Latest news with #YSLRICO
Black America Web
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Young Thug Walks BET Awards Red Carpet Wearing A Fur Mask, Social Media Confused
Source: BET Awards / X/Twitter Young Thug has remained pretty lowkey after beating RICO charges, but he did step out for the BET Awards Monday night. Accompanied by girlfriend Mariah the Scientist, Thug walked the red carpet with an unexpected outfit. He rocked a clean, fitted black suit with a white button-up, but the simplicity ends there. Atop a skinny black tie, he wore what appeared to be a fur tail. To match it, he wore a similarly tan-colored mask with cutouts for his eyes and mouth. Of course, the fit wasn't complete without his bag, which was shaped like a duck —eyes and all— with leather handles. He shied away from interviews with the media, but did speak with streamer Tylil for a moment, who asked him about his drip, revealing it was all from French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. 'Saint Laurent, bro,' he says before showing off his bird bag. 'One of one. You won't see any n-gga with this.' Even when he ran into Druski and Kai Cenat on the red carpet, they were unsure of who was behind the mask before dapping him up. It wasn't the only moment that had Thug making waves at the BET Award, as another time he seemed to be approached by a member of the media, and refused to speak to them, only responding 'We not doing that,' before telling Mariah 'c'mon' and dragging her along with him. Once a few feet away, he gave that group of people behind him the middle finger. It came on the same day that the YSL RICO case came to a close, with the last defendant, Christian Eppinger, being sentenced to 40 years in prison on charges related to gang activity and the 2022 shooting of an Atlanta cop. In an interview with GQ last month, Thugger discussed why he decided to accept a plea deal that helped him avoid jail time, but included restrictions on his future lyrical content, community service, and a 10-year ban from the Atlanta area. If violated, he could be sent back to prison to serve a term of up to 20 years. 'Absolutely. Just pleading to something you know that you didn't do is crazy,' he said. 'But you get a chance to keep fighting. [You can] worry about the jury's fate, or you [can] just go ahead now and go home. It's like sh-t. Go home.' See social media's reaction to Thug's time at the BET Awards below. Young Thug Walks BET Awards Red Carpet Wearing A Fur Mask, Social Media Confused was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
YSL defendant Christian Eppinger sentenced to decades in prison
The Brief Christian Eppinger, the last defendant in the high-profile YSL RICO case, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea Monday, receiving a 75-year sentence with 40 years to serve in prison, ending the first major YSL trial. Eppinger faced serious charges, including the 2022 shooting of an Atlanta police officer and gang-related crimes, and previously rejected a plea offer that would have sentenced him to life in prison. The YSL trial, Georgia's longest-running criminal trial, ignited debate over the use of rap lyrics as evidence and the application of the state's RICO law, concluding with a mix of acquittals, plea deals, and convictions. FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The last defendant in the massive YSL RICO case, Christian Eppinger, appeared in a Fulton County courtroom on Monday morning to enter a non-negotiated plea. Until his appearance, it was unknown if he would enter a plea or if jury selection would begin today. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who took over the YSL trial from the original judge, sentenced Eppinger, who was facing multiple charges, to 75 years with 45 years to serve in prison, followed by probation. Some sentences will run concurrently, but others are required by law to be served consecutively. What we know Over the past two weeks, two of the final three defendants in the sprawling case accepted plea agreements, leaving Eppinger, 25, as the last man standing out of the original 28 defendants charged under Georgia's racketeering statute. His case has drawn significant attention, not only for its ties to the YSL investigation but also because of the serious violent charges he faces. Eppinger is accused of shooting Atlanta Police Officer David Rodgers six times in 2022 as Rodgers, a veteran member of the department's gang unit, attempted to serve an arrest warrant. One of the bullets struck Rodgers in the back of the head. Eppinger also faces accusations of stabbing another inmate while in custody at the Fulton County Jail in 2023. Earlier this year, Eppinger rejected a plea deal that would have sentenced him to life in prison. If convicted at trial, he faces the possibility of two life sentences plus an additional 100 years. MOST RECENT STORIES YSL trial to end without any murder convictions after defendant takes plea deal YSL defendant Damekion Garlington sentenced after murder charge dropped Atlanta rapper Yak Gotti heads home from Fulton County Jail Judge rules Young Thug's social media post doesn't violate probation Young Thug could lose his probation deal | Here's what we know Criminal Charges Eppinger faced long list of charges, including: Violation of Georgia's RICO Act Armed robbery First-degree hijacking of a motor vehicle Two counts of attempted murder Multiple counts of possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer Participation in criminal street gang activity Conspiracy to commit a crime What Happened Monday During sentencing, Judge Whitaker pointed to strong evidence against Eppinger, including his own statements and video footage. The judge highlighted that Eppinger instructed a robbery victim to remove earrings during the crime and noted the seriousness of his actions, particularly the attempted