ysl rico trial Archives - New Hip Hop News

Lil Woody Explains Why He Doesn’t Feel Completely Responsible For Young Thug’s Trial

December 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Young Thug YSL affiliate Lil Woody is standing up for himself. Recently, him and DJ Vlad conducted an exclusive interview together in which they mainly focused on the trial and its aftermath. Some clips include him talking about the lies, the ex-parte meeting, as well as his reaction to Thugger’s plea deal. Speaking of that, he was very nervous for the rapper’s future and was eventually stunned with the final results. “I thanked God. I thanked God so much that day. S***, I’ve been at peace ever since… When I heard what the D.A. was offering, 45 years do 25, I was like, ‘Wow,’” he explained.

“And then the plea that he took, it had me sweating like, ‘What in the world type of plea was that?’ I didn’t wanna see nothing bad happened to him,” Woody added. This type of energy is what he’s been on even during the trial despite what outsiders would want you to believe. Throughout the YSL RICO trial, he was constantly judged and berated online for his behavior and antics. Because of this, many were viewing him as the star witness, which he feels is a complete inaccuracy.

Lil Woody Feels His Culpability Was Blown Out Of Proportion

In the interview clip above, Woody explains why he believes he’s not as culpable as he was made out to be. He says, “Think what y’all wanna think, feel what y’all want to feel. Y’all can sit here and say I’m the main reason for this trial.” Lil Woody continued, “But if you really watching the trial and paying attention, you’ll see I wasn’t… I know I wasn’t. Think about it, if I gave a statement 2015, if I’m the main witness why is an arrest in 2022 whenever it was? If I’m the star witness and this whole trial based off me and the statements, I allegedly gave was 2015.”

Vlad then rebutted by saying that he did actually speak, but Woody said that because they wound up being not true, they become alleged. “My whole thing is everybody feel played,” Woody added in his overall thoughts on the matter. Overall, this is an explanation of why he apologized the way he did back in October. If you remember, he said, “I took him through a process that I never should have took him through. Even though I know I’m not the cause of it, despite how anybody may feel, it’s wrong.”

[Via]

The post Lil Woody Explains Why He Doesn’t Feel Completely Responsible For Young Thug’s Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Yak Gotti To Remain Behind Bars While Dealing With Outstanding Warrant

December 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Yak Gotti will remain behind bars after a judge ruled against his request for an emergency bond on Tuesday morning. While the jury in the YSL RICO trial decided not to convict the rapper, he’s still in jail after picking up a charge accusing him of possessing or providing prohibited items to an inmate in 2023. His attorney, Kayla Bumpuss, had requested the emergency hearing while citing an incident on December 1, in which he was attacked. She argued that his safety may be at risk if he remains in jail.

“It is evident that the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office cannot keep Mr. Kendrick safe,” Bumpus wrote in her motion, as caught by Fox 5 Atlanta. She also referenced a report from the Department of Justice from November, in which the DOJ spoke out against unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail. That report reads in part: “People incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail suffered harm from pest infestation and malnourishment and were put at substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people — including homicides, stabbings, and sexual abuse. The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long.”

Read More: Top 10 Best Sneakers Of 2024

Yak Gotti Performs During Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 17: Rapper Yak Gotti performs onstage during Hot. 107.9 Birthday Bash 25 at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium at Georgia State University on July 17. 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

The YSL RICO trial wrapped up, earlier this month, with not-guilty verdicts for almost all charges. It had become the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history. Despite the outcome, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis recently told WSBTV that she has no regrets about the case. “There were lives lost and their lives that matter, and as long as I’m the DA, no matter your socioeconomic status, or your race, your life is going to have value if you’re harmed in this community,” Willis said. “Obviously when you try a case, you go back and you look at things and you always have a Monday morning quarterbacking analysis.”

Yak Gotti To Remain Behind Bars

Before the not-guilty verdicts, Young Thug took a plea deal back in October to avoid further prison time. In doing so, he accepted 15 years of probation, among several other restrictions.

[Via]

The post Yak Gotti To Remain Behind Bars While Dealing With Outstanding Warrant appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Fani Willis Explains Why She Has No Regrets About The YSL RICO Trial

December 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought about the massive YSL RICO trial involving Young Thug, says she has no regrets about the case. It ended earlier this month, with not-guilty verdicts for Yak Gotti. Young Thug also took a plea deal back in October that immediately saw his release from jail.

“There were lives lost and their lives that matter, and as long as I’m the DA, no matter your socioeconomic status, or your race, your life is going to have value if you’re harmed in this community,” Willis said to WSBTV. As for whether she has any regrets, Willis added: “Obviously when you try a case, you go back and you look at things and you always have a Monday morning quarterbacking analysis.”

