Rapper Young Thug to be released after guilty plea in gang, drug ...
US rapper Young Thug will be released from prison after he pleaded guilty to gang, drug and gun charges in Atlanta.
The 33-year-old, whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was sentenced to 40 years with five to be served in prison but commuted to time served.
That is to be followed by 15 years on probation and if he successfully completes that, a further 20 years will be commuted.
If he violates the conditions, he will have to serve those 20 years.
The Grammy-winning artist pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.
He also entered a no-contest plea to another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge.
The prosecution asked the judge to sentence him to 45 years, with 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.
Young Thug and his lawyer, Brian Steel, at the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta. (AP File: Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
They said some of Young Thug's rap lyrics proved his guilt but lead defence attorney Brian Steel said they "vehemently" disagreed with that.
"Gave the lawyer close to two mil, he handle all the killings," was one line of Young Thug's lyrics admitted into the trial.
Mr Steel said the evidence against his client was weak and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting and hiding evidence.
"He [Young Thug] told me, 'I can't wait another three months if there is any possibility I could go home because I have children that are hurting. I have things to do,'" Mr Steel said.
For the time Young Thug spent locked up, his lawyer repeatedly tried to free him.
It was claimed that the rapper was deprived of sunlight, sleep, fresh air and human contact.
Young Thug's case was linked closely to Donald Trump as they were both charged with conspiracy to break the state's racketeering law, called RICO.
Prosecutors said Young Thug co-founded a violent criminal street gang called YSL.
Young Thug's record label is also known as YSL but his defence lawyers said he was "falsely accused".
The original indictment was filed in May 2022 and it charged 28 men for their roles furthering the aims of YSL.
Three of his co-defendants had already pleaded guilty this week after reaching deals with prosecutors.
The pleas leave the fates of two other co-defendants still undecided.
Nine people charged in the indictment accepted plea deals before the trial began while twelve others are being tried separately.
Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.
