ysl rico

YSL RICO: Young Thug & Co-Defendants Begin Trial With Opening Statements In Georgia

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It’s been a long 567 days for Young Thug, who’s spent the majority of that year and a half behind bars awaiting the start of his YSL RICO trial. The hunt for a jury officially began in January. However, due to the rapper’s popularity and the large number of co-defendants, it took a minute to find a group of individuals qualified to determine Thugger’s fate. Today (November 27), the Atlanta native is finally back in court as opening statements begin.

As Pitchfork notes, prosecutors allege that the So Much Fun artist’s YSL (Young Stoner Life) label is also the criminal gang Young Slime Life. Thug – born Jeffrey Williams – was taken into police custody on a massive 56-count indictment last May, pinning crimes on him like murder, assault, robbery, theft, illegal gun possession, and illegal drug possession and sales in the Cleveland Avenue neighbourhood for over a decade.

Read More: Gunna Posts Up In Atlanta Ahead Of Young Thug Trial

Young Thug Back in Court as YSL RICO Proceedings Finally Begin

One of the most controversial aspects of the YSL trial is that song lyrics will appear as evidence. In a recently leaked interrogation audio, Thugger laughs at the detective’s questions about him, Lil Wayne, and Birdman being a part of the Bloods, calling their references to gang activity in music, “entertainment.” Luckily for hip-hop heads, everything unfolding in the courtroom today and beyond will be streaming live on Law & Crime‘s YouTube channel, and we’ll be sure to provide you with regular updates as well.

Ahead of today’s highly anticipated court date, social media has been reflecting on the wild rollercoaster that the YSL RICO trial has been before even officially starting. From Lil Keed’s untimely death in the weeks following his labelmate’s arrest to nine people taking plea deals, we could’ve never predicted things would turn out this way for Young Thug and his co-defendants. Read more about that at the link below. Let us know if you think Jeffrey Williams will be coming home when court concludes in the comments.

Read More: Young Thug RICO Trial Start Date Has Social Media Reflecting On YSL Case So Far

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Young Thug RICO Trial Start Date Has Social Media Reflecting On YSL Case So Far

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With Young Thug’s trial set to start Monday, social media has taken a moment to reflect on everything that has happened since Young Thug was arrested over 17 months ago. The X account ThuggerDaily posted a long list of every wild thing that has happened. While the full tweet is posted below, highlights include Donald Trump accusing Fani Willis of sleeping with YSL Mondo, one defendant was found to be in a relationship with his jail guard, and someone hacking the courtroom screens to play porn.

However, after nearly a year of jury selection, Thug’s trial will start on Monday. After over 20 indictments, just six men will go to trial, Thug included. Despite this, there was still plenty of drama to go around. Thug’s lawyer was formally warned by the judge. The attorney was heard calling one of the prosecution’s pre-trial witnesses a “farce”. Similarly, Ya Gotti’s lawyer was warned after a verbal altercation about Gotti being denied his right to have a clear line of sight to the jury.

Read More: Lil Durk Reacts To Drake Mentioning Him On Young Thug’s “Oh U Went”

Mariah The Scientist Reveals Marriage Plans For Young Thug

Away from the courtroom, Mariah The Scientist is continuing to prove her “wife goals” in regards to Young Thug. “I feel like he definitely wants to be married and I feel like I do too. I feel like being imaginative can help every human being on earth not lose your mind. It is like a little slight state of delusion,” Mariah told XXL. Furthermore, she noted that she spends “all day long” thinking about one thing. That thing is what life is going to be like with Thug once he is finally released from prison.

This sentiment is something that Mariah has long adhered to. “I feel like, and this is in all honesty, there is nobody on planet Earth that can get between me and supporting my man. I’m sorry, it’s just not gonna happen,” Mariah asserted in an interview in September. As things kick off in Fulton County Courthouse next week, we’ll of course have any updates as and when they emerge right here on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Young Thug Interrogation Audio: Detectives Ask If Lil Wayne, Birdman, And Thugger Are Bloods

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Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Will Officially Begin Next Week

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After more than 10 months of jury selection and over a year and a half behind bars, Young Thug’s trial will finally begin next week. Opening statements are now scheduled to start on Monday, November 27. He was originally arrested in early 2022 as part of a massive RICO indictment of his label YSL. Almost all of the defendants have since agreed to plea deals leaving just 6 remaining. Among them are two of the most high-profile figures in the case Thug and Yak Gotti.

Even though the trial hasn’t even started yet, there’s already been drama between the judge and lawyers in the case. First, the judge made a stern suggestion to Thug’s lawyer after a comment about the inclusion of one particular witness being a “farce.” The comment came after frustrating examination of a witness that the prosecutions alleged was a gang expert where the prosecution objected to almost everything asked. Yak Gotti’s lawyer had a similar encounter with the judge when he questioned the the arrangement of the court preventing the clients from their right to have a clear line of sight of the jury.

