ysl trial

Young Thug’s Attorney Brian Steel Will Represent Former DA Accused Of Interfering In Ahmaud Arbery Investigation

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Late last month, Young Thug was finally released from prison following a long and difficult trial. The rapper accepted a plea deal and will spend the next 15 years on probation. He was also ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines and must abide by various release conditions. This includes not communicating with any alleged gang members of YSL affiliates, aside from his brother and Gunna.

Young Thug’s fans and peers are thrilled to see him back at home, and immediately after his release, sang the praises of his attorney Brian Steel. “As far as Jeffery is feeling now, he knows my feelings, which I am not going to reveal for attorney-client privilege. But, this is not the same as a not guilty verdict,” Steel told reporters outside of the courthouse.

Read More: Young Thug & His Lawyer Brian Steel Speak To Emory University Law Students

Brian Steel To Represent Jackie Johnson

“Nobody here wakes up every day on a concrete floor that they’re calling his bed, at 4:15. He gets shackled at his feet, his waist, and his hands, comes to the Fulton County courthouse to be on concrete, eating out of a bag, and then coming to the courthouse to sit there with a leg chain every single day, and hear lie after lie. So for Jeffery to go home today, and not have another 90 days, 120 days of it [the trial], he is very happy,” he continued.

Now, however, Steel has moved on and will now be representing a new client. This client is former Georgia district attorney Jackie Johnson, who’s accused of interfering in the investigation of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. Arbery was a 25-year-old Black man who was fatally shot after being followed by three white men while jogging. The three men were later convicted of murder as well as federal hate crimes. Johnson’s trial for alleged criminal misconduct is scheduled to begin in early 2025, according to the Associated Press.

Read More: Young Thug’s Lawyer Brian Steel Reacts To Trial Outcome

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Alleged YSL Member Stabs YFN Lucci In Prison In New Clip From YSL Trial

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Although Young Thug is now a free man and YFN Lucci could soon be free as well, the YSL RICO trial continues with other codefendants. The reason why we mention Lucci’s case is because of a new piece of video evidence that surfaced during YSL trial proceedings. For those unaware, he was stabbed by an alleged YSL member, Jayden Myrick (also known as YSL Tripp), in March of 2022 – per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution – before the YSL RICO indictment or arrests had even arrived. This is notable due to the purported feud between both groups. In fact, this incident reportedly contributed heavily to how prosecutors built that case.

Now, prosecutors shared the footage of the YFN Lucci stabbing during the YSL RICO trial on Tuesday (November 5). This was during the testimony of Aaron Wolford, the retired head of Fulton County Jail’s security (the prison where Lucci was stabbed), according to journalist Meghann Cuniff. It was the 156th day in the case with two remaining defendants: Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, also known as Yak Gotti. Prosecutors claim that this supports the notion that YSL members carried out criminal acts on behalf of the collective. Also, they allege that this stabbing resulted in the retaliatory murder of Shymel Drinks, per Cuniff. You can watch footage of the trial below, but viewer discretion is advised.

Read More: YSL Woody Says He Has “No Fear” Now That Young Thug Is Free

YSL Trial Sees Footage Of Alleged Member Stabbing YFN Lucci

Furthermore, it’s important to make note of Jayden Myrick, the alleged YSL member who stabbed YFN Lucci. The court ordered him to undergo a mental evaluation after he claimed that Donald Trump offered him legal advice. Nevertheless, we still don’t know how else there could be overlap between Lucci and YSL’s situations. As for the former, a recently reported parole update indicates that he could be out of jail by January of next year.

As for the rest of the YSL trial, a juror recently vowed to oppose the prosecution due to the case’s lengthy nature. That remains one of the most controversial parts of this whole legal process, but evidence continues to emerge. We still don’t know the timeline for the two remaining codefendants. But YFN Lucci could at least go home soon, if reports are accurate.

