Yak Gotti remains in jail despite acquittal in YSL RICO case over contraband charges

Atlanta rapper Yak Gotti remains behind bars despite his acquittal on a high-profile murder charge in December 2024. 

Gotti, 31, is still incarcerated at Fulton County Jail over new allegations of possessing contraband while in custody. He was initially arrested in May 2022 as part of a massive indictment under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, alongside Young Thug and 25 other individuals. 

The prosecution accused the group of gang-related criminal activities, but after a protracted trial, Gotti was cleared of serious charges, including racketeering and a 2015 murder.

Though he was acquitted, Gotti’s release remains elusive. In December 2024, he was stabbed in jail, requiring medical attention. 

Gotti’s attorneys, Bruce Harvey and Nicole Westmoreland, filed an emergency bond motion in January 2025, citing dangerous jail conditions as a reason for his release. However, a judge declined to rule on the motion in December, citing an outstanding warrant tied to the contraband allegations. 

The case has been postponed until February 2025, delaying any potential freedom for Gotti. The dire conditions at the Fulton County Jail have gained attention after co-defendant Shannon Stillwell filed a class-action lawsuit against the facility's management.