Read More: Young Thug’s Prison Diet Revealed

Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Finally Starting Soon

There were other high-profile figures involved in the original RICO indictment. Most notably is perhaps Gunna, who cut a plea deal earlier this year to avoid trial in the case. Many online took issue not just with the fact that he took a plea deal. The bigger issue was that he provided valuable testimony that YSL was, in fact, a gang.

The dissatisfaction didn’t particularly translate to Gunna’s sales though. The rapper released his album a Gift & a Curse earlier this year and it shot up to number two on the Billboard 200 in its first week. Even more impressively, the album contains one of the biggest rap hits of the year “fukumean.“ The song was a staple in the top 10 of the Hot 100 for months following its release and just landed on the Year End Hot 100. What do you think of Young Thug’s YSL RICO case finally getting a start date for next week? Do you think Thugger will beat the charges he’s facing? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Young Thug’s Lawyer Calls For Certain Charges To Be Dropped

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Yak Gotti’s Lawyer Shares Tense Moment With The Judge During Pretrial Hearing

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With the beginning of the YSL RICO trial less than a week away, only six co-defendants in the case remain. Two of which are Young Thug and Yak Gotti. Thug’s position was seemingly weakened earlier this month when the judge made the decision to allow his song lyrics to be used as evidence in the trial. The decision proved controversial with dozens of rappers and hundreds of fans coming out against it. Even though the proceedings are still in pretrial, there have already been some heated moments between lawyers and judges.

Last week, Young Thug’s lawyer had a tense moment with one of the judges in the case while dealing with a witness called in to serve as a gang expert. Now, there’s once again been a confrontational moment between judge and lawyer. This time it was Yak Gotti’s lawyer and Judge Ural Glanville. Gotti’s lawyer Doug Weinstein brought up the fact that the defendants in the trial have the right to a line-of-sight view of the witnesses taking the stand. He mentioned it because the current configuration of the courtroom didn’t allow for it, which could potentially violate their rights. As they discussed solutions to the problem, Weinstein pointed out that the burden was on the state to fix the issue, as they caused it in the first place by trying so many defendants together. The judge didn’t take kindly to that response. Check out a clip of the interaction below.

Read More: Young Thug Co-Defendant Yak Gotti Compares Lyrics To Jack Nicholson’s “The Shining”

Yak Gotti’s Lawyer Warned By Judge In Pretrial

As with many elements of the case, fans online have taken the side of the defendants in both recent cases. Many agreed that the constant objections of the prosecution prevented Young Thug’s representation from accurately questioning their gang expert witness. And many online have agreed that Gotti’s lawyer was raising legitimate concerns that were dismissed too quickly by the judge.

Earlier this month, yet another co-defendant in the YSL trial accepted a plea deal. Derontae Bebee became the most recent of all the members indicted to cut a deal to avoid trial. What do you think of the judge in Yak Gotti’s case sending a warning to his lawyer in pretrial? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Yak Gotti Teams Up With Nechie For “ESPN”

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Young Thug’s Lawyer Upsets Judge With “Farce” Comment

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Tensions are already flaring in the newest proceedings of the YSL RICO trial. Opening statements are expected on November 27 but today in court the judge had in a “gang expert” to answer questions about the YSL outfit as a whole. After dealing with frustrating answers from the gang expert and repeated objections from the prosecution, Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel made a comment the judge didn’t appreciate.

Steel described the proceedings as a “farce” which the judge quickly hit back on. “Mr. Steel, I’d be careful about the characterization, sir. Farce is not the word I would use,” Judge Glanville responded. They had yet another exchange after the prosecution raised an objection for the form in which Steel asked a question. He disagreed with the objection. but the judge once again shut him down. “Mr. Steel, I’m the person that decides that not you. And the other thing is you keep asking him things that he may not have any knowledge base to,” Glanville replied. Check out the livestream of the events of the trial below.

Read More: Billie Eilish Raps Along To Young Thug’s “Power:” Watch

Young Thug’s Lawyer Going Back And Forth With Judge

Last week, there was a new development in Young Thug’s trial that had a lot of fans and fellow rappers concerned. The judge ruled that lyrics from some of his songs would be allowed as evidence in court. The prosecution almost immediately introduced lyrics from Thug’s Juice Wrld collaboration “Bad Boy.” They claim that in the song he brags about shooting at YFN Lucci’s mother’s house.

