Following what has become the longest-running criminal court case in Georgia, Young Thug’s trial has ended in a guilty plea.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Thug, who’s been in jail since his 2022 indictment in the YSL RICO case, changed his plea to guilty and no contest on the multiple gang, gun, and drug charges.
With the change, the government’s attorneys asked for a sentencing of 45 years, 25 in prison and 20 on probation. However, as with a non-negotiated plea, the final decision on sentencing is up to the judge. Which in this case was Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who delivered a sentence that allowed Williams to go free immediately. Determining, “The total sentence is 40 years, to serve the first 5 years in prison but commuted to the time you’ve already served,” as she stated during the proceedings.
“There better be no violations, but if there are any, you’re coming back to see me,” the judge told Willams.
Before his sentence was delivered, Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrery Williams, told the court he takes "full responsibility for my crimes and for my charges," and admitted he now recognizes the power he holds in his south Atlanta neighborhood to set a better example. "I know what I bring to the table and I know what I am," Young Thug said. "I know the heights I've reached and I know the impact I've got on people in the community."
Now officially released, Williams will serve 15 years on probation, backloaded by 20 years in prison, if probation is not completed. He is also required to stay out of the metro Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his probation, apart from certain exceptions. One of which includes another one of his requirements — to carry out live anti-gang and anti-violence public presentations to children at a school or community organization several times a year.