Jury selection to begin in Young Thug trial as rapper faces gang-related charges in YSL case

Jury selection in the trial of Young Thug is set to begin in an Atlanta courtroom on Wednesday morning as the rapper faces gang-related charges in a sweeping grand jury indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, according to the Fulton County Clerk’s Office and Young Thug’s attorney.

Young Thug, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, was arrested May 9, 2022, and was initially charged with one count each of conspiring to violate the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and participating in criminal street gang activity. He was later charged with an additional count of participating in street gang activity, three counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm while committing a felony and possession of a machine gun.

He has pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.

Young Thug was among 28 individuals named in the indictment who are allegedly associated with the Atlanta-based Young Slime Life, a gang that prosecutors allege Young Thug founded in 2012. But YSL, which is also the acronym for Young Stoner Life, is also the name of the rapper’s label — an imprint of 300 Entertainment. The label is not named in the indictment.

YSL is allegedly an Atlanta street gang that started in late 2012 and “claims affiliation with the national Bloods gang,” according to charging documents.

Fellow YSL rapper Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, was also indicted and charged with one count of conspiring to violate the state’s RICO Act. He was released last month after pleading guilty in an Alford plea, which is a negotiated agreement in which a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges that the prosecution’s evidence would likely lead to a guilty verdict.

Gunna indicated in a statement that he has “NOT cooperated” with prosecutors and would not testify in the trial against Young Thug.

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