ATLANTA — Rapper Young Thug pleaded guilty Thursday to gang, drug and gun charges in Atlanta and will be released from jail, though 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, lead prosecutor Adriane Love said. That left the sentence completely up to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker.
Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges. He also pleaded no contest on another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning that he decided not to contest those charges but can be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.
The judge imposed a sentence of 40 years with the first five to be served in prison, but commuted to time served, followed by 15 years on probation. If he successfully completes that probation without any violations, another 20 years will be commuted to time served. But if he violates the conditions, he will have to serve those 20 years.
Young Thug must stay away from the metro Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or the serious illness 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 make a live anti-gang, anti-gun violence presentation at a school or a community organization serving children. She said that can count toward the 100 hours of community service she ordered him to perform each year during probation.
He’s also not allowed to associate with gang members or with the victims or other defendants in the case, with the exception of his brother and the rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. He also cannot promote any criminal street gang or gang activity and can’t use hand signs or terminology that promotes a street gang.
Additional conditions include submitting to random drug screens and not possessing a gun. But he is allowed to travel both nationally and internationally for work, even while on probation.
Love had outlined for 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 “vehemently disagree” with many of the statements Love made and said it was “offensive” that the state was using Young Thug’s lyrics against him.
Steel said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting and hiding evidence, saying Young Thug was “falsely accused.” Steel said he told his client that he thought they were winning the trial and should go through to a jury verdict.
“But he told me, ‘I can’t wait another three months if there is any possibility I could go home, because I have children that are hurting. I have things to do,’” Steel said.
Steel asked the judge to impose a sentence of 45 years with five in prison commuted to time served and 40 years on probation.
Young Thug asked the judge to let him go home, saying he wouldn’t be in a similar situation again.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes, you know. I come from nothing and I’ve made something and I didn’t take full advantage of it. I’m sorry,” he said.
The judge said she appreciated that he realized the impact that he has on people worldwide. She said rap music may involve a lot of posturing but that children emulate some of the dangerous behavior mentioned in songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage kids to do the right thing.
“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Whitaker said.
A tremendously successful rapper, Young Thug 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 two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen other people of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering or RICO, law. He also was 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 faced several interruptions and delays, including the online leak of a juror’s identity, a defendant’s stabbing in the Fulton County Jail and multiple changes in the judge overseeing the trial. The trial of six defendants began with opening statements last November, and prosecutors since then have called dozens of witnesses.
With his pleas, Williams joins three co-defendants who pleaded guilty this week after reaching deals with prosecutors. The fates of two other co-defendants remain 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 defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.
An Atlanta native, Young Thug began his hip-hop career in 2010. Known for the hits “Best Friend” and “Floyd Mayweather,” Young Thug helped elevate the Atlanta rap scene as he collected Grammy nominations and MTV Video Music Awards and performed at high-profile events, including the BET Awards and Coachella music festival.
Despite being jailed in Georgia since his arrest in 2022, Young Thug has continued to release music, including the 2023 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.