murder of a police officer. In that incident, Eppinger was caught on video firing six shots at close range at an officer and later laughing about it. The court emphasized Eppinger's long history of criminal behavior and his violation of probation terms, noting that he was not supposed to possess a firearm when the shooting occurred. His actions, described as showing a lack of remorse and a continued criminal lifestyle, influenced the sentence. The plea deal means Eppinger will avoid trial, wrapping up one of the most high-profile cases linked to the larger YSL indictment. Additionally, his new sentence will run concurrently (at the same time) with the prison time he is already serving from previous convictions, meaning that he is not expected to serve additional time in prison because of these charges. The backstory The YSL trial has gone down as the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia's history. Jury selection alone took 10 months. The trial lasted nearly two years and featured testimony from around 200 witnesses. It was plagued by disruptions, including witness intimidation, arrests of both jurors and attorneys, the replacement of the original judge, and even a stabbing incident involving a defendant in custody. On Oct. 31, 2024, Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang and drug charges. He was sentenced to time served, 15 years of probation, and ordered to stay out of metro Atlanta for a decade (some of those conditions have since been modified). In December, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell faced a jury verdict. Gotti was acquitted of all charges. Stillwell was convicted only of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a 10-year sentence, but with credit for time served. He is serving the remainder on probation. RELATED: YSL RICO Trial: Verdicts reached for Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti), Shannon Stillwell Big picture view The YSL case sparked widespread debate over Georgia's use of the RICO law and the role of rap lyrics and social media in criminal investigations. Prosecutors presented music videos and lyrics as evidence of gang affiliation, while defense attorneys pushed back, arguing that artistic expression was being unfairly criminalized. Though prosecutors secured several convictions and plea deals, the mixed outcomes left questions about the strength of their broader narrative—that YSL was more than just a music label.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Fani Willis Responds to Critics after YSL Trial Ends with Zero Murder Convictions
After coming under fire for not securing any murder convictions in the YSL RICO case, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis stood her ground on the overall effectiveness of her team on Thursday. 'Crime is down,' Willis said during an interview with 11Alive in the lobby of Atlanta City Hall. 'What my constituents say, who just voted [for] me by 68%, is, 'She's doing an amazing job.'' Her answer was in response to being questioned directly about her team's inability to secure murder convictions for any of the eight defendants who were charged with murder in the sprawling racketeering case that began three years ago. Read More: After Fani Willis Drops YSL Murder Charge, Defendant Is Sentenced to 5 Years Demise McMullen, the final defendant facing a murder charge, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in court Thursday. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the murder charges against him. McMullen is the seventh out of eight to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Last week, Damekion Garlington was sentenced to five years in prison by a Fulton County Superior Court judge. He was originally facing life in prison if convicted on all charges — including murder and attempted murder — but he entered into an Alford plea with the district attorney's office. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while admitting the prosecution likely has enough evidence to secure a conviction. In exchange for prosecutors agreeing to downgrade the murder charge to aggravated assault and drop the attempted murder charge, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty. Garlington had been Willis' last hope to hold one of the four people charged with the 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks accountable. Drinks was central to the prosecution's argument that Atlanta rapper Young Thug and 27 others were members of a criminal street gang called YSL. Last year, Willis' team dropped murder charges against Miles Farley and Quamarvious Nichols, two of the three other defendants charged with Drinks' murder, in exchange for guilty pleas on lesser charges. The third, Shannon Stillwell, was found not guilty in early December. Critics had honed in on the resources and manpower spent to prosecute this one case throughout the trial, which only exacerbated the issues with the case backlog that began during the 2020 pandemic. 'My message to taxpayers is, it was an amazing time. We had 19 convictions. The community is safer. We made sure that we got the resolutions we want. If they're unhappy with sentencing, they should elect other judges,' Willis said. Despite the district attorney's office asking for 20-year sentences to be served, the majority of defendants were sentenced to just a few years in jail and 10 to 15 years on probation. Willis, however, maintains that the case was a success, and pointed out that seven of the people she declined to prosecute are already serving life sentences after being convicted of other crimes. Read More: State NAACP Calls for Appeal in Fatal Atlanta Police Shooting After Judge Drops Charges Over the past few years, Willis has faced praise and criticism for her aggressive use of Georgia's RICO law, which she also employed to prosecute President Donald Trump and his associates on allegations of attempting to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. With the Trump trial on hold until 2029, and the YSL case likely to conclude with all convictions coming from guilty pleas instead of guilty verdicts, Willis' most successful RICO case remains the Atlanta cheating scandal trial. Until it was usurped by YSL proceedings, the trial against Atlanta Public Schools' teachers and administrators was the longest trial in Georgia history and ended with 34 convictions for Willis, then an assistant district attorney. She secured 12 guilty pleas and 11 guilty verdicts. The post Fani Willis Responds to Critics after YSL Trial Ends with Zero Murder Convictions appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Diddy drama: Young Thug brands Kid Cudi a 'rat' after testifying in court