Young Thug’s Attorney Arrives For YSL RICO Case

Brian Steel, attorney for rapper Young Thug, arrives at the Fulton County Courthouse on November 27, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Opening statements are set to begin in the case against 31-year-old US rapper Young Thug and 28 others, who are facing a racketeering indictment accusing the defendants of a number of offenses that support an overarching conspiracy charge, including murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, and theft. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images)

Willis also confirmed that she intends to pursue cases against the five remaining YSL defendants. “I’m not going to get into the details of that case. As you know, I have five defendants pending,” Willis said. “I think it gets lost on people that many people took responsibility for their parts in that case.”

Fani Willis Reflects On The YSL RICO Case

Willis isn’t the only one to be making headlines this week for reflecting on the YSL RICO case. Lil Woody also sat down with VladTV for an interview in which he discussed learning Young Thug took a plea deal, his role as a witness on the stand, and more. Check out Fani Willis’ full comments on the case below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

[Via]

The post Fani Willis Explains Why She Has No Regrets About The YSL RICO Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Woody Reveals His Initial Response To Young Thug’s Plea Deal

December 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Lil Woody spoke about how relieved he was to see Young Thug take a plea deal and avoid further prison time during a new interview with VladTV. Thug was able to get out of jail during the YSL RICO trial after taking that plea back in October. While he won’t serve further time behind bars, he’ll remain on probation for the next 15 years.

“I thanked God. I thanked God so much that day. Sh*t, I’ve been at peace ever since,” Woody remarked. From there, he admitted it was one of the best days of his life. “You gotta understand, after they let me off that stand, man, I had to block everything… I don’t care what people say or how they feel, but my conscious, I have one now. My conscious eats at me. When I heard what the D.A. was offering, 45 years do 25, I was like, ‘Wow.’ And then the plea that he took, it had me sweating like, ‘What in the world type of plea was that?’” He concluded: “I didn’t wanna see nothing bad happened to him,” before describing Young Thug as a “pretty great guy.”

Young Thug Attends His “Punk” Album Release Party

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: Hip-hop artist Young Thug arrives at a release party for his new album “PUNK” at Delilah on October 12, 2021, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the conversation, Woody discussed his controversial secret meeting with Judge Ural Glanville and the prosecution, which eventually led to Young Thug’s attorney being found in contempt and Glanville’s recusal. “I don’t have a clue,” Woody admitted when asked about what went down. “I was lost man, I had never been to this side of the courthouse, I didn’t know where I was going. N***a I was scared. I thought I could lose my life. I thought they would do some C.I.A. type sh*t to me.” As for whether he was even aware the meeting was illegal, Woody added: “I didn’t have a clue what was going on. When I pleaded the fifth, I thought I was just gonna go to the jail and stay at the jail.”

Lil Woody Recalls Young Thug Getting Out Of Jail

Woody also spoke about seeing the sheriff take Brian Steel away from the courtroom after being held in contempt and more. Check out Lil Woody’s full comments on the YSL RICO trial with VladTV below.

[Via]

The post Lil Woody Reveals His Initial Response To Young Thug’s Plea Deal appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Woody Breaks Down Secret Meeting That Left Young Thug’s Attorney Furious

December 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Lil Woody recently reflected on the secret ex-parte meeting between Judge Ural Glanville, himself, and the prosecution during the YSL RICO trial for an interview with VladTV. The headline-grabbing meeting resulted in Young Thug’s attorney being found in contempt and Glanville’s eventual recusal.

“I don’t have a clue,” Woody admitted when asked about what went down. “I was lost man, I had never been to this side of the courthouse, I didn’t know where I was going. N***a I was scared. I thought I could lose my life. I thought they would do some C.I.A. type sh*t to me.” As for whether he was directly aware the meeting was illegal, Woody added: “I didn’t have a clue what was going on. When I pleaded the fifth, I thought I was just gonna go to the jail and stay at the jail.”

Brian Steel Arrives At YSL RICO Trial Hearing

Woody then discussed Glanville finding Steel in contempt. He said: “When I was in the holding tank and I saw the sheriff bringing Brian Steel back there, it broke my heart. It broke my heart man. I looked at the lawyer. I didn’t know what was going on, but the way he looked at me. He gave me a look that just like made me cry like, ‘damn.’ I knew that lawyer was in trouble just by the look that he gave me.” From there, he described Steel’s look as saying, “This is all your fault.”

Lil Woody Reflects On The YSL RICO Trial

Vlad wrapped up by asking Woody about firing his attorney during the trial. Elsewhere in the interview, Woody also discussed lying about Young Thug and more. Thug ended up getting out of jail back in October after taking a plea deal. Check out Lil Woody’s full comments on VladTV below.

