ysl gang indictment

YSL Co-Founder Tries To Provide “Truly Humble Under God” References In Young Thug’s Music

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Trontavious Stephens, a co-founder of YSL who took a plea deal in the group’s ongoing RICO trial, testified in court on Monday. While on the stand, he faced questions from the prosecution about the lyrical content of Young Thug’s music. At one point, the prosecutor asks him to provide a single example of the rapper referencing his “Truly Humble Under God” acronym.

“A number of them. You gotta pay attention,” Stephens claims, before saying he would need some time to think of a specific example. “A number of songs on the last album, Punk,” he eventually says before providing the song, “Droppin Jewels.” While he can’t think of the word, “God,” being used, he suggests the references are implied.

Read More: Young Thug & YSL Trial: State Motions To Block RICO Case’s Live Stream

Young Thug Attends Meet & Greet

EAST POINT, GEORGIA – APRIL 22: Rapper Young Thug attends Young Stoner Life Meet & Greet at DTLR Camp Creek on April 22, 2021 in East Point, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

From there, the prosecution asks Stephens about the mention of the selling of drugs in Thug’s music. They reference the song, “Pushin P,” in particular, and theorize it’s a reference to Percocet. Stephens says he can’t recall Thug ever mentioning Percocets on the track. Check out the clips of his testimony below, as shared by Meghann Cuniff.

Trontavious Stephens Discusses Young Thug’s Acronym

Thug is facing multiple charges in addition to violating Georgia’s RICO Act. As the trial continues, the state will attempt to prove YSL is a violent gang who have committed armed robbery, conspiracy to murder, and more. Be on the lookout for further updates on the YSL RICO trial on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Young Thug Seemingly References RICO Case On Kid Cudi’s “INSANO”

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YSL RICO Trial To Resume Following YSL Polo Conviction

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The YSL RICO trial is still in its discovery phase and had been on pause for a while. The reason for the pause was YSL Polo, whose real name is Cordarius Dorsey. He was facing separate murder charges for an incident in 2020. That trial had to be completed before the YSL trial as a whole could move forward. As of today, he’s been found guilty of the murder and will begin his path towards sentencing while the YSL trial will be restarted. YSL Polo was removed from the rest of the YSL RICO defendants last week after a viral video made the rounds of him behaving strangely, causing Young Thug’s lawyer to move for severance.

Young Thug has been in police custody since last May as a result of the YSL RICO indictment. Thug, Gunna, and numerous other notable YSL affiliates were among 28 arrested. The group were hit with 56 different crimes as a part of the massive RICO indictment. Even more, charges were tacked on after police executed numerous searches and discovered more illegal substances and weapons. The indictments shocked many fans and fellow rappers and began a movement to free Thugger that hasn’t slowed down in the year since.

Read More: Young Thug Shown Smiling In Court Conversation In New Footage

YSL Polo Convicted Of Second Murder

Earlier this year, Young Thug dropped his new album Business Is Business. The project was executive produced by Metro Boomin on Thugger’s behalf while he was incarcerated. The album sports an absolutely stacked feature list including Drake, Future, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, and more. It went on to debut at number two on the Hot 100. The album has been one of the biggest selling rap projects of 2023 so far.

The biggest hit from the Business Is Business “Oh U Went” with Drake is still on the Hot 100 this week. What do you think of YSL Polo being convicted of another murder just days after bizarre video of his behavior hit the internet? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Mariah The Scientist Shows No Signs Of Straying From Young Thug As Rapper Remains Behind Bars

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Young Thug Shares Optimistic Message For His Nephew

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Young Thug shared a message of confidence for his nephew during a text message exchange that has made its way to social media. During the conversation, the incarcerated rapper mentions that he’s on the way home.

“LY2 Peter u good,” Thug asked his nephew, according to HipHopDX. He replied: “Yes, Unc I really Miss You Brah AINT Nan Like When U Hea I Miss having Fun I miss Listening To Everything U Tell Me I Miss Waking Up Knowing we Together .. I’m Continuing To Record n Do Watt I Gotta Do Just Need You Hea.” Thug responded: “Im otw jack thats ongod.”

Read More: Young Thug Releases New Album “Business Is Business”

Young Thug In Concert

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 19: Young Thug performs onstage during the 2021 Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival on September 19 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival)

Young Thug will have his work cut out for him to get home soon. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been adamant about putting the YSL mogul behind bars. “It does not matter what your notoriety is or what your fame is. If you come to Fulton County, Georgia, you commit crimes, and certainly if those crimes are in furtherance of a street gang, then you are going to become a target and a focus of this district attorney’s office, and we are going to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” she said after his arrest.

