ATLANTA – The trial of Young Thug and his co-defendants in the YSL RICO case is set to resume today, following a three-week delay caused by a stabbing incident involving one of the defendants at the Fulton County Jail. Shannon Stillwell, one of the defendants, sustained injuries during a fight with another inmate. The trial is expected to continue with witness testimony as the jury seeks to reach a verdict.
According to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Stillwell was attacked by another inmate, Willie Brown, in the jail facility. The reason behind the altercation is still unknown. Brown, who had been previously arrested on charges including aggravated assault, murder, and cruelty to children, is currently being held without bond.
The stabbing incident led Chief Judge Ural Glanville to dismiss court proceedings the next day, taking into consideration Stillwell’s recovery time. Glanville suggested the possibility of recessing the trial for the holidays, given the potentially lengthy process of addressing the situation.
Shannon Stillwell, also known as Shannon Jackson and SB, faces murder and attempted murder charges along with four other defendants in relation to the 2015 death of Donovan Thomas Jr. Prosecutors assert that Thomas’ murder, which occurred at a barbershop in Castleberry Hill, triggered an escalation of violence due to his alleged involvement in a rival gang. Young Thug is accused of being connected to the crime by renting the car used in the drive-by shooting.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in May 2022. The indictment was later updated in August of the same year, adding charges of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), criminal street gang activities, and drug and gun possession.
Prosecutors claim that Young Thug, along with two other individuals, established a violent criminal street gang called Young Slime Life (YSL) in 2012, which is associated with the national Bloods gang. The indictment also suggests that Young Thug promoted YSL through his music and social media presence.
The August indictment includes a comprehensive list of 191 alleged criminal acts committed between 2013 and 2022 by the defendants, all in furtherance of the gang’s interests. Among the specific charges, the indictment cites an incident in 2015 where Young Thug allegedly threatened to shoot a security guard and his involvement in renting a vehicle used in a rival gang member’s killing.
Young Thug’s defense lawyers maintain his innocence, arguing that YSL is simply a record label. Multiple attorneys in the case have criticized the prosecutors’ use of the RICO statute and anti-gang law, considering them overly aggressive and punitive.
During the trial, rapper Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, entered an Alford plea to a single count of racketeering conspiracy. While maintaining his innocence, Gunna acknowledged that he was aware of crimes committed by YSL members or associates in furtherance of the gang.
Two other individuals accused of co-founding the YSL gang, Walter Murphy and Trontavious Stephens, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the anti-racketeering law in December. Five other defendants, including Shannon Stillwell, remain involved in the case.
If convicted, Young Thug faces severe penalties for the racketeering conspiracy and gang charges, including a sentence of five to twenty years in prison. The other charges brought against him also carry potential prison time.
As the trial resumes today at the Fulton County Courthouse, the jury is set to hear witness testimonies and consider the evidence presented before delivering a verdict.