Rappers like Killer Mike and Meek Mill quickly spoke out against the move. Mike called it an infringement on the first amendment rights of every citizen while Meek tweeted about being scared to even do interviews with everything that was being allowed in court. It’s unclear how many more songs the prosecution plans to use. What do you think of Young Thug’s lawyer getting into multiple exchanges with the judge in his case? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Young Thug Co-Defendant Yak Gotti Compares Lyrics To Jack Nicholson’s “The Shining”

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Meek Mill Speaks Out Against Using Rap Lyrics In Trials

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Earlier this week, it was announced that lyrics from various Young Thug songs would be allowed as evidence in his YSL RICO trial. Many online spoke out against the move immediately. Most notably, Killer Mike expressed his fear over the potential outcomes of the decision via his Instagram story. Now, Meek Mill, who has also long been an advocate for social justice and improving the justice system, is weighing in.

In a tweet, Meek explained his position. “Locking us for rapping got me scared to do a interview free Jeff free Lucci,” the post reads. It’s far from the first time Meek has weighed in on the events of Young Thug’s trial. Just last week he expressed his confidence in Thugger to beat the case. He was responding to reports that the judge was unhappy with the prosecution in the case. Meek described the trial as “messy” and consequently claimed that would help Thug beat the case. Check out Meek’s newest tweet on the trial below.

Read More: Rick Ross And Meek Mill Compare Their Viral Diving Fail Videos

Meek Mill Says Free Young Thug And YFN Lucci

Overnight, Meek Mill released his new collaborative album with Rick Ross. The album is called Too Good To Be True and its 17-song tracklist is packed full of impressive features. Vory, Fabolous, DJ Khaled, Teyana Taylor, The Dream, Jeremih, French Montana, Future and more appear on the album. The project also features an NBA themed remix as a bonus track with appearances from Damian Lillard and Shaq.

Meek Mill also had to recently respond to a callout from Dee-1. The New Orleans rapper took aim at Meek, Rick Ross, and Jim Jones for including violent lyrics in their songs. Subsequently, Meek clapped back on Instagram pointing out how those lyrics allowed him to transition into somebody who could be a force for good. What do you think of Meek Mill’s take on lyrics being used in trials? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: 7 Rick Ross & Meek Mill Collaborations To Revisit Before “Too Good To Be True”

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YSL RICO Defendant Derontae Bebee Agrees To Plea Deal

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The newest chapter in the YSL RICO trial came from yet another defendant cutting a plea deal. The newest is Derontae Bebee who got a relatively solid plea deal in his exit from the legal proceedings. He was sentenced to 15 years via the plea deal. Though lucky for him only 5 of it is jail time and the remaining 10 are on probation. As No Jumper notes, there are only 6 active defendants left among the original 28 indicted, though one of the 6 remaining is Young Thug.

After months of delays and more than a full year behind bars Young Thug’s case is finally moving in the direction of a trial. Last week, a sitting jury was finalized for the remaining defendants. That means that the case is likely headed to trial at the currently scheduled date, later this month. Opening arguments are scheduled to commence on November 27, though estimates for how long the trial itself could last vary wildly. Check out the most recent news on the YSL RICO indictment below.

Read More: Billie Eilish Raps Along To Young Thug’s “Power:” Watch

Another YSL Defendant Pleas Out

Young Thug’s case has continued to generate support from the rap world at large. Meek Mill spoke confidently in his belief that Thugger will be able to beat his case. Sexyy Red also called for Thug to be freed while cracking jokes about how fans often say they look alike. She called Thug her “twin” in a post that also demanded his release.

Much of the delays in the trial have been to decide what is and isn’t admissible as evidence. Young Thug recently took a hit in that department as comments he made about a shooting on Lil Wayne’s tour bus were ruled admissible. The case also reopened a public debate about whether rap lyrics should be used against defendants in court. What do you think of 22 of the 28 YSL RICO defendants taking plea deals as Young Thug’s trial date approaches? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Young Thug Court Photo Has Fans Thinking He Put On Weight

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YSL RICO Trial: Judge Loses Patience With Prosecution Withholding Evidence

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The lawyers for the prosecution in the YSL RICO trial got an earful from the presiding judge this week. Judge Ural Glanville expressed his frustration at the prosecution “dripping and drabbing” their evidence while also expanding their witness list by “nearly two-thirds”. When the prosecution meekly replied that they would have an explanation for everything at the hearing on November 16, the judge handed down a stern warning. “It better be a damn good explanation or else I’m excluding all of it,” he warned.

Major steps were taken in the sprawling trial earlier this week as a jury was finally seated after nearly nine months of selection. The jury is composed of nine women (7 Black, 2 white) and three men (2 Black, 1 white ). Furthermore, barring any further complications from upcoming hearings, the trial is set to begin in earnest on November 27.

Read More: Lil Baby Throws Up YSL Sign While Rapping About Snitches: Watch

YSL Defendants Dropped To Six

Meanwhile, another defendant was removed from the case after accepting a plea deal. Derontae Bebee submitted a guilty plea in exchange for a 15-year sentence but with only five spent behind bars. That dropped the number of defendants who will face trial later this month down to six in total.