American rapper Young Thug. Image: X/@Naija_PR The hip-hop streets are talking again. Known more for his moody soundscapes than street politics, Kid Cudi recently took the stand in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial, and it didn't go unnoticed. While Cudi's court appearance had nothing to do with any wrongdoing on his part, that didn't stop fellow rapper Young Thug from branding him a 'rat'. "The Day 'n' Nite" rapper appeared in court and detailed a 2012 incident involving a Molotov cocktail being thrown at his Porsche, an event that supports allegations made by Diddy's former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ While many praised Cudi for speaking up, others, including Young Thug, weren't impressed. Thug, who is currently embroiled in his own legal saga, took to X and wrote, 'Dam Cudi a rat lol,' before quickly deleting the post (I wonder why). But as we know, screenshots live forever. The now-deleted tweet was enough to stir up fans. Why is Young Thug tweeting in support of Diddy — Wost🐰 (@mosthiphop) May 23, 2025 Backing Thug was DJ Akademiks, a media personality known for his blunt commentary on hip-hop culture and artists' personal lives. He has built his platform by reporting on rapper feuds, court cases and behind-the-scenes drama. DJ Akademiks believes that Thug's tweet calling Cudi a 'rat' comes from unresolved feelings of betrayal, especially after what happened with Gunna in the YSL RICO case. Akademiks reacts to Young Thug calling Kid Cudi a rat — Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) May 25, 2025 Gunna, who had also been arrested as part of the same case, shocked fans when he took a plea deal in late 2022. As part of that deal, Gunna publicly admitted that YSL is a gang, not just a record label. He also stated that the weapons and drugs found during the group's arrest were not his. The moment that courtroom video went viral, social media turned on Gunna, with many calling him a 'snitch' for essentially confirming prosecutors' narrative about YSL. Thug, who remains behind bars fighting the charges, has since distanced himself from Gunna, and many believe he feels completely betrayed. So when Cudi recently testified in the Diddy case, a completely unrelated trial and backed up claims made by Ventura, it triggered something in Thug. Since that courtroom fallout, Thug has severed ties with Gunna and now appears to be applying the same code to Cudi. However, Cudi has never claimed to be part of street culture. Fans were quick to point out that he doesn't live by the same unspoken 'no snitching' rules that often govern artists from a different hip-hop lane. Now, let's break that down for anyone who missed the courtroom drama: The YSL case is a high-profile legal battle where prosecutors charged Young Thug and several members of his Young Slime Life crew under RICO laws (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). These laws are usually used to target organised crime (think mafia or gang networks) and in this case, authorities claimed that YSL was not just a music label but an actual street gang involved in criminal activity, including drugs, weapons, and violence.
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Young Thug puts his lawyer Brian Steel on new merch ahead of release of new album
Young Thug is turning heads with his latest merch drop—and this time, it's his lawyer getting the spotlight. As he gears up to release his next album, UY Scuti, Thug unveiled several pieces of promotional merchandise. One standout item is a t-shirt featuring a picture of his defense attorney, Brian Steel, with the letters 'WWBD' printed above. The acronym stands for WHAT WOULD BRIAN DO and the shirt is part of a full box set that also includes the upcoming album. UY Scuti will mark Thug's first full-length album since his 2023 project Business Is Business and his first since being released from jail in connection to the YSL RICO case. While no exact date has been confirmed, a billboard teasing the new music earlier this month suggested the album is coming in May coinciding with the three-year anniversary of his and Gunna's arrest in the viral RICO case. Young Thug has been teasing UY Scuti for weeks. Back in March, he and Mariah the Scientist made a public appearance at an NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors where they held up a jersey featuring the album name on the back. The name UY Scuti comes from one of the largest known stars in the universe. As for the album's features, things are still under wraps. In March, Future posted the title on X with no explanation. Meanwhile, Brian Steel, who played a key role in defending Young Thug, has already taken on another high-profile client. He's now involved in Diddy's legal defense team. Earlier this week, Steel joined the case just weeks before Diddy's trial is set to begin. The Bad Boy mogul was arrested back in September on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddy has pleaded not guilty and continues to maintain his innocence. Jury selection begins May 5th.