Read More: YFN Lucci Shooting Footage Revealed As He Vies For Early Release

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Young Thug Requested A Probation Exemption To Allow Contact With Gunna

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All those folks who spent the past couple of years calling Gunna a snitch and saying he sold out Young Thug will need to clean some egg off their faces. As part of his plea deal to secure his release, Thugger specifically asked Judge Paige Reece Whitaker to make an exception to his probation stipulation barring contact with his racketeering co-defendants: Gunna. While noting that Gunna is signed to Thug’s label, YSL Records, Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, also reminded the court that the two frequently perform together. Thug also requested an exception for his brother Quantavious Grier, also known as Unfoonk, who is serving a nine-year sentence after accepting a plea deal of his own.

It was the plea deal accepted by Gunna that prompted suspicions that the younger rapper had “turned rat” on his mentor, with former collaborators like Lil Baby and Lil Durk deeming Gunna a snitch. Gunna addressed such accusations on his 2023 album A Gift & A Curse, while Young Thug’s father stood up for his son’s protégé, asserting that nothing he could say would harm Thug’s defense anyway. Thug’s request suggests that the two rappers are still on good terms — meaning that a follow-up to “Surf,” “Ski,” and “Pushin P” could be on the way soon.

Mariah The Scientist Called Young Thug’s Impending Release ‘More Than What We Prayed For’

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Young Thug is soon to be a free man after more than two years in jail. The Atlanta trap mainstay has accepted a plea deal that will ensure his release, pleading no contest to charges of racketeering and other crimes. He has been sentenced to 15 years of probation.

R&B singer Mariah The Scientist, Thug’s girlfriend, reacted to the news in a text to WSBTV’s Michael Seiden, who contacted her for comment. She replied:

“Thank you God, thank you God. This is more than what we prayed for. We are so grateful, this is the greatest opportunity we’ve ever been presented with and we are so grateful. Thank you Judge Paige Whitaker for giving us the opportunity to move forward with our life! Thank you God. Thank you Brian Steel and Keith Adams and every attorney working on this case, tireless. THANK YOU! I cannot say it enough, I cannot repay you for this. You have changed our lives, Jeffery’s life and mine. Thank you to everyone who has been there for us, every fan, who believed in us and prayed for us.”

Thug’s trial was the longest in Georgia history — and possibly, its most dramatic. Over the course of the past year, the case went through three judges, a criminal contempt charge for Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel, and a slew of delays. It also met enormous backlash for using lyrics as evidence in what some observers called a racist application of Georgia’s racketeering law.

Young Thug Has Pled Guilty To Racketeering In Exchange For His Release

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Young Thug will at last be released from custody after accepting a plea deal in his racketeering case. According to Billboard, Thug agreed to plead “no contest” to racketeering and pled guilty to possession of drugs and firearms, and was sentenced to 15 years probation. He will serve no prison time; he was jailed for over two years as his trial dragged on, becoming the longest in Georgia state history.

Thug opted for a non-negotiated guilty plea after several days of closed-door negotiations with prosecutors. This allowed Judge Paige Reese Whitaker to determine the sentence herself after she found herself losing patience with the prosecutions’ antics. The trial, which didn’t even start in earnest until earlier this year, would have called nearly a hundred witnesses, and with just the first handful necessitating days of delays, stalled testimonies, secret ex parte meetings, a criminal contempt charge against the defense (since rescinded), and not just one, but two judges’ recusals, it’s probably fair to say that all parties involved were ready to get this thing over with.

The trial had already drawn heavy backlash for its application of Georgia’s state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and use of lyrics as evidence, which some observers criticized for racist motivations. Meanwhile, prosecutors wanted Thug sentenced to 25 years in prison, with another 20 on probation, accusing him of leading a criminal organization responsible for a wave of violent crime in the Atlanta area. The District Attorney’s office alleged that Thug’s record label, Young Stoner Life (YSL), was secretly a front for a street gang, Young Slime Life, with a list of violations including murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, and distribution of drugs.

