News Scrap

Young Thug, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, agreed Thursday to change his plea to guilty in Georgia’s long-running criminal trial. If approved by the judge, this agreement could bring his part in the case to a close.

The change came after Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker asked Young Thug if he would accept a non-negotiated plea, meaning no formal sentencing deal was reached with prosecutors, leaving the final decision on his sentence to the judge. Following a brief recess, Young Thug, 33, confirmed his decision to change his plea.

Indicted in 2022, Young Thug faced charges related to his alleged involvement with Young Slime Life (YSL), a group accused of committing violent acts and other crimes. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis invoked Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, asserting that YSL operates as a gang with ties to the national Bloods network. Originally, the case included 27 co-defendants, though many have since taken plea deals or been granted separate trials.

Since January 2023, the trial has experienced significant delays due to defendants’ plea agreements and separate proceedings. Three co-defendants—Quamarvious Nichols, 29; Marquavius Huey, 28; and Rodalius Ryan, 18—recently accepted plea deals, receiving sentences with probation and time served for racketeering conspiracy, though Ryan remains in prison on an unrelated life sentence.

It’s unclear if the two remaining co-defendants, Deamonte Kendrick and Shannon Stillwell, are considering plea deals or will continue with the trial.

The case has faced interruptions and unusual incidents, including courtroom exchanges, a court deputy allegedly smuggling contraband, and a hacking of the court’s Zoom call. Earlier this year, the original judge was recused after a misconduct complaint.