And yet, things remain highly controversial in the case. Two weeks ago, the prosecution submitted an error-ridden list of lyrics they intended to use as evidence in the case. The use of lyrics as admissible evidence is a hotly debated topic but is a practice still allowed in Georgia. Furthermore, it’s a practice strongly advocated for by Fulton County DA Fani Willis. “I think if you decide to admit your crimes over a beat, I’m going to use it. I’m going to continue to do that; people can continue to be angry about it. I have some legal advice: Don’t confess to crimes on rap lyrics if you do not want them used. Or at least get out of my county,” Willis told reporters in September.

Read More: Young Thug’s Comments On Lil Wayne Tour Bus Shooting Admissible In YSL RICO Trial

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YSL RICO Trial: Prosecution Submits Error-Ridden List Of Song Lyrics To Use As Evidence

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Prosecutors in the YSL RICO trial messed up big time this week as they formally submitted the full list of song lyrics they intend to use as evidence in the case. The extensive list includes misattributed lyrics, incorrect release dates, and lyrics from songs completely unrelated to YSL. In one example, one of the lyrics listed is actually from a YNW Melly song. Check out the prosecution’s full list below.

The use of lyrics as evidence is a pretty controversial topic, with several states having passed laws to restrict the practice. However, it’s considered admissible in Georgia, and something the Fulton County DA has vocally supported. “I think if you decide to admit your crimes over a beat, I’m going to use it. I’m going to continue to do that; people can continue to be angry about it. I have some legal advice: Don’t confess to crimes on rap lyrics if you do not want them used. Or at least get out of my county. I’m not targeting anyone, but you do not get to commit crimes in my county and then decide to brag on it. Which you do as a form of intimidation, and not be held responsible,” Fani Willis told reporters at the start of September.

Read More: Young Thug & YSL RICO Trial’s Jury Selection Breaks Georgia Record For Length

Young Thug Comments About Lil Wayne Shooting Ruled Admissable

However, it’s not just lyrics that are being used against the YSL defendants. Young Thug’s 2015 conversation with police about his YSL co-defendant shooting up Lil Wayne’s tour bus was ruled as admissable evidence last week. “[Young Thug] waived his Miranda rights before speaking with Detective Raissi and Agent Cunningham. His statements to them were voluntary and thus admissible. The evidence presented showed that [Young Thug] voluntarily waived his Miranda rights, despite his refusal to sign the Miranda waiver form, after [Young Thug] was read his rights. An oral waiver of Miranda is a proper waiver of such rights,” Judge Glanville said. 

Earlier this year, the YSL member who was convicted of the bus shooting, Jimmy “PeeWee” Winfrey, was arrested in Las Vegas. Winfrey had been on the run since 2022, going underground after the initial indictments against YSL were handed down. He was indicted on four charges relating to the RICO case and later extradited to Georgia from Nevada. Winfrey was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the bus shooting but was released in 2020. This was due to efforts to lower prison populations during the early days of the pandemic. Furthermore, he is expected to face re-trial and re-sentencing on the shooting charges.

Read More: Young Thug & YSL RICO Trial Prosecutors Tracked Possible Juror For Weeks: Report

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Young Thug Reportedly Wants Killer Mike, T.I., & Lyor Cohen On The Witness Stand

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If you are a hip-hop fan, you are very much aware of everything that Young Thug is going through right now. Overall, he is currently in the legal battle of his life. Back in May of last year, he was arrested on RICO charges. He stands accused of being a leader of a criminal organization that has killed numerous people. However, Thugger has denied all wrongdoing and he plans to fight these charges to the fullest extent.

The jury selection for the trial began months ago. However, it has been very difficult to find jurors who are impartial. Moreover, this is going to be a long and complicated trial, which makes the search that much more difficult. There are going to be numerous witnesses involved, and in a new report from AllHipHop, it was made clear that Thug’s legal team has a unique strategy. Essentially, big names like Killer Mike, Lyor Cohen, and even T.I. are currently on the rapper’s witness wish list.

Read More: Gunna Shows Love To Young Thug At First Post-Jail Show

Young Thug Wants To Win

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 17: Rapper Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Those of you reading this right now are probably asking yourselves why would they be included in the trial. Well, the answer is quite simple. These artists and executives have worked with Young Thug on a professional level. Overall, they would be able to speak to Thugger’s character. This could go a long way in persuading a jury about Young Thug’s potential innocence. It may not work, but his legal team is definitely trying everything they can.

Hopefully, the pace of this trial will pick up. Thug has been left in the lurch for quite some time, and it feels like the proceedings will never end. Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always keep you informed.

Read More: Young Thug’s Father “Loves” Gunna, Claims He Hasn’t Hurt Son’s RICO Case

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