Young Thug’s judge: There is evidence of a RICO conspiracy

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - For the first time since she began presiding over superstar rapper Young’s Thug trial, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker said Tuesday she has found some evidence of an organized crime-like conspiracy in the massive judicial proceeding.

Whitaker’s comments mark the first time she has publicly commented on the merits of Fulton County prosecutors’ attempts to link the global music superstar to a criminal street gang responsible for numerous offenses.

In accepting a plea deal from one of Young Thug’s co-defendants, Quamarvious Nichols, Whitaker said, “I find having heard the evidence up to the point of the 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 required statute of limitations to establish this RICO conspiracy.”

On Wednesday, two more co-defendants - Rodalius Ryan (aka “Lil Rod”) and Marquavius Huey (aka “Qua”) - accepted plea deals, leaving the number of remaining co-defendants at three: Jeffery Williams (Young Thug); Shannon Stillwell (SB); and Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti).

Nichols (aka “Qua”) accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy of attempting to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. In exchange, Fulton County prosecutors dropped the remaining charges of murder, participation in a criminal street gang, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Nichols was sentenced to 20 years in prison with seven to be served on probation. Sttorney Doug Weinstein, who represents Deamonte Kendrick (aka Yak Gotti) in the trial, called the plea deal “a win for the state.”

“We are a lesser team in the YSL case without the contributions from (Nichols’ attorneys) Bruce Harvey, Nicole Westmoreland, and Lamar Gardner,” Weinstein posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Their skills, contributions, advice, and daily friendship will be missed. In that sense, and that sense only, the plea from Mr. Nichols yesterday was a win for the State. In totality, Nichols’s legal team was able to negotiate a fantastic deal for him that he clearly believed was in his interest and all can walk away with heads held high.”

Whitaker’s first order of business Tuesday was to expel two bloggers — one of whom was Dennis Byron of Hip-Hop Enquirer — from recording any more of the trial’s proceedings from the courtroom. Whitaker said the two had been recording proceedings while she was not on the bench; she then banished the duo to the media room.

Before court resumed Tuesday, attorneys for two other co-defendants said their clients would continue fighting for their innocence.

“Mr. Stillwell has been wrongfully accused of these crimes in this indictment, dating back to 2015, for nearly a decade,” said attorney Max Schardt, who is representing Shannon Stillwell. “We have never wavered. Mr. Stillwell is innocent and we are fully prepared to continue to fight this case in court once the trial resumes.

“We appreciate and continue to ask for the support of so many people who have followed this case for the past two years,” Schardt said.

“Our client, Deamonte Kendrick, has been wrongly accused and incarcerated since May 2022,” Weinstein posted on X. “We continue to fight for his freedom, so that he can go home to his family and support system that all love him very much. He appreciates all the love and support from the public whose words and deeds have helped sustain him during these many, long months.”

Whitaker halted the trial last week after defense attorneys objected to testimony from Wunnie Lee (aka Slimelife Shawty), who had earlier reached a plea agreement in exchange for his testimony. A social media post was shown in court that featured the hashtag “freequa,” a reference to a previous jail sentence for one of the YSL co-defendants now on trial along with Jeffery Williams, Young Thug’s real name.

Defense attorneys argued prosecutors should have redacted that image, and that the jury has now learned about the co-defendant’s previous incarceration.

Opening statements were held in Young Thug’s trial on Nov. 27, 2023. The trial’s jury selection lasted longer than any other in Georgia history, and actual witness testimony itself will likely surpass state records. Both records were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teacher scandal and trial of 2014-15.

Young Thug marked his 33rd birthday on Aug. 16, 2024, after being 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 Nov. 27, 2023. Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the trial’s length, and Fulton County prosecutors still have more than 100 witnesses to call.

Prosecutors are attempting to show YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous offenses. Defense attorneys say YSL is not a gang but simply the name of a record label.

Williams is 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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