The infamous YSL RICO case continues to unfold, and the American rapper Young Thug, 32, remains at the center of the trial. Born Jeffery Lamar Williams, the Grammy-winning Atlanta artist cemented himself as an influential figure in modern hip-hop culture. However, his arrest in 2022 sent shockwaves through the industry. Authorities arrested Young Thug and 27 others as part of a 56-count indictment. Two years later, the trial continues to get complex.
Per Billboard, Fani Willis, District Attorney of Fulton County, believes YSL (also the acronym of Young Thug’s music label, Young Stoner Life) is a violent street gang with a history of committing crimes like robbery and assaults, among others, since 2012. Willis alleged that Young Thug was the leader of the Young Slime Life operation and got dubbed the “King Slime.” Throughout the RICO trial, Young Thug and his legal team have insisted that the rapper is innocent.
At the time of this writing, Young Thug has been in jail for 668 days, as reported by Atlanta News First. In June 2023, Young Thug released his new album, Business Is Business, from behind bars. Furthermore, he released his latest single, “Bless,” with Lil Wayne and Wheezy in April 2024.
When was Young Thug arrested and which jail is he in now?
According to Atlanta News First, Young Thug was arrested on May 9, 2022. The YSL RICO trial began on November 27, 2023. As of now, Young Thug remains in the Fulton Country Jail.
In the latest update on the trial, one of the rapper’s attorneys, Brian Steel, was arrested and held in criminal contempt. Moreover, Steel has been given almost three weeks’ worth of jail time.
Previously, the documentary Rap Trap: Hip Hop on Trial explored the YSL RICO case. As the rappers’ lyrics were cited as evidence in the courtroom, it “sparked a movement to protect art.” The documentary is available to watch on Hulu.
