Young Thug Released from Jail, Receives 15 Years Probation Following Historic Georgia RICO Trial

Atlanta rapper Young Thug, legally named Jeffery Williams, will soon be free after serving nearly two and a half years in jail. On Thursday, Young Thug accepted a plea deal that sentenced him to 15 years of probation in Georgia’s historic RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) trial, the longest-running trial in the state’s history.

(Arvin Temkar/AP)

Young Thug’s plea marks a pivotal turn in a high-profile case that has attracted national attention. Initially, the state recommended a harsh 45-year sentence for the rapper, with 25 years in prison and 20 years of probation. However, after extensive negotiations, he agreed to plead guilty to multiple charges, including drug, firearm, gang, and RICO conspiracy charges. The court ultimately granted him a reduced sentence of probation, allowing for an early release.

Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker handed down the 40-year sentence with time served for the nearly three years Williams spent in custody. This agreement requires Williams to serve his probation under strict guidelines, with the possibility of a backloaded 20-year prison term if he fails to adhere to the probation terms.

Under the terms of his probation, Young Thug is largely barred from metro Atlanta for ten years and will need to comply with all probationary conditions to avoid further incarceration. His lawyer, Brian Steel, has requested that Williams be permitted to work with certain co-defendants, including his brother Quantavious "Unfoonk" Grier and fellow rapper Sergio "Gunna" Kitchens, to continue his music career.

Throughout this extensive trial, social media has remained abuzz, with public speculation fueled by courtroom incidents, including an alleged attempt to pass drugs to Williams in court and messages to his girlfriend, musician Mariah The Scientist, through his attire. The intense scrutiny surrounding the trial has amplified its impact on both the legal world and the entertainment industry.

As two co-defendants, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell, opted to continue their trials, Young Thug’s decision to enter a plea deal signifies a major development in this widely followed case.