Young Thug’s lawyer escapes jail time after being held in contempt of court. Here’s what to know about the complex RICO trial.

Rapper Young Thug’s lawyer Avoid jail time Wednesday, thanks to the Georgia Supreme Court, after it was Held in contempt By a Georgia judge in a high-profile RICO case against his famous client. Prosecutors accused the rapper of leading an Atlanta-based street gang to commit murder and robbery, among other things.

The charge against Brian Steele, who represented the Grammy Award-winning artist in the high-profile Georgia case, is the latest development in a case marred by setbacks, adding another layer to what is said to be… Longest trial In the history of the state.

Here’s what to know about Young Thug’s complex criminal trial.

🗣️ What’s going on with Young Thug’s lawyer?

On June 7, Judge Oral Glanville Steele was held in criminal contempt After Glanville and prosecutors were accused of having “unconstitutional” A closed-door meeting with Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland – the prosecution’s main witness – and he refused to tell the judge who told him about the meeting.

Copeland is accused of being a partner in YSL, Young Thug’s record label. Copeland says YSL stands for Young Stoner Life, but prosecutors say YSL also stands for Young Slime Life, a violent street gang.

On the same day, Copeland, who had been granted immunity, did not take the stand after his Fifth Amendment privilege was asserted, and was taken to prison.

However, Copeland returned and testified on June 10 about his connections to Young Thug and YSL.

Steele told Glanville in court that if a closed-door meeting occurred, “it is the coercion, witness intimidation, and ex parte communications that we have a constitutional right to be present for.”

Glanville had ordered Steele to serve the next 10 weekends in the Fulton County Jail starting this weekend, but on June 12, the Georgia Supreme Court granted… Emergency call for bonds. Steele will not go to jail on Friday, and will remain free while appealing the contempt of court charge.

⚖️ What is the subject of the trial?

In May 2022, a Fulton County grand jury indicted rapper Jeffrey “Young Thug” Williams. On conspiracy to violate The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, otherwise known as RICO. The rapper was also charged with gang, drug and weapons crimes.

The rapper, who is accused with 27 other people, is being tried along with five other defendants. Many of those indicted either took a plea deal, did not have some type of legal representation, had their cases separated from Young Thug’s trial or were not arrested.

The gang activities mentioned in the indictment include murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and vehicle hijacking. In August 2022, Additional numbers have been added To include Young Thug’s drug and weapons charges. The RICO charge and two gang charges carry a prison sentence of five to 20 years.

Fulton County Prosecutor Adrian Love charged the YSL members with “They move like a herd” With Young Thug leading them and their buddies.

“For 10 years and counting, the group calling itself Young Slime Life has taken over the Cleveland Avenue community in Fulton County,” Love said during his opening remarks in November. It also accused YSL of creating “a hole in the middle of the Cleveland Avenue community in Fulton County, which has sucked out the youth, innocence and even the lives of some people.” [its] The smallest member.

All the defendants who appeared before the court pleaded not guilty.

Steel He told the New York Times in 2022 That the rapper “came from an incredibly terrible upbringing, and has behaved his entire life in a way that is only admirable. He has never committed any crime.”

🏛️ What makes the trial so complicated?

Since the start of the trial in November 2023, At least 17 specific sets of song lyrics Evidence was presented from Young Thug and YSL mentioned in the indictment. Prosecutors say the words represent “overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy” to violate the RICO law.

Lyrics include: “Do you want to be a slime? ‘Go grab your body,’ from the YSL song ‘Really Be Slime’ and ‘I’ve never killed nobody, but I’ve got a connection to this body… I get all kinds of money, I’m a general,’ from Young Thug’s 2018 album. “Anyone”.

However, the defense said admitting the words as evidence was racist.

“The use of these words/poetry/art/speech against Mr. Williams is racist and discriminatory because the jury will be poisoned and biased by these words/poetry/art/speech as in unlawful character assassination,” Young Thug’s attorney said. He said in motion.

Young Thug’s trial is one of two high-profile cases being prosecuted by the office of Fulton County District Attorney Count Fanny Willis. In 2023, she Former President Donald Trump was accused And more than a dozen of his allies have been charged with RICO for allegedly conspiring to try to overturn the results of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.

The complex trial was also affected by a series of events Which led to a slowdown in the judicial process, including:

◀️ What will happen next?

Glanville has He denied Young Thug’s bond multiple times, claiming the rapper poses a threat to witnesses, has the potential to flee and poses a danger to the community.

Can be prosecuted It continues until 2025.