[Via]

The post Lil Woody Breaks Down Secret Meeting That Left Young Thug’s Attorney Furious appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Woody Explains Admitting To Lies About Young Thug As A Hostile Witness In The YSL RICO Trial

December 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Lil Woody has reflected on his role in the YSL RICO trial, speaking about the case with VladTV for an interview published over the weekend. The conversation began with Vlad bringing up the recusals of Judge Ural Glanville and Judge Sakura Ingram, noting that he feels the verdict may be different if either of them stayed on. Woody declined to comment on that aspect of the trial. “If the first judge stayed on that case– I’ma shut up,” he remarked.

From there, the two discussed Woody becoming a hostile witness during the trial, with Vlad mentioning that he snitched on fake people. Woody replied: “When you use the word snitch, a snitch would be like, ‘Hey, Vlad flew me to New York to commit this act. And this is what actually took place,’ with all the details and the facts. But, when you sitting right here protecting yourself from whatever things they’re trying to put on you– if you go look at my past, every time I went to jail, I went to jail for them throwing charges on me. So, when they question me, I know they’re trying to get me. So what am I gonna do? I’m gonna protect me. I’m not expecting these people to actually take my word because even when they asked my name, I ain’t commit no crime, I’m driving a car, ‘What’s your name?’ I give ’em somebody else’s name. Y’all know I’m a liar.”

Young Thug Performs During Grammy Awards

February 10, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Young Thug performs with Camila Cabello during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 10, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Woody appeared on the stand as a witness during several hearings in the YSL RICO trial. At one point, he made headlines for admitting to having lied about Young Thug to authorities in the past. “The police kept locking me up for whatever they could,” he said at the time. “Every time I counted the door, the police was on me, and they keep bringing up Thug’s name. So what I did was to get ’em out off me, I said, ‘Thug did this. Thug did that. Thug,’ because I knew they were—I knew he didn’t do it.”

Lil Woody Reflects On YSL RICO Trial

Thug ended up taking a plea deal in the case back in October. He’ll spend the next 15 years on probation, but successfully avoided further prison time. Check out Lil Woody’s full comments on Young Thug with VladTV below.

[Via]

The post Lil Woody Explains Admitting To Lies About Young Thug As A Hostile Witness In The YSL RICO Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YSL RICO Trial Defendant Launches Class Action Lawsuit Over Fulton County Jail

December 12, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Shannon Jackson, a defendant in the YSL RICO trial, has launched a class action lawsuit against Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat as well as the Chief Jailor, John Jackson, both in their official capacity only. He accuses them of “deliberate indifference to the known, excessive risks to the health and safety of detainees at Fulton County Jail… which violate the detainees’ rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.”

In the introduction section of the filing, his attorneys write: “This is an action to protect people detained in Fulton County Jail… from serious harm by the cruel and unusual conditions of confinement at Fulton County Jail,” as caught by the ThuggerDaily social media account.

Shannon Jackson Takes Legal Action

YSL Defendant Shannon Jackson is leading a class action law suit (filed FEDERALLY) against Fulton County Sheriff and members of his staff, focusing on inmate treatment, safety, and conditions. pic.twitter.com/OtdiIoaAmA

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) December 12, 2024

At the end of the lengthy YSL RICO trial, the court acquitted Jackson of almost all charges. The jury found him not guilty of the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr., of participating in criminal street gang activity and conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act, as well as a second murder. However, the jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon.

As for the jury’s ruling, two members spoke about their decision for an interview with Melanie Goolsby on YouTube shortly after the verdict. They said the group was able to agree that YSL is technically a gang, but they didn’t feel they constitute an “enterprise.” “Was it this whole big organized thing, or was it just a bunch of people that were affiliated with each other doing individual stuff to take care of their families or to get revenge?” she said, as caught by Meghann Cuniff. Overall, the group agreed there simply wasn’t enough evidence. “Most of the overt acts were Instagram pictures. A lot of us kind of feel like, I’m not about to put nobody in jail for, like, Instagram pictures,” she added. Check out Jackson’s class action filing above.

[Via]

The post YSL RICO Trial Defendant Launches Class Action Lawsuit Over Fulton County Jail appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Young Thug Breaks His Silence On 15-Year Probation Terms

December 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Young Thug remains pretty quiet and low-key after his release from prison on 15-year probation terms, but we recently got signs here and there that concern his potential thoughts. Moreover, he recently called his attorney Keith Adams while the lawyer was on a livestream with TheFitLawyerATL, during which he thanked fans for their support during the YSL RICO trial. It was pretty heartening to see Thugger throw a peace sign to viewers, and he seemed to be in pretty elated spirits. That’s because he actually joked about his current conditions, asking both legal experts to “get [him] off the probation.”