Several other co-defendants, including YSL rapper Yak Gotti, declined the plea deal, however; they will continue to stand trial for crimes including the alleged 2015 murder of a supposed rival gang leader, Donovan Thomas.

Young Thug Trial: Co-Defendant Takes Plea Deal

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The controversial Young Thug trial continued today and one of the co-defendants took a plea deal. Quamarvious Nichola, otherwise known as Qua, has decided to take a plea. This decision comes after days of negotiations with Fani Willis and the prosecution. Overall, this is a massive development in the trial. Throughout the last few days, there have been speculations about a potential mistrial and perhaps pleas from every single defendant. However, it appears as though Nichols is the only one getting a plea today.

The Young Thug Trial Continues

More details to come.

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Lil Durk’s Former Artist SlimeLife Shawty Admits He Previously Treated YSL Like An Alleged Gang

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The YSL RICO trial continues, and today, Lil Durk’s former artist SlimeLife Shawty took the stand. The rapper was asked whether or not YSL is a gang, which prompted him to allege that some people treat it like one. He then alleged that he himself had previously treated it that way.

“Some people treat it like [a gang],” he alleged. From there, SlimeLife Shawty was asked how he in particular treats YSL. “I treated it [as a gang] before,” the artist alleged. As for when he stopped treating it like an alleged gang, he said he couldn’t remember. He was also unable to explain what exactly he meant by treating YSL like an alleged gang. “I don’t know, I never thought about that,” he said.

Read More: FBG Duck’s Mother Blasts Lil Durk For Concert Tribute Amidst Legal Drama

SlimeLife Shawty Takes The Stand

Later on, SlimeLife Shawty was asked how old he was when he joined YSL the alleged “gang.” At that point, he described how his music began to grow in popularity. This is far from the only notable thing to happen in the YSL trial today, however. At one point, SlimeLife Shawty read a “Free Qua” hashtag aloud in the courtroom, which had been redacted on the screen but not on the paper he was reading from. As a result, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker is reportedly considering a mistrial, according to Meghann Cuniff.

“I am sorry y’all have this gigantic, ginormous, universe of evidence that, maybe if you narrowed down, you wouldn’t be making these kinds of mistakes. But, I believe that to be a mistake. So, I’m gonna deny a motion for a mistrial with prejudice… would you like a mistrial without evidence?” she asked in court. What do you think of Lil Durk’s former artist SlimeLife Shawty’s recent testimony in the YSL RICO trial? What about him admitting that he previously treated YSL like an alleged gang? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Three Teens Shot While Heading To Lil Durk Concert In Robbery Gone Awry

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Young Thug’s Attorney Brian Steel Is Off The Hook For Criminal Contempt Of Court

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Georgia’s Supreme Court has reversed the criminal contempt of court ruling against Brian Steel, Young Thug’s defense attorney. According to Billboard, after reviewing the June ruling by Judge Ural Glanville, the Supreme Court ruled that Glanville should have recused himself and let another judge determine whether Steel was actually in contempt.

Glanville ordered Steel to 20 days in jail after the attorney refused to disclose how he found out about a secret meeting between the judge and prosecutors. The move sparked an immediate appeal and an outcry from lawyers across the internet once the news broke. Widespread calls for Glanville’s removal from the case were eventually granted, and the case has since proceeded with a new judge, who was none too impressed with the state’s handling of evidence and testimony.

Steel had protested Glanville’s “ex parte” meeting with prosecutors and witness Kenneth Copeland, asking for transcripts of the meeting during the June session. The judge instead demanded to know how Steel came by the information, and after Steel refused, Glanville sentenced him to 20 days in jail to be served on 10 consecutive weekends. Steel accepted the terms asking to be held with his client Thug so they could work on the case. Steele’s appeal put a stay on the sentence, and now that the Supreme Court has reversed Glanville’s ruling, he’s officially off the hook.

