, the Brooklyn rapper’s quest for an early prison release remains unsuccessful, prolonging his sentence.

Canaova’s Early Release Denied

Casanova, known for his involvement with the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods, has hit another roadblock in his quest for freedom.

A federal court ruling on Dec. 1 has denied the Brooklyn rapper’s motion for a compassionate release, keeping him behind bars. Despite expressing remorse and distancing himself from the gang, the rapper’s early prison release has been denied, prolonging his sentence.

Casanova, whose real name is Caswell Senior, is currently serving time for his admission of leading the New York street gang. 

Casanova Pens A Letter

The charges against the rapper include participating in a shooting incident in Florida on July 5, 2020, a robbery on August 5, 2018, and conspiring to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana. 

Despite his claim of reform and success in his music career without gang associations, the “So Brooklyn” rapper’s plea for a reduced sentence or early release has been denied. Casanova had previously written a heartfelt letter to the judge requesting his release in June 2023.  

In the letter, Casanova expressed his desire to distance himself from gang affiliations and emphasized that he had learned valuable lessons through his music career. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears as the court decided to uphold his 15-year prison sentence. In the letter, he stated: 

“I am telling you and anyone that will listen that I wanted out before I was arrested and I am out. I learned through my music career that people will listen and that I don’t need to associate myself with a gang to succeed. I don’t need to associate with a gang even if I don’t succeed.” 

Casanova has been incarcerated since December 2020. 

Updated By: Chris Samuel (12/4/23 at 3:42 pm)

Casanova’s Girlfriend Disputes Reports Of Prison Attack Amid Recent 15-Year Sentence

Swaggy Jazzy, the girlfriend of the notorious Casanova, has taken to Instagram to dispute reports of the rapper being attacked in prison and has expressed confidence in their situation. This comes after the Brooklyn rapper’s recent sentencing to over 15 years in prison for his involvement in a shooting and his leadership role in the Gorilla Stone street gang. 

Casanova’s girlfriend, Swaggy Jazzy, took to Instagram to address reports of Casanova being attacked in prison. She disputed these claims, expressing confidence in their situation. Instead of dwelling on the incident, she shifted the focus to her fashion brand, Dope Emporium, suggesting they move forward positively despite the circumstances.

Casanova’s Sentencing & Involvement In Shooting

Casanova, a well-known recording artist and prominent leader of the Gorilla Stone street gang in New York State, has received a sentence of over 15 years in prison. This comes after his involvement in a shooting at a crowded Miami house party where he fired a gun, causing severe injury to a victim and inciting a shootout. 

Casanova has been in jail since December 2020 following his guilty plea to federal racketeering, Blood gang activity, and drug charges.

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, highlighted the “So Brooklyn” rapper’s stature in the community as a central role player in the gang’s recruitment and nationwide expansion. 

Williams described Casanova as a high-profile leader of a violent street gang, reinforcing the consequences of such involvement and its impact on the community.

Casanova had hoped for leniency and wrote a letter to the judge prior to sentencing, renouncing his gang ties and expressing his intention to be an advocate for steering youth away from similar paths. Despite his sentencing, Casanova remains committed to making the most of his situation and working towards making a positive impact, even behind bars.

Updated By: Kelci Brown (6/28/23 at 4:37 pm)

Casanova 2X Joins Young Thug & Gunna In Racketeering Roundup – Pleads Guilty To Charges

Brooklyn-based rapper Casanova 2X pled guilty to various charges. He admitted to being a gang leader and aiding crimes and is faced with a 60-year sentence.

Casanova’s Guilty Plea

Brooklyn’s Casanova 2X is one of 18 people indicted for various gang-related crimes, including racketeering, murder, and drugs. The rapper has pled guilty to various charges.

Casanova, real name Caswell Senior, admitted to a shooting and a robbery. He also admitted to being a leader in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang. As of this moment, he is the 13th person to plead guilty in the case.

Senior admitted to participating in a shooting in Florida on July 5, 2020, a robbery in New York City on August 5, 2018. as well as conspiring to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana. As written in the indictment between the years of  2004 and 2020. He was part of a racketeering conspiracy with the Gorilla Stone gang.

Senior also admitted that either on or around July 5, 2020, while he was at a party in Florida including gang members, he had shot someone during a gambling dispute. According to the rapper, the victim in an August 5, 2018 robbery in Manhattan was restrained and suffered serious bodily injury and again admitted to helping to traffic at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.

The rapper is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Philip M. Halpern on December 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. and has a possibility of facing up to 60 years.
Cas has been in jail for over a year.  Casanova’s wife, model Swaggy Jazzy, has been holding it down while her husband is locked up. She took to Instagram to bash “fake friends” who have ghosted the couple. Jazzy has been silent on the recent plea.

Gunna Turns Himself In To The Authorities On RICO Charges

Georgia rapper Gunna has submitted to authorities. He turned himself in for racketeering and conspiracy activities with Young Thug’s YSL street gang.

Gunna, real name Sergio Kitchens, surrendered to Fulton County, GA authorities early this morning. Kitchens is now in custody along with purported YSL gang “founder” Young Thug in a sweep of 28 members of the Atlanta-based street gang.

On Monday, Young Thug was arrested at his home in Buckhead, an Atlanta neighborhood just north of downtown. He is being held at the Fulton County jail.

Originally Written By: Aevum Caelum

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Young Thug & YSL RICO Trial: State Slammed For Making False Gang Sign Claims

Young Thug and YSL’s trial on RICO charges began this week, and we’re finally seeing how both the prosecution and defense are handling their arguments. Moreover, a recent court development called into question the veracity of a state’s witness, who claimed that one of the codefendants “threw gang signs” at them. A defense attorney pushed back on this assumption during questioning, and got the witness to admit that they have no idea what gang sign they reportedly saw. As such, it seems like the attorney wanted to make the point that this lack of knowledge or context makes this tale irrelevant to the collective’s innocence, and especially to its alleged guilt.

Furthermore, debates between both sides of the court aren’t the only obstacle in Young Thug and YSL’s trial’s path. In fact, some worrisome leaks and the spreading of private information could warrant a major overhaul in the case. For those unaware, a security breach leaked the identity of four jurors in this court proceeding, which is a dangerous prospect. Without the shield of anonymity, it will be harder for the judge in this case to stand by impartiality, especially when it comes to the fervent and wild public interest in this trial.

Read More: Young Thug’s Lawyer Refutes Claims That The Rapper Put A Hit On Someone Citing Lil Uzi Vert’s Diamond

YSL Defense Attorney Questions State Witness In Young Thug Trial: Watch

What’s more is that Judge Ural Glanville is reportedly very displeased with Young Thug and YSL’s RICO trial. This leak clearly contributed to that, as well as issues stemming from attorneys on both sides of the aisle. As such, rumors of a mistrial sprouted quickly, although it’s very hard to say whether this will actually end up being a reality. However, we know that a mistrial does not close the door on this no matter what “side” you’re on, so it would only be a big, additional headache to reckon with.

Meanwhile, other aspects of this case suggest that a mistrial isn’t very likely. One development that pointed to this was Glanville’s denial of motions for a mistrial on behalf of the defense. At the very least, he seems to want to sink his teeth into this a little more, and believes that there’s still more information for a proper assessment. Perhaps instances like these concerning witness testimonies and seeing the full plan from lawyers will inform this decision. Regardless, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on the Young Thug and YSL RICO trial.

Read More: Young Thug’s Lawyer Explains YFN Lucci Connection In Court

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