Young Thug Hit w/ New Charges While Awaiting Trial In YSL RICO Case
Young Thug Hit w/ New Charges While Awaiting Trial In YSL RICO Case
Young Thug has been hit with additional charges while awaiting trial in his RICO case.
According to reports, Young Thug (born Jeffery Lamar Williams) is now facing misdemeanor charges which include, street racing, reckless driving, speeding, and more. The charges stem from an incident back in May where the Atlanta rapper allegedly drove a vehicle at 120 mph on Interstate 85 in Atlanta. Officials also say the rapper was not wearing a seat belt while racing on the interstate.
Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, claims the rapper is innocent of all of the charges he’s facing and is being wronged by the legal system. He said in a statement:
“As of two weeks ago, that case was being resolved with a seatbelt violation. Today, now its indicted in the Fulton County Superior Court. He is being wronged by our system.”
As previously reported, Atlanta rapper Young Thug and 28 associates, including fellow rapper Gunna, were arrested back in May of this year on conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges. Prosecutors claim Young Thug is a co-founder of the alleged street gang YSL. The indictment also gives a detailed account of various violent crimes alleged members of YSL are accused of, in addition to documents, social media posts, and rap lyrics by Thug that reference YSL.
In November, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed a motion to ban video cameras in the upcoming RICO trial to protect the identity of witnesses and allow them to provide accurate and complete testimonies.
Willis said,
“Several witnesses have expressed safety concerns to the State and they are concerned about the safety of themselves and their families should they choose to testify. The State is concerned that video recordings of witnesses’ and victims’ faces could endanger these individuals’ safety.”
Willis stated that the state is also worried about the impact on due process and the truth-finding function of the court proceeding but had no issues with audio recordings of the trial. However, if witnesses are aware that they are being videotaped and that their testimony may endanger their personal safety, they may be hesitant to testify and give complete information.
If convicted of a RICO charge, Young Thug could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
His trial is scheduled to begin in January 2023.
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