“Hold off on the attorney-client conversations,” Young Thug’s lawyer Keith Adams responded to his distaste for his probation. Elsewhere, the Atlanta rapper asked Adams to look into some pictures of some missing jewelry from his arrest in May of 2022. The attorney affirmed that he would do that and also told Thug that he would call him later when he’s not busy. For those unaware, his probation includes thousands of dollars in fines, 100 hours of community service, a ban from the Metro Atlanta area for ten years, and other conditions.

Young Thug Speaks To His Lawyer About Probation

Thugger joins the livestream at around the 1:12:56-minute mark.

“I’m totally against that, because this is where he’s from,” Young Thug’s father Jeffery Williams Sr. relayed to press outside the courtroom regarding his son’s probation conditions. Particularly, he expressed frustration to the Metro Atlanta ban. “And to have a district attorney take that away from him that isn’t a resident from here… She’s from another state, and to see her take a man away from where he’s from, to have to go live somewhere else? That’s offensive to me.” However, some more positive news also emerged, as multiple YSL RICO trial jurors praised Jeffery Williams.

“I honestly didn’t know anything about his music,” one juror shared about Young Thug in a YouTube video. “And to be honest, the way that they presented him in his trial… They wanted him to look in this negative light. But I saw somebody who kinda pulled himself up, got himself out of the position that he was in and tried to help other people around. So it actually shined a more positive light in my eyes than what the state was trying to present. I wish him continued success with everything.”

[via]

The post Young Thug Breaks His Silence On 15-Year Probation Terms appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YSL Jurors Explain Decision To Acquit Yak Gotti In Massive RICO Trial

December 4, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Two members of the jury for the YSL RICO trial explained their verdict in the case during an interview with Melanie Goolsby on YouTube on Tuesday night. The discussion comes after the jury returned verdicts for the final two co-defendants, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell, earlier in the day. Some members of the jury reportedly were able to agree that YSL is technically a gang, but the group didn’t feel they constitute an “enterprise.”

“Was it this whole big organized thing, or was it just a bunch of people that were affiliated with each other doing individual stuff to take care of their families or to get revenge?” she said, as caught by Meghann Cuniff. Overall, the group agreed there simply wasn’t enough evidence. “Most of the overt acts were Instagram pictures. A lot of us kind of feel like, I’m not about to put nobody in jail for, like, Instagram pictures,” she added.

Young Thug Performs During Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival

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)

One of the jurors admitted she didn’t know much about Young Thug before the trial, but left with a more positive impression of him. She described him as someone who “pulled himself up, you know, got himself out of the position that he was in, and tried to help other people.” She added: “It actually shined a more positive light in my eyes than what the state was trying to present.”

YSL Jurors Speak Out On The Verdict

As for the entirety of Tuesday’s verdict, the jury found Gotti not guilty on all charges. They found Stillwell, on the other hand, guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon previously convicted involving the use or possession of a firearm, but not guilty on all other charges. The verdict comes after Young Thug accepted a plea deal in the case in October. Check out the jurors’ discussion with Melanie Goolsby below.

[Via]

The post YSL Jurors Explain Decision To Acquit Yak Gotti In Massive RICO Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Young Thug’s Dad Goes Off On “Piece Of Sh*t” District Attorney After YSL RICO Trial Wraps Up

December 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Young Thug’s father, Jeffrey Williams Sr., reaffirmed his disdain for Georgia’s District Attorney, Fani WIllis, after the YSL RICO trial finally concluded on Tuesday afternoon. Speaking with reporters outside of the courtroom where Yak Gotti was found not guilty, Williams Sr. discussed his prior criticism of Willis.

Williams Sr. began by saying that Thug is doing “great” after getting out of jail. “We’re still fighting out here,” he said. “It’s not over for us. I got another son and a grandson that was arrested about this case that I’m still fighting for.” When asked if he still resents the Georgia district attorney’s office, he explained, “I still feel the same way. It’s a piece of sh*t. We gotta get those people out of there. We want to continue to have justice, we gotta get them out of there.”

Young Thug Performs During The Grammy Awards

As for his previous criticism of the D.A.’s office, he said shortly after Thug’s release: “But the work that we need to do, foremost, for the city of Atlanta, Fulton County, we need to get rid of the poison that’s in our system — and that’s the District Attorney’s Office. So, vote [for] Courtney Kramer. I support Courtney Kramer to the fullest. I feel like she’s the best person for the job and it’s not because of what she said about us, it’s because she said that and she was in my company and never knew who I was.”

Young Thug Reflects On The YSL RICO Trial

Young Thug ended up taking a plea deal in the case back in October that resulted in another 15 years of probation. Other restrictions include being banned from the Metro Atlanta area for 10 years, not being able to make gang-related music, and more. Check out Williams Sr.’s latest comments on the YSL RICO trial below.

[Via]

The post Young Thug’s Dad Goes Off On “Piece Of Sh*t” District Attorney After YSL RICO Trial Wraps Up appeared first on HotNewHipHop.