The trial has become the longest in Georgia state history. Young Thug is charged with racketeering, with prosecutors accusing him of being the head of a criminal organization disguised as a record label.

Mariah The Scientist Reveals “Devastating” Reason She Couldn’t Visit Young Thug On Their Anniversary

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Mariah The Scientist says she’s feeling “devastated” and “sad,” after being unable to visit with Young Thug to celebrate their three-year anniversary. Speaking with her followers on Instagram Live, she explained that the jail where authorities are holding the rapper told her their systems were down. She had driven all the way to the facility in hopes of speaking with Thug.

“It’s my three-year anniversary with Jeff. I done drove all the way to the motherf–king jail. The jail is 30 minutes from the city, first of all,” she began. “I done drove all the way to the jail and stopped at Party City in between so I could tape up my little ‘Happy Anniversary’ sign in the back because there’s not much space. It’s through a screen, by the way.”

Read More: Young Thug Seemingly Calls Mariah The Scientist Mid-Interview, But Fans Are Skeptical

Mariah The Scientist Performs During ESSENCE Girls United Summit

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 11: Mariah The Scientist performs onstage during the 2023 ESSENCE Girls United (GU) Summit on November 11, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

She continued: “I done drove all the way to the motherf–king jail with my ‘Happy Anniversary’ sign and my Scotch tape and get inside for them to say, ‘The system is down.’ I’m devastated. I’m looking cute. I put this ponytail in my head. I done did all this s–t and I can’t see my man on my anniversary and I am sad, devastated. That is so crazy … I had to let you in on my trials and tribulations. It’s always some s–t, huh?”

Mariah The Scientist Attempts To Visit Young Thug

Thug remains behind bars as the long-running YSL RICO trial continues to be the longest in the history of Georgia. The Atlanta rapper has been in jail since May 2022. Check out Mariah’s recent comments on Instagram Live below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Mariah The Scientist and Young Thug on HotNewHipHop.

 
 
 
 
 
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Read More: Mariah The Scientist Pleads Not Guilty To Battery After Alleged Club Fight

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Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial: An Update On Everything That’s Happened So Far In The Trial (Update For October 2024)

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The racketeering trial against Young Thug has slogged into its 140th day, and while not much of note has happened for the past 9 months since the last update, in the past month or so, there have been enough updates to fill a new primer. So, here’s everything that’s happened so far in the trial.

What Is Young Thug Charged With In The YSL RICO Trial?

Young Thug is accused of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The state argues that Young Stoner Life, Thug’s label, is actually a cover for Young Slime Life, a violent street gang responsible for assault, dealing drugs, and murder in the Atlanta area. Thug was also charged with possession of illegal firearms and possession of drugs with intent to distribute after a raid on his home.

What Are The Updates In Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial?

In June, Young Thug’s defense attorney, Brian Steel, was charged with criminal contempt of court and taken into custody after refusing to tell Judge Ural Glanville how he found out about a meeting between the judge and the prosecution that took place without the defense present.

The resulting kerfuffle led to a number of attorneys in Georgia banding together to petition for a mistrial while helping Steel prepare his appeal. The uproar prompted a recusal hearing on July 1, resulting in Glanville being removed from the trial. His immediate replacement, Shukura Ingram, also recused herself, citing a situation in which her court deputy was discovered to have had an inappropriate relationship with one of the defendants in the case. She was replaced by Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.

This turned out to be a setback for the prosecution, as on September 30, Whitaker criticized Chief Assistant District Attorney Adriane Love for her handling of the case so far. Whitaker chastised the prosecutor for “hiding the ball” and “throwing this case together as you try it.” While Whitaker did not grant a mistrial — the latest round of motions for mistrial in the longest trial in Georgia history — it’s clear that even the court itself is beginning to lose patience with the case.

That’s where things stand as of this writing. The trial is still expected to continue into 2025, with more than 100 witnesses yet to testify.