Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty after a two-year legal battle

According to US media reports, Atlanta rapper Young Thug has pleaded guilty to street gang activity as well as drug and weapons possession. A surprising turn of events that could end the long-running trial against the musician.

The 33-year-old rapper, known as Jeffery Lamar Williams, was arrested in May 2022 on racketeering and gang-related charges and has been in prison ever since.

Prosecutors allege that Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records, the rap label founded by Mr. Williams, is the front for an organized crime syndicate and that YSL stands for Young Slime Life.

The Grammy-winning artist has sold more than 2.5 million albums and has been hailed as “the most influential rapper of the 21st century“.

The case is believed to be the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia state history.

Prosecutors had originally sought up to 120 years in prison for Mr. Williams before reportedly reaching a deal that still requires a judge's approval.

As part of the agreement, the singer pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges.

He also entered a no contest plea to charges of leading a criminal street gang and conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act, meaning he chose not to contest those charges and accepted punishment for them.

Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker will now decide the sentence.

The public prosecutor's office is planning a prison sentence of 45 years, including 25 in custody and 20 on probation.

Three of Mr. Williams' co-defendants in the case entered plea agreements earlier this week.

In 2022, Georgia prosecutors used the Rico Act – famously used in Mafia trials – against Mr. Williams and 27 associates believed to have been involved in YSL.

Prosecutors said the gang committed nearly 200 different “overt” crimes as part of the criminal conspiracy. They also claimed that gang feuds between the YSL and other groups led to over 50 acts of violence on the streets of Atlanta after 2015.

While jury selection for the trial began in January 2023, it took until November of that year for opening statements to begin.

By then only six co-defendants remained, including Mr. Williams.

In July this year The trial was suspended indefinitelyy after Mr Williams' lawyers asked a former judge to recuse himself amid allegations of misconduct.

The lawyers said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “improper” meeting on June 10 in which he met privately with prosecutors and a key witness.

They claimed Judge Glanville tried to pressure the witness to testify and lawyers urged him to withdraw, requests the judge rejected.

Brian Steel, Mr Williams' lead lawyer, was also found in contempt in June this year after he refused to reveal how he found out about the meeting.

The trial also featured a number of unusual incidents, including the arrest of a Fulton County deputy for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband to a defendant.

In another case, the court's Zoom account was hacked by someone screaming “Free Thug!”

The remaining two defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, reportedly plan to move forward with trials.