Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug on Thursday agreed to change his plea to guilty on multiple gang-related charges in his long-running YSL RICO case — and as a result, he may not have to serve any more time behind bars.
The artist, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, has been in jail since his arrest in May 2022. Prosecutors say he was the leader of Young Slime Life, better known as YSL, a gang whose members committed murder and armed robbery, stole cars and trafficked drugs, among other offenses.
Young Thug, 33, pleaded guilty in Atlanta court to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges. He also entered a no contest plea to additional charges of gang activity and conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, more commonly known as the RICO Act.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker handed Young Thug a 40-year sentence, with the first five years commuted to time served, followed by 15 years of probation. If the rapper doesn’t violate his probation, the rest of his sentence will be commuted. If he does, he’ll be sent to prison for the remaining 20 years.
He was expected to be released on house arrest later on Thursday, according to ABC News.
As part of his probation, Judge Whitaker said Young Thug must stay away from the metro Atlanta area for the first 10 years, with exception for certain family events such as weddings, funerals and serious illness. However, he’ll have to return to city at least four times a year to give an anti-gang presentation at a school or organization serving kids.
He must also perform 100 hours of community service per year during his probation.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes, you know. I come from nothing and I’ve made something and I didn’t take full advantage of it. I’m sorry,” Young Thug told the judge Thursday.
“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Whitaker said.
Young Thug was charged more than two years ago, along with more than two dozen others, and accused of racketeering conspiracy. Several of his defendants have also since taken plea deals.
The case, which is still ongoing, has faced countless delays and become the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history.