Young Thug RICO trial finally ends with acquittals for Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell

The long-running YSL Records racketeering trial ends with Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell acquitted of murder charges.

The long-running RICO trial involving rapper Young Thug concluded on December 3, 2024, with two remaining co-defendants, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell, acquitted of serious charges. This trial, which became the longest in Georgia state history, lasted several months.

Yak Gotti was cleared of all six charges he faced, a decision that brought visible relief. After the verdict was read, Gotti reportedly made the sign of the cross and embraced his attorney, Doug Weinstein.

Shannon Stillwell, the second co-defendant, was convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon but was acquitted of six other charges, including involvement in the 2015 fatal drive-by shooting of Donovan Thomas Jr. He was sentenced to time served with probation and shared a heartfelt hug with his lawyer, Max Schardt, signaling a sense of closure.

Both men were originally connected to Young Thug through gang-related activities under investigation, including charges related to the 2015 shooting of Thomas and, in Stillwell’s case, the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks.

The trial began in November 2023, following a lengthy 10-month jury selection process. After closing arguments, the jury deliberated for over 15 hours, reaching a verdict just before Thanksgiving. The case was marred by complications, including the arrest of Young Thug’s defense attorney, Brian Steel, on contempt charges (which were later dropped). Additionally, Fulton County Judge Ural Glanville was recused from the case after mishandling a secret meeting with a key witness, with Judge Paige Reese Whitaker taking over.

In late October, three of Young Thug's co-defendants reached plea deals, securing lighter sentences. This raised optimism for a favorable outcome for the rapper. Shortly afterward, Young Thug pleaded "no contest" to racketeering conspiracy and gang charges and guilty to several drug and firearm offenses. He was sentenced to 15 years of probation.

While Young Thug’s release brought relief to his family, his father, Jeffrey Williams Sr., expressed disappointment over the probation conditions, particularly the restriction preventing him from returning to his hometown of Atlanta. Williams Sr. voiced his frustration, stating, “I’m totally against that,” and emphasized how unjust it was for a non-local district attorney to impose such a ruling.

The YSL Records racketeering trial involves rapper Young Thug (Jeffery Williams) and several members of his label, YSL Records (Young Stoner Life Records). The trial began on November 27, 2023, following a May 2022 indictment that charged 28 individuals linked to YSL under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. 

Prosecutors argue that YSL operates as both a criminal street gang and a hip-hop music label. Initially overseen by Fulton County Chief Judge Ural D. Glanville, he was recused after allegations surfaced about a secret meeting with prosecutors and a key witness, with Judge Paige Reese Whitaker taking over the case.