Rapper Young Thug pled guilty on Thursday to gang, drug, and gun charges.
The 33-year-old Grammy-winning performer, real name Jeffery Williams, filed his pleas without striking an agreement with prosecutors after negotiations between the two sides failed, according to lead prosecutor Adriane Love. This leaves the sentencing entirely up to the judge.
Young Thug has pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug counts, and two gun charges. He then entered a no guilty plea to another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, indicating that he chose not to contest the allegations and accepted punishment for them.
Before deciding on a sentence, the judge heard testimony from Love and his defense attorney, Brian Steel.
Young Thug, a hugely popular rapper, founded his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL. Prosecutors claim he also co-founded a violent criminal street gang called YSL, which stands for Young Slime Life.
He was charged two years ago in a massive indictment accusing him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering laws. He was also accused with gang, drug, and firearms offenses.
Young Thug’s plea comes nearly a year after the prosecution began presenting evidence in the contentious trial. Jury selection at the Atlanta courts began in January 2023 and lasted approximately ten months. The trial of six defendants began with opening statements in November, and prosecutors have since called scores of witnesses.
Three of his co-defendants pled guilty last week after striking an agreement with prosecutors. The pleas left the fates of two other co-defendants unresolved.
Before the trial began, nine of the defendants named in the indictment agreed to plea deals. Twelve others are on trial separately. Prosecutors dismissed charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in a separate case.