ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News ) – Rap star Young Thug has accepted a plea deal in his internationally-watched criminal trial.

Jeffery Williams (Young Thug’s real name) was released from jail Thursday night as part of his plea deal, though he could be placed back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.

Upon his release, Williams will serve 15 years of probation.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker said if Williams is successful on probation, then the remainder of his sentence will be commuted to time served.

Williams is also barred from contact with any of YSL’s other co-defendants or witnesses in the trial, except for his biological brother, Quantavious Grier (aka Unfoonk) and Sergio Giavanni Kitchens (aka Gunna).

Accompanied by attorneys Brian Steele and Keith Adams, Williams agreed to a no-deal plea, which can result when a defendant and prosecutors cannot agree on a sentence.

Defense attorneys give the judge complete authority over sentencing. The judge could follow the recommendations of the state or defense attorneys or impose a completely different sentence.

Early Thursday, Williams was sworn in and listened as Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love read the charges against him. Williams was accompanied by his lawyers, Brian Steele and Keith Adams.

Williams pleaded guilty to the remaining charges against him, including Georgia drug and firearms violations.

Here are the charges against Williams and how he pleaded:

• Violation of the Georgia RICO Act – nolo contendere (no contest);
• Organizer of a criminal street gang activity (driving charge) – nolo contendere (no contest);
• Participating in a criminal street gang activity – guilty;
• Possession of a machine gun – guilty;
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony – guilty;
• Three counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act – guilty.

Love asked Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker to impose a sentence of 45 years, with 25 years in custody and 20 years on probation.

Williams’ attorneys asked for a 45-year sentence on the charges, with 40 years of probation and credit for time served. They also asked that Williams be placed on house arrest for three years and agreed to wear an ankle monitor for one year.

Advocates also pledged that $100,000 will go to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to host a gun buyback event. Williams must stay away from the Cleveland Avenue area and perform 100 hours of community service over the next three years.

“I take full responsibility for my crimes,” Williams said. “I’m a smart guy; I’m a good guy. I hope you’ll let me go home and trust me to do the right thing.

Williams added: “I learned from my mistakes.”

Williams’ plea deal was the latest development in what has become Georgia’s longest criminal trial in history.

Earlier this week, Whitaker commented, for the first time publicly since taking over the case less than six months ago, that she believed there was evidence of an organized crime-like conspiracy.

In accepting a plea deal from one of to Williams co-defendant, Quamarvious Nichols, Whitaker said, “I found hearing the evidence up to the point of trial right now that there is evidence of at least one overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy and that there is evidence that would fall within the statute of limitations required for to establish this RICO conspiracy.”

Williams and three of the remaining co-defendants have since reached plea deals, leaving only Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick (a.k.a. Yak Gotti) remaining in court.

On Thursday, Douglas Weinstein, Kendrick’s attorney, said his client rejected a plea deal. Weinstein said his client “fully intends to take this to a jury and get our not guilty verdicts and go home.”

Opening statements were held in Williams’ trial on November 27, 2023.

The process jury selection took longer than any other in the history of Georgia, and the actual testimony of the witnesses itself will probably exceed the records of the state. Both records were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teacher scandal and lawsuit in 2014-2015.

Williams scored his 33rd birthday on August 16, after he was arrested on May 9, 2022, along with 27 other suspected gang members in Buckhead, as part of a 56-count indictment.

The trial itself began on November 27, 2023.

Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the of the process length, and Fulton County prosecutors still have more than 100 witnesses to call.

Prosecutors are trying to show that Young Slime Life, or YSL, is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous crimes. Defense lawyers say YSL is not a gang, but simply the name of a record label.

Williams was also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

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