Young Thug wins legal battle: judge orders some property returned

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Fulton County Superior Court judge who oversaw Georgia’s longest criminal trial in history ruled Monday that Young Thug’s possessions that were seized during his trial should be returned to the rapper.

One of Young Thug’s attorneys, Brian Steel, argued Jeffery Williams - Young Thug’s real name - should get all of his property back, including jewelry, cars, and other items that prosecutors argued were part of “criminal activity” in connection with the case against him.

Fulton County Judge Paige Whitaker ultimately ruled in favor of the motion to dismiss, allowing Williams to regain control of his belongings.

“While we are gratified that the defendant will not be receiving gang-related jewelry back, we are perplexed that Judge Whitaker dismissed the case based on a timeline requested by defense counsel and a date the court set for trial,” said Fulton County spokesman Jeff DiSantis. “We are evaluating the case now for possible appeal considering that strange procedural history.”

Here are some of the rapper’s belongings being returned to him:

• $149,426
• A 2022 Chevrolet Corvette
• A 2022 Porsche 911
• A 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS Maybach
• A white 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
• A gray 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
• A 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• A 2021 Dodge Durango
• A 2018 Lamborghini Aventador
• A 2015 Can-Am Spyder
• Assorted jewelry items

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On May 9, 2022, Young Thug and 27 other suspected criminal gang members were arrested in Buckhead on several organized crime, weapons, and drug-related charges.

Fulton County prosecutors accused Williams of being the head of an organized criminal gang known as YSL, which they said stood for Young Slime Life. Defense attorneys maintained the crew was part of a legitimate non-criminal record label, known as Young Stoner Life.

Young Thug himself was facing eight criminal counts under a federal law that was originally enacted to fight organized crime. He 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.

In a trial that broke Georgia records for the longest jury selection and the longest criminal trial itself, Young Thug took a non-negotiated plea deal this past Halloween, in which he was sentenced to 40 years, with five years to serve in jail.

Williams’ sentence was commuted to the time he had already served behind bars, which led to his release from jail not long after taking the plea deal.

He made his first public concert appearance since his release from custody earlier this year. Earlier this month, as part of his plea deal, he spoke to a local high school.

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