LIVE: Young Thug Pleads Guilty in ‘Blind Confession’ in YSL Trial

FULTON COUNTY, GA. – Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffrey Williams, took a plea deal without any negotiations in the YSL RICO trial. Williams was sworn in before the court shortly after 4pm on Thursday.

The prosecution is asking for 45 years in prison, of which 25 years. The judge is thinking about it now.

Williams was charged with conspiracy to violate RICO, 2 counts of participating in criminal street gang activity, 3 counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a machine gun. He pleaded guilty to gun and drug charges and street gang charges, but pleaded nolo contendere or pleaded no contest to the remaining charges.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

An Inconsistent Plea Bargain Explained

A non-consensual plea bargain, often called a “blind plea” or “open plea,” is an agreement in which a defendant pleads guilty without a pre-arranged sentencing agreement with the prosecution. Instead of discussing a sentence, the defendant goes directly to the judge, who then has full authority to choose the final punishment.

This type of plea means the defendant waives his or her right to a trial without a predetermined, guaranteed verdict. The judge determines the sentence within legal parameters, taking into account factors such as the severity of the crime and the criminal history of the accused.

Defendants may choose to enter a non-consented guilty plea if they believe the judge can impose a lighter sentence than the prosecution is proposing. However, this approach carries significant risks because it relinquishes control over the outcome of the verdict.

“This case violates every rule in complex criminal trials,” said Joshua Schiffer, a legal expert and longtime lawyer.

Several plea agreements have already been struck this week as a possible mistrial loomed.

“None of the jurors can predict how they will take it. The only thing we know for sure is that they endured a trial unlike any other in Georgia history,” Schiffer said.

Jak Gotti rejected the deal: ‘Tell it to the jury’

Jak Gotti has rejected the latest plea agreement reached by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in the YSL case, his lawyer said.

Douglas Weinstein, representing Gotti, said his client “has every intention of taking the case to a jury, getting an acquittal and going home.”

The trial has been suspended since last week when A a witness accidentally read aloud a hashtag in which one of the accused appears, encourage lawyers to claim a mistrial. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker said that if successful, the mistrial would be without prejudice, allowing the state to reconsider the case.

After the incident, Fulton County prosecutors negotiated a plea deal with defense attorneys. Details about the potential deals were limited until Tuesday, when one of the defendants accepted a plea in exchange for most of the charges against him being dropped.

Previous plea deals in the YSL RICO trial

Events take place the next day two co-defendants in the case entered into plea deals on their charges.

Rodalius Ryan, also known as Lil Rod, and Marcavious Huey, known as Qua, reached their deals Wednesday afternoon in Fulton County Court.

Ryan, 18, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate state racketeering laws. His plea Wednesday meant his 10-year sentence on the RICO charge would be commuted to time already served, allowing him to focus on appealing the murder conviction he received at age 15.

One of Ryan’s lawyers, Leah Abbasi, said they “categorically and adamantly deny that YSL is the dangerous criminal street gang it is being purported to be.” She said her client is making the best decision for his future.

Hughie’s plea deal was reached shortly after Ryan’s. Initially charged with 19 charges, including violations of the RICO Act, multiple counts of armed robbery and participation in a criminal street gang, Huey had some of the charges dropped or reduced.

One of Huey’s attorneys, Carton Matthews Sr., said they “strongly and categorically deny” some of the charges read by prosecutors but acknowledged there was ample evidence to support the charges to which he pleaded guilty. He also noted that his client had already been in custody for about four years, which should be counted towards his nine years in custody.

The judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison, of which he will serve only nine years, and warned him not to violate the terms of his agreement.

“This is a great opportunity for you to change your life,” she told him, noting that he will likely be released from prison in just a few years.

On Tuesday, 29-year-old Quamarvious Nicholsaccepted a plea deal. All but one of the charges against Nichols were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea to the RICO charge.

YSL Member on Trial: Remaining Defendants in YSL RICO Case

After the plea deal, only two defendants remain on trial: Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick and Shannon Stillwell.

Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti): Conspiracy to Violate RICO, Murder (2015 Murder of Donovan Thomas), Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, 3 Counts of Violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon with a prior felony conviction for the use or possession of a firearm.

Shannon Stillwell (Shannon Jackson or SB): Conspiracy to Violate RICO, 2 counts of Murder (2015 Murder of Donovan Thomas Jr. and 2022 Murder of Shimel Drinks), 2 Counts of Engaging in Criminal Street Gang Activity, 2 count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm weapon during the commission of a serious crime.

FOX 5 Atlanta has been following the trial for nearly a year after the jury selection process took nearly 10 months. This is now the longest trial in Georgia’s history.