Young Thug Messages His Nephew

Having been in jail for over a year, the court is still searching to narrow down a jury for the lengthy case. Before that happens, Thug has been denied bond four times. His attorney, Brian Steel, argues that Thug isn’t a risk if allowed out of jail. “Mr. Williams is not a risk to commit a crime and he’s not a risk to flee the jurisdiction and that’s what bond is about,” Steel told ABC News back in April. Be on the lookout for further updates on Thug’s case on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Young Thug Let Out Of Jail To Attend Angela Grier’s Funeral: Report

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YSL RICO Update: Young Thug Being Charged With 8 Counts

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As the world awaits YSL’s forthcoming RICO trial, it appears as if there’s a new positive development in the case.

Several members of the crew have taken plea deals in order to be released from jail. Young Thug remains behind bars.

Young Thug performs onstage at ‘Samsung Galaxy + Billboard’ during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Waterloo Park on March 17, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW)

On Wednesday (January 4), however, it was announced that the 31-year-old is only being hit with 8 charges. He was possibly facing up to 65 counts. The eight charges include conspiracy to violate the R.I.C.O. act, two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity and possession of both marijuana and codeine with intent to distribute.

Furthermore, the “Best Friend” rapper faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and possession of a machine gun.

The Allegations

Additionally, the judge read out the allegations against the YSL crew in court earlier today. “Jeffrey Williams [Thug] and Atlanta-based hip-hop artists made YSL a well-known name by referring to it in his songs and on social media. YSL uses a variety of identifiers including colors, clothing, tattoos, hand signs, as well as verbal and written identifiers,” reads Judge Ural Glanville.

“YSL claims affiliation with the national Bloods gang and some associates also claim the Blood subset gangs, Sex, Money, Murder or 30d. YSL associates often display their colors by wearing a green or red bandana on their person, a practice known as flagging,” he continues afterwards.

Further allegations include using other hand gestures and the “SLATT” saying as a way of identifying themselves as gang members. “More allegations read: #YSL assc. make two-guns hand sign by forming pistols w/fingers & pointing them in opposite directions. BLAT[T] (Blood Love All the Time). SLAT[T] (Slime Love All the Time). Emojis include:green heart, green snake, blowing nose, green vomit,” writes journalist Cathy Russon in a subsequent tweet.

Evidently, these accusations attempt to label Young Thug and his fellow YSL crew as gang members. Authorities allege that they are more than just artists who are part of the YSL record label.

Regardless, it’s certainly good news that Thugger is only being charged with eight counts out of a possible 65.

What are your thoughts on the new update? Comment down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates surrounding the trial.

Lil Duke Takes Plea Deal Following Gunna & Other YSL Members

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After Gunna announced his release from jail after a plea deal, authorities freed other members of YSL in quick succession. While many are excited at the news, others have been critical of the conditions of this plea deal. Nevertheless, Lil Duke also took his shot, where defendants pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to violate the RICO act. Since him and other YSL members did not face criminal charges, their sentences have been altered following this negotiation.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 06: Lil Duke and Gunna attend Gunna’s DS4EVER LA Listening Party on January 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DS4EVER Presented by Gunna, Young Stoner Life Records, 300 Entertainment)

In addition to Gunna and Lil Duke, two other members of YSL entered the agreement. YSL co-founder Walter Murphy entered the same plea deal as Gunna’s, known as an Alford plea. Slimelife Shawty recently took to Instagram to share his freedom and snuff out claims of snitching.

“Yea I’m home,” he wrote, “ain have to snitch to get here d***head. I admitted you slime life was a gang cus it ain’t illegal for no group to be a gang look it up that don’t hurt nobody anybody can be a gang, plus the founder already admitted it stupid. What I pose to say if a founder admitted it. What I den do was say Yes it’s a fact people in ysl commit crimes like murder and etc cus ion no nun bout that.”

However, many are still critical of this whole ordeal. 6ix9ine, an alleged “rat” himself, said that Gunna is a snitch no matter what.

“Once you plea guilty, you admit to the crime,” he told Wack 100 in addition to his Instagram post. “Once you plea guilty, that’s it, you admitting. You walking into that courtroom, you gonna admit everything you did wrong. So now anything you said is gonna be used against your man. Once I say yes I’m guilty, I was there, once you go under oath in the courtroom your man is dead. You just hung up your man.”

