Atlanta rapper Young Thug has pleaded guilty to street gang activity, drug and gun charges, a surprise twist that could bring the musician’s long-running trial to an end, US media report.
The 33-year-old rapper, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, was arrested in May 2022 on racketeering and gang-related charges and has been in jail since.
Prosecutors allege that Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records, the rap label Mr Williams founded, is the front for an organised crime syndicate and that YSL stands for Young Slime Life.
The Grammy winning artist has sold more than 2.5 million albums and been hailed as “the 21st century’s most influential rapper“.
The case is believed to be the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia state history.
Prosecutors had originally asked for up to 120 years in prison for Mr Williams before an agreement was reportedly reached, which still needs approval from a judge.
As part of the deal, the singer pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.
He also entered a no contest plea to leading a criminal street gang and conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act, meaning that he decided not to contest those charges and accepts punishment for them.
Superior Court judge Paige Whitaker will now decide his punishment.
Prosecutors plan to recommend a sentence of 45 years, including 25 in custody and 20 on probation.
Three of Mr Williams’s co-defendants in the case took plea deals earlier this week.
In 2022, Georgia prosecutors used the Rico Act – famously used in mafia trials – against Mr Williams and 27 associates believed to have been involved in YSL.
Prosecutors said that the gang committed nearly 200 separate “overt” criminal acts as part of the criminal conspiracy. They also alleged that gang feuds between the YSL and other groups led to over 50 incidents of violence on the streets of Atlanta after 2015.
While jury selection in the trial began in January 2023, it was not until November of that year that opening statements began.
By then, only six co-defendants remained, including Mr Williams.
In July this year, the trial was put on hold indefinitely after Mr Williams’s lawyers asked a previous judge to recuse himself over misconduct allegations.
The lawyers said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “improper” meeting on 10 June when he met privately with prosecutors and a key witness.
They claimed Judge Glanville sought to pressure the witness into testifying and the lawyers pressed him to recuse himself, motions which the judge had denied.
Mr Williams’ lead attorney, Brian Steel, was also found in criminal contempt in June this year after refusing to reveal how he got to know about the meeting.
The trial also saw a number of unusual incidents, including the arrest of a Fulton County deputy for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband to a defendant.
In another instance, the court’s Zoom account was hacked into by someone who yelled “free Thug!”.
The remaining two defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, reportedly plan to move ahead with trials.
