With Young Thug‘s trial just days away, The Shade Room has the scoop on what you need to know beforehand and what you can possibly expect.
For one, lock yourselves in because this is expected to be a lengthy trial, with prosecutors and the judge estimating anywhere between three months to a year. Second, expect to see some famous faces on the witness stand, as the massive witness list includes the likes of several high-profile rappers.
And Roomies, The Shade Room has you covered on everything you need to know going into Thug’s trial next week.
Who, What, When, Where And Why: The Basics Of Young Thug’s Upcoming RICO Trial
The trial, which is set to begin on Monday (Jan. 9), will be held in Atlanta, Georgia’s Fulton County, where the rapper has remained incarcerated since his arrest back in May 2022.
Thugger, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, is being accused of co-founding and heading Young Slime Life (YSL) – a dangerous Bloods-affiliated street gang.
The 31-year-old was initially facing a total of 65 counts, but on Wednesday the judge announced he would receive only eight charges, The Shade Room reported early Thursday.
The eight charges include conspiracy to violate the R.I.C.O. act, two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity and possession of both marijuana and codeine with intent to distribute.
The 31-year-old also faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and possession of a machine gun.
Witness List Has 372 Names, Including The Likes Of Lil Wayne & Birdman
The presiding judge is Judge Ural Glanville, and there are currently 372 names included on the prosecutor’s witness list.
The witness list includes several high-profile rappers, including Lil Wayne and Birdman, according to HotNewHipHop. It’s unclear whether or not they will take the stand during Thugger’s trial next week.
However, fellow rapper YFN Lucci will not be called as a witness, The Shade Room previously reported.
How We Got Here: A Brief Timeline Of Events Leading Into Young Thug’s May 2022 Arrest
On May 9, 2022 right after Thug’s arrest, Fulton County prosecutors published a 56-count indictment against Young Thug, Gunna and 26 others.
The group – called Young Slime Life – a “criminal street gang” with charges including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, murder, armed robbery and participation in criminal street gang activity.
From there, things picked up a a breakneck pace. Police eventually raided Thug’s Buckland mansion and reportedly turned up weapons and drugs. That mansion is now on the market for $3.1 million, per The Shade Room.
The palatial home includes a movie theater, 7-bedrooms, 9-bathrooms, and even a secret room.
Plea Deals Galore: Recent Happenings And Case Developments
Last month, Gunna and Thug’s brother and fellow YSL co-defendant UnFoonk both denied snitching after accepting sweetheart plea deals, which saw them both released on time served, as reported by The Shade Room.
On Dec. 28, Antonio Sledge was the last of the 2022 plea deals in the case and admitted to the courts that he is a member of the crew and admitted that he engaged in illegal activities.
There are now 14 defendants left, including Thugger, since the original indictment published last year.
Thugger’s attorney, Brian Steele, has filed a number of motions since the rapper’s incarceration, however has not been able to get him released on bond nor a similar plea deal.
Jury selection for Thug’s trial began this week.
Young Thug’s mugshot after getting arrested on RICO charges pic.twitter.com/9SKEzYgVn8
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) May 10, 2022
Trial Begins Monday (Jan. 9) – Here’s What To Expect And What’s On The Line For Thugger
And the trial for Young Thug and other YSL co-defendants could possibly last up to on year, prosecutors estimate according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
On Thursday, attorneys for both sides were discussing jury selection topics with Fulton County Judge Glanville. Given the number of witnesses and defendants in the case, Glanville estimated the trial could last six to nine months.
The judge said the low end of the range was double the estimate prosecutors provided him, three months, and the high end was based on the time it took Fulton County to prosecute another RICO Act case after uncovering a cheating scandal in Atlanta Public Schools.
A Fulton County prosecutor replied by saying that six to twelve (months) would be a “safer path” when it comes to jury selection.
“You’re going to lose a number of people that cannot be jurors for that amount of time, so I’d like to give them a realistic range,” Glanville said.
Thug is facing 20 years to life in prison if found guilty on all charges, according to Insider.