Meanwhile, Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel believes that these plea deals are a huge hindrance to YSL’s RICO case. Since these deals come with at least some form of admission, he believes the court will unjustly pin collective actions squarely against Thugger.

Still, what do you think of Lil Duke’s plea deal and others at YSL? Let us know in the comments below and check back in with HNHH for the latest case updates.

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Young Thug’s Lawyer Speaks On Recent YSL Deals

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Given recent news of Gunna’s release from jail, many are wondering how the rest of the YSL case will develop. Meanwhile, people are unsure whether this bodes well for its boss, Young Thug, or if he will face increased consequences. His lawyer, Brian Steel, spoke about these plea deals within YSL and how they might actually be hurting him. According to Steel, law enforcement will take advantage of people seeking release in exchange for information incriminating Thugger (Jeffery Williams).

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been processed using digital filters.) Rapper Young Thug attends the game between Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 25, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Steel stated, “When they want a deal, law enforcement officers are all too eager to say, ‘Well, tell us about Mr. Williams. Was he involved in this, what do you know about it? That’s the problem with this case. It’s coming from the word of people who are getting deals to say ‘Yeah, he was there. I saw him around’ or ‘He gave the order’ or ‘I heard from someone else he gave the order.’ That’s what this case is about. You’re not gonna hear any confession of Jeffery Williams.”

Furthermore, Gunna spoke about his recent plea deal and explained the circumstances. He wrote, “While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.” YSL co-founder Walter Murphy also took a plea deal.

Meanwhile, Young Thug’s legal battles took stranger turns indeed this week. Indeed, a naked man boasting “Free Young Thug” disrupted the “Digits” rapper’s hearing via Zoom on Thursday (December 15th). Moreover, the hearing was to suppress evidence in YSL’s RICO case.

While authorities scrambled to turn courtroom monitors off, they already had delayed the hearing by several hours given tech issues. Still, Thug attended the hearing in-person for the first time since his arrest, and he scored a big win. Judge Glanville prohibited prosecutors from using mobile phones and other evidence taken from the rapper’s home with no search warrant in 2015. Moreover, prosecutors intended to present said evidence at the January trial. Needless to say, the Zoom bomber brought a much less helpful surprise.

What do you think of Steel’s remarks and the YSL plea deals? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest case updates.

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Slimelife Shawty Released In Third YSL Plea Deal

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Recent releases and negotiations indicate that the YSL gang indictment saga may be entering a new phase of more freedom. Many of the Atlanta label’s members are doing time and accused of racketeering, gun and drug distribution, and other charges. Meanwhile, fans were ecstatic about the news of Gunna’s release this week. Also, officials also freed YSL rapper Slimelife Shawty on a plea deal, the third so far in this case.

Moreover, Shawty requested an Alford plea, which is the same one Gunna’s team employed. The 24-year-old pleaded guilty as a first offender to one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act. Meanwhile, the court will sentence him to ten years: one year commuted to time served, and nine of probation.

EAST POINT, GEORGIA – APRIL 22: (L-R) Dolly White, Unfoonk, HiDoraah, Strick, BSlime, Young Thug, Yak Gotti, YTB Trench, T-Shyne, Lil Keed, Lil Duke, and FN DaDealer attend Young Stoner Life Meet & Greet at DTLR Camp Creek on April 22, 2021 in East Point, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Moreover, Slimelife Shawty grew up on Cleveland Ave, the same neighborhood that Young Thug, Lil Keed, and Lil Got did. However, he’s with Alamo Records, and made waves Keed’s viral track “Blicky Blicky.” Shawty’s attorney reportedly stated that most charges he faced of “in furtherance of this conspiracy” were not criminal. Later, Shawty posted on his Instagram story to share the good news- and clarify it.

“Yea I’m home,” he wrote via text on a black background. “Ain have to snitch to get here dickhead . I admitted young slime life was a gang cus it ain’t illegal for no group to be a gang look it up that don’t hurt nobody anybody can be a gang , plus the founder already admitted it stupid. what I pose to say if a founder admitted it. what I den do was say Yes it’s a fact people in ysl commit crimes like murder and etc cus ion no nun bout that .”

Similarly, Gunna’s statement of release clarified that he wasn’t speaking against his crew. “While I have agreed to always be truthful,” he remarked, “I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.” While his statement, along with court footage, has received a wealth of positive reactions from other rappers, some were critical.

What do you think of YSL’s Slimelife Shawty’s release and plea deal? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates.

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