US rapper Young Thug comot from jail Thursday evening after e plead guilty to gang, drug and gun charges, for one dramatic twist wey end di longest criminal trial in Georgia history.
Di 33-year-old Grammy winner, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, don spend more than 900 days behind bars since im arrest on racketeering and gang-related charges.
Na for May 2022, prosecutors allege say di rap label im found bin dey front for one organised crime syndicate wey dey responsible for “75 to 80% of violent crime” inside Atlanta.
E bin dey sentenced on Thursday to time served and 15 years of probation, and jail records show say dem release am later dat night.
“I take full responsibility for my crimes, for my charges,” Mr Williams tell di court.
“To really evribodi wey get sometin to do with dis situation, I wan to say sorry.”
Inside a five-minute speech, im describe imself as “a good guy with a good heart” wey find imself “in a lot of stuff becos I bin dey just nice or cool”.
“And I understand say you no fit be dat way wen you reach a certain height becos e fit end bad… and e fit fall on you.”
Prosecutors bin plan to recommend a sentence of 45 years, including 25 in custody and 20 on probation.
But di plea negotiations bin dey unsuccessful, and Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker instead choose im punishment, commuting im sentence to di time im don already serve, wey come pave di way for im release.
“I want you to try to be more of di solution and less of di problem,” Judge Whitaker tell am.
As part of di deal, Mr Williams plead guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.
Im also enter a no-contest plea to leading a gang and violating di state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act, meaning say im decide not to contest those charges and accept punishment for dem.
Judge Whitaker additionally stipulate 100 hours of community service, a ban on contact with gang members or former co-defendants, and a prohibition from remaining in di metropolitan Atlanta area for di first 10 years of im 15-year probation period except under special circumstances – including weddings, funerals and di anti-gang and anti-gun presentations im dey required to host four times a year.
Thursday change of plea bring an end to a multi-defendant case wey bin get multiple delays, courtroom disturbances and motions for mistrial.
Why Young Thug bin dey jail?
Prosecutors accuse di Atlanta rapper of co-founding a violent street gang for im hometown, dem hit am with racketeering charges.
Wen di man known to im fans as “Thugger” bin dey arrested for May 2022, Georgia prosecutors use di Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act – wey dem dey famously use for mafia prosecutions – to charge di rapper and 27 associates for im rap label – Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records – with conspiracy to violate di Rico Act, wey dem dey famously use for mafia prosecutions
Mr Williams bin also dey charged with gang, drug and gun crimes and bin dey stand trial with five of di others wey dey indicted with am.
Arguing say YSL in fact stand for a criminal gang called Young Slime Life, dem tie di men – including fellow rap superstar Gunna – to several felony offences, including murder, armed robbery and carjacking for di streets of Atlanta.
But di indictment cause plenty talk over prosecutors use of YSL rap lyrics as evidence of di gang actions and criminal intent. Critics argue say di charges violate di rappers’ freedom of speech and na part of a growing assault on a black-dominated art form.
Several of Mr Williams co-defendants take plea deals or get dia cases cut-off, and one even get im charges dropped after one unrelated murder conviction – and, by di time di trial begin, only six defendants remain.
Jury selection begin for January 2023 and last nearly 10 months.
For July dis year, dem put di trial on hold indefinitely after Mr Williams lawyers ask a previous judge to recuse imself over misconduct allegations.
Di lawyers say Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville bin hold “improper” meeting on 10 June wen im meet privately with prosecutors and a key witness.
Dem claim say Judge Glanville try to pressure di witness into testifying and di lawyers press am to recuse imself, motions wey di judge don deny.
Dem also find Mr Williams lead attorney, Brian Steel, in criminal contempt for June dis year after refusing to reveal how e get to know about di meeting.
Di trial also record several unusual incidents, including di arrest of one Fulton County deputy for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband to a defendant.
For anoda instance, di court Zoom account bin dey hacked into by a supporter of Mr Williams wey come shout “free Thug!”.
Earlier dis week, three of Mr Williams co-defendants for di case take plea deals.
Di remaining two defendants in di case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, reportedly dey plan to move ahead with dia trials.
