ysl rico Archives - Page 8 of 16

YSL RICO Defendant Derontae Bebee Agrees To Plea Deal

November 8, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

Another YSL Defendant Pleas Out

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

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.

[Via]

The post YSL RICO Defendant Derontae Bebee Agrees To Plea Deal appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YSL RICO Trial: Judge Loses Patience With Prosecution Withholding Evidence

November 5, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

YSL Defendants Dropped To Six

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

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.

[via]

The post YSL RICO Trial: Judge Loses Patience With Prosecution Withholding Evidence appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

October 29, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

Young Thug Comments About Lil Wayne Shooting Ruled Admissable

Note – The state has made some mistakes, such as attributing lyrics to the wrong song, putting incorrect release dates, or even listing lyrics belonging to rappers that aren’t in the YSL RICO case, such as YNW Melly. pic.twitter.com/k2IFkH0fgz

— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) October 27, 2023

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.

[via]

The post YSL RICO Trial: Prosecution Submits Error-Ridden List Of Song Lyrics To Use As Evidence appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

October 16, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

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.

[Via]

The post Young Thug Reportedly Wants Killer Mike, T.I., & Lyor Cohen On The Witness Stand appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Young Thug’s First Felony Conviction Came From Current YSL Attorney

September 17, 2023 by newhiphopnews

YSL defense attorney Suri Chadha Jimenez has claimed he gave Young Thug his first-ever felony charge. According to Jimenez, who was speaking on the nuances of the current RICO case, he prosecuted Thug on a weapons charge back in 2014. Jimenez began his career as a prosecutor before going on to set up his own law firm as a defense attorney. Furthermore, Jimenez’s name has popped up throughout the trial as the attorney has gotten something of his own spotlight.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in Georgia successfully lobbied for the resumption of the larger YSL trial. Thug and seven other defendants are facing a litany of charges relating to the group’s operations in Atlanta. However, it has been a long and tortured process. Despite the trial starting in January, jury selection is currently ongoing. It is unclear when the trial proper will actually begin. Meanwhile, things were complicated further when Fulton County also indicted Donald Trump and over a dozen associates on charges relating to his interference in the 2020 election.

Read More: Young Thug demands speedy trial

Gunna Says “Free Thug” At First Concert

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Jumper (@nojumper)

Elsewhere in the sprawling YSL trial, Gunna made comments about his YSL peer at his first concert since being released from jail last year. Performing at the Barclay Center last weekend, Gunna opened the show with a large “Free Jeffery” sign lit up. Young Thug’s legal name is Jeffrey Williams Jr. While Gunna released his first post-jail album, A Gift & a Curse, earlier this year, he hadn’t yet performed live. That all changed with an electric concert in front of a sold-out crowd in New York.

While many fans were over the moon to see Gunna return to the stage, not everyone was happy. Gunna is still carrying a lot of stigma over the plea deal he took in the YSL RICO case. Gunna’s December 2022 jail release came after he took a plea deal and acknowledged that YSL was a criminal gang. Furthermore, Gunna’s sentence would be completely terminated after completing community service. This has led many to label Gunna a rat and a coward. These people believe that he sold out Thug and the other members of YSL.

[via]

The post Young Thug’s First Felony Conviction Came From Current YSL Attorney appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YSL RICO Trial To Resume Following YSL Polo Conviction

September 7, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

YSL Polo Convicted Of Second Murder

YSL Polo convicted of on-camera shooting https://t.co/aaxpUpIbsL

— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) September 7, 2023

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.

[Via]

The post YSL RICO Trial To Resume Following YSL Polo Conviction appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

September 5, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Spending the past year and a half in jail has been trying on Young Thug’s mental health, but it’s also left a hole in the life of his girlfriend, Mariah the Scientist. The pair began spending time together romantically just months before he was arrested on RICO charges, and the YSL leader has done his best to make sure she can feel his love through the distance. Seeing as she’s a rising R&B star in her own right, Mariah likely has plenty of suitors sliding into her DMs. However, in a recent interview, the Atlanta native confirmed that she’s holding out for Thugger’s release, no matter how long it takes.

“What would you say to people who had something to say about you saying, ‘Free my baby daddy,’ or ‘Free Thug!’”? the journalist speaking with the “Church” artist asked. “I feel like, and this is in all honesty, there is nobody on planet Earth that can get between me and supporting my man,” The Scientist confidently responded. “I’m sorry, it’s just not gonna happen,” she assured any doubters out there.

Mariah the Scientist Gives An Update on Her Situation with Young Thug

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

Mariah then called out people on the internet for making assumptions about her and Thug, among other things, and being judgemental. “They have a lot to say, but I’m sorry to hear that you don’t understand what I got going on,” the 25-year-old continued to clap back at haters. “Maybe one day you will, but the odds are you won’t. I don’t feel the need to explain and express to somebody the love I have for somebody else… It’s not gonna change what I have going on, what people have to say.”

Unfortunately for Young Thug and Mariah the Scientist’s love life, it doesn’t look as though the So Much Fun hitmaker will be freed from jail anytime soon. Lawyers are still struggling to find the right candidates to sit on a jury, and amid that search, they’re also seeking to have YSL Polo removed from the trial due to his erratic behaviour. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

[Via]

The post Mariah The Scientist Shows No Signs Of Straying From Young Thug As Rapper Remains Behind Bars appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

YSL RICO Co-Defendants Remain Behind Bars As Trial Placed On Hold Until End Of The Month

August 25, 2023 by newhiphopnews

When Young Thug was first arrested in 2022, it’s unlikely he thought he’d remain behind bars over a year later. Unfortunately for the So Much Fun hitmaker, things have been moving slower than expected in the YSL RICO trial. While Gunna and others regained their freedom after taking a plea deal, Thugger has been denied bond four times now. The jury selection process began months ago. As HipHopDX reports, officials have yet to seat even one of 12 members. This is in part due to the rapper’s well-known presence in Georgia.

On Thursday (August 24), Law & Crime Network confirmed that there will be a halt in the YSL RICO hearings and proceedings until the end of the month. “Defendant Cordarius Dorsey is currently on trial for murder in an unrelated case in front of another judge,” Cathy Russon reported via Twitter. “Therefore, no more activities will happen until that case has concluded,” she added, along with an expected return date of August 31. In Russon’s accompanying video, Thug makes an appearance in the courtroom, looking crisp in a white sweater and sneakers. He briefly stops to speak with his legal team before taking a seat.

Young Thug Appears in Court for YSL RICO Update

No more #YSL hearings/jury selection until Aug. 31. Defendant Cordarius Dorsey is currently on trial for murder in an unrelated case in front of another judge. Therefore, no more activities will happen until that case has concluded. #YoungThug (video of Williams entering court… pic.twitter.com/EBplAgEoBh

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) August 24, 2023

Regardless of the time things are taking, the 32-year-old continues to move forward with confidence and optimism that he’ll soon be reunited with his friends and family. Countless other rappers have been doing their part to support the multi-talent as he’s stuck in jail. Drake is among those doing the most lately. From providing two features for Thug’s BUSINESS IS BUSINESS album to wearing a hoodie dedicated to his frequent collaborator, his love is obvious.

Elsewhere, it was recently reported that Young Thug and his co-defendants could be in some hot water. Apparently, they’ve been creating security issues for officers while awaiting their fate in jail. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

[Via]

The post YSL RICO Co-Defendants Remain Behind Bars As Trial Placed On Hold Until End Of The Month appeared first on HotNewHipHop.