ATLANTA— Rapper Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang, drug and gun charges in Atlanta on Thursday and will be released from prison, although he could be put back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.
The 33-year-old Grammy-winning artist, whose given name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, entered his pleas without reaching a deal with prosecutors after negotiations between the two sides broke down, chief prosecutor Adriane Love said. That left sentencing entirely up to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.
Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges. He also pleaded no contest to another gang charge and a extortion conspiracy charge, meaning he decided not to contest these charges but could be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.
The judge imposed a sentence of 40 years, with the first five serving in prison, but it was commuted to prison, followed by 15 years of probation. If he successfully completes that probation without any violations, another twenty years will be commuted to time served. But if he violates the conditions, he will have to serve twenty years.
Young Thug must stay away from metro Atlanta for the first 10 years of his probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illnesses of family members, the judge said.
But she also ordered him to return to the Atlanta area four times a year during his probation to give a live anti-gang, anti-gun violence presentation at a school or community organization that serves children. She said this could count toward the 100 hours of community service she assigned him each year while on probation.
He is also prohibited from associating with gang members or with the victims or other defendants in the case, with the exception of his brother and rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. He may also not promote any criminal street gang or gang activity and may not use hand gestures or terminology that promotes street gang activity.
Additional conditions include submitting to random drug screenings and not owning a weapon. But he is allowed to travel both nationally and internationally for work, even during his probationary period.
Love had outlined to the judge the evidence she would have presented to prove Young Thug’s guilt, including some of his rap lyrics. She asked the judge to sentence him to 45 years, with 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.
The rapper’s lead attorney, Brian Steel, said they “strongly disagree” with many of the statements Love made and said it was “insulting” that the state used Young Thug’s lyrics against him.
Steel said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting and concealing evidence, saying Young Thug had been “falsely accused.” Steel said he told his client he thought they were winning the trial and should move on to a jury verdict.
“But he said to me, ‘I can’t wait another three months if there’s any chance I could go home because I have children who are in pain.’ I have things to do,” Steel said.
Steel asked the judge to impose a 45-year sentence, with five prison sentences commuted to prison and 40 years’ probation.
Young Thug asked the judge to let him go home, saying he wouldn’t be put in a similar situation again.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes, you know. I came from nothing and I created something and I didn’t take full advantage of it. I’m sorry,’ he said.
The judge said she appreciated him realizing the impact he has on people around the world. She said rap music involves a lot of posturing, but children mimic some of the dangerous behavior mentioned in songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage children to do good.
“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Whitaker said.
Young Thug, a hugely successful rapper, started his own record label, Young Stoner Life or YSL. Prosecutors have said he also co-founded a violent criminal street gang and that YSL stands for Young Slime Life, the gang’s name.
He was charged with sprawl two years ago indictment He accuses him and more than twenty other people of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law (RICO). He was also charged with gang, drug and gun crimes.
The rapper entered his plea nearly a year after prosecutors began presenting evidence. Since then, the high-profile trial has suffered several interruptions and delays, including the online leak of a juror’s identitystabbing of a suspect in the Fulton County Jail and multiple changes in the judge overseeing the trial. The trial of six defendants began last November with opening statements, and prosecutors have since called dozens of witnesses.
With his pleas, Williams joins three co-defendants who pleaded guilty this week after reaching agreements with prosecutors. The fate of two other co-suspects remains undecided.
Nine people charged in the indictment accepted plea deals before the trial began. Twelve others are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against one suspect after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.
Born in Atlanta, Young Thug began his hip-hop career in 2010. Known for the hits “Best Friend” and “Floyd Mayweather,” Young Thug helped take the Atlanta rap scene to the next level when he earned Grammy nominations and MTV Video Music Awards collected and performed at high-profile events including the BET Awards and the Coachella music festival.
Despite being imprisoned in Georgia since his 2022 arrest, Young Thug has continued to release music, including 2023’s album “Business Is Business” and recent songs with rap artists Ye (formerly Kanye West), Ty Dolla Sign and 21 Savage.
Brumback writes for the Associated Press. Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.