An observably uncomfortable Young Thug, 30, appeared in court on Tuesday in a blue prison suit and orange slides to meet with the judge via Zoom. The judge did not immediately grant him bail, but is allowing his attorney to submit a motion for a bond. Thugga is being charged with two counts, while his YSL cohorts are facing various other charges.
Young Thug, born Jeffrey Williams Jr., YSL associates, DK (Walter Murphy), Tick (Trontavious Stephens), and several others, were arrested Monday on a RICO charge, the conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act as a street gang operative. The “Hercules” rap icon was detained by Atlanta police at his Buckhead mansion on the strength of an 88-page, 56-count indictment that accuses YSL members of at least three murders, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and a number of other offenses.
Fani Willis, Fulton County’s first Black female District Attorney who made a name for herself when she prosecuted Atlanta public school teachers for manipulating standardized tests to gain more student resources, has made it a point to pursue the YSL case. Under her supervision, the Atlanta Police Department has been investigating the organization for 15 months, even keeping tabs on the group’s rap lyrics for clues into cases.
“This indictment is significant because it targets 28 people who decided to become involved in a criminal street gang and really do havoc in our community,” Willis told local Atlanta news station WSB-TV.
Young Thug is being accused of being one of the founders of the street gang YSL, an acronym for Young Slime Life or Young Stoner Life, a name shared by his record label. Indictment documents state that YSL “started in late 2012 in the Cleveland Avenue area of Atlanta, Georgia.”
“It is a hybrid gang that operates here in Atlanta and is an affiliate of the Blood gang,” Willis alleges. “I am upset by the influence that all of these older men’s conduct have on children.”
According to Willis, 80% of Atlanta’s violence has resonated from YSL and multiple gangs since 2015. She alleges that at least 50 people have been killed in retaliatory incidents, including Young Thug’s ex-girlfriend and mother to his children, LaKevia Johnson, who died after an alleged argument over a bowling ball at Atlanta’s Metro Fun Center on March 17.
Young Thug is being accused of renting a vehicle used in the murder of rival gang member Donovan Thomas Jr., orchestrating the shooting of rapper Lil Wayne’s tour bus in 2015, and an ongoing violent rivalry with fellow Atlanta artist YFN Lucci, that led to him being stabbed while currently serving time in jail.
Young Thug’s father believes his son is innocent and is taking the fall for the actions of others.
“I think my son has been unfairly linked to a lot of things,” Jeffrey Williams, Sr. said. “But, you know, it’s up to us to prove it. I’m [going] to fight for him until the end. I’m his father. That’s what I do.”
YSL label mate Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, is being charged with one RICO count, accused of drug possession with the intent to distribute and accepting stolen property. He has yet to turn himself in to police at the time of this report.
Willis says that it could take up to two weeks for all involved to be arrested. Meanwhile, she plans to lead the charge for cleaning up the City of Atlanta through many more RICO charges targeting gangs.
