ATLANTA — Two additional defendants in the ongoing trial alongside rapper Young Thug have entered guilty pleas to lesser charges after negotiating with the prosecutors.
Rodalius Ryan and Marquavius Huey made their pleas on Wednesday, shortly after another co-defendant, Quamarvious Nichols, did the same.
Ryan, aged 18, admitted to a single charge of conspiring to breach the state’s anti-racketeering laws. The plea arrangement received endorsement from Judge Paige Reese Whitaker of Fulton County Superior Court, who sentenced Ryan to 10 years; however, this was reduced to time served. Despite this, he will continue to be incarcerated as he is currently serving a life sentence for murder, which is presently being contested.
Leah Abbasi, one of Ryan’s lawyers, emphasized that they “categorically and adamantly deny that YSL is the criminal dangerous street gang which it’s been made out to be.” She contended that her client made a choice focused on his future.
Young Thug, born Jeffery Williams, is a highly acclaimed rapper who launched the Young Stoner Life (YSL) record label. Prosecutors allege that he is also a co-founder of a violent street gang, claiming that YSL stands for Young Slime Life. The rapper has entered a not guilty plea concerning the charges against him.
Huey, now 28 years old, accepted a plea involving multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy and aggravated assault, with prosecutors indicating that some sentences could overlap. Judge Whitaker also accepted this plea agreement, sentencing Huey to a total of 25 years in prison, with nine years to be served at the time, 11 years on probation, and five years suspended.
Huey’s attorney, Careton Matthews Sr., expressed that they “emphatically and categorically deny” some allegations presented by the prosecutor, affirming, however, that enough evidence existed for Huey to accept the plea. He also highlighted that Huey has been incarcerated for nearly four years, which should be considered against his nine-year sentence.
Judge Whitaker remarked that Huey was initially facing three consecutive life sentences plus approximately 100 years and noted that the resultant agreement was “frankly remarkable” for such serious charges. She cautioned Huey against breaching the terms of his plea, indicating that she would not be inclined to show leniency if he appears in court again. “You are getting a huge opportunity to turn your life around,” she said, adding that he could potentially be released from prison in just a few years.
The guilty pleas have left Young Thug and two other co-defendants in a precarious position as the trial continues. This trial has become the longest criminal case in Georgia’s history, with jury selection commencing in January 2023 and extending for nearly ten months. Opening statements for the trial started last November, during which prosecutors have called numerous witnesses.
Young Thug was indicted two years ago in a comprehensive case, charging him along with over two dozen others with conspired violations of Georgia’s anti-racketeering laws, in addition to gang, drug, and gun-related offenses. Prior to the trial, nine individuals implicated in the indictment reached plea agreements, while twelve more are facing separate trials. Charges were dismissed against one defendant after his conviction for murder in a different case.