Rapper Young Thug portrayed as the leader of a criminal street gang who murdered and committed a series of violent crimes in Atlanta

American rapper Young Thug has been named as the leader of a criminal street gang who murdered and committed a series of violent crimes in the Atlanta area over the past decade, a court heard today, as his long-awaited racketeering trial finally began.

Georgia State Attorney Adraine Love said the Grammy winner hoarded drugs, cars and weapons as his followers competed to gain favor by murdering, robbing and kidnapping in a decade-long spree.

His record label Young Stoner Life was just a front for ‘Young Slime Life’, a street gang affiliated with the Los Angeles Bloods gang, while the rapper was known to his followers as ‘King Slime’, she claimed.

Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, faces up to 20 years in prison before the same Fulton County team that is also prosecuting former President Donald Trump under the same racketeering laws.

“They created a crater in the middle of the Cleveland Avenue community in Fulton County that sucked the youth, innocence and even the life out of some of its youngest members,” Love said.

And she warned Williams that his own violent rap lyrics would be used as evidence against him.

“The authorities didn’t chase the letters to solve the murders, the authorities chased the murders and found the letters,” she said.

Stars including rappers Lil Wayne and Killer Mike are expected to give evidence in one of the most eagerly awaited trials of the decade.

The 32-year-old rapper was arrested and charged in May last year, but jury selection alone took nearly 10 months amid ridiculous pre-trial scenes that saw a lawyer handcuffed and Williams accused of buying drugs while sitting on the bench of the defendants.

The bizarre theme continued in court on Monday when Judge Ural Glanville ordered the court not to throw food to his service dog sitting behind the bench.

Wearing a black tie and glasses, Williams listened intently as Love described how he became the “proclaimed leader” of YSL after it split from Cleveland-based ROC Crew in 2012.

“The evidence will show that these defendants, that the members and associates of YSL, knew who their leader was and knew the repercussions of not obeying their leader,” she said.

‘You will hear evidence that when YSL members and associates got into trouble, were arrested, the first person they called was Williams or one of his family members.’

She produced graphic photos of men allegedly killed by YSL members, as well as lyrics that “had a very strange meaning” to the crimes that occurred.

And she said it was Williams who rented the getaway car used when rival gang member Donovan Thomas was shot to death in 2015.

“You will hear evidence that after the murder of Donovan Thomas, no fewer than 50 shootings occurred over the following months,” she added.

“You will hear evidence that hundreds, hundreds of bullets were fired at cars, houses and people as a result of the disagreement Young Slime Life had with others in the community.”

She said a whistleblower will testify that Williams paid them to “go to Miami and hide after the murder of Donovan Thomas,” but she admitted that the dynamics underpinning the gang were largely “unspoken.”

“The State alleges that these defendants had an agreement, tacit but no less an agreement, to obtain property, things of value, cell phones, cars, stolen weapons, through a pattern of illegal activity,” she explained.

And she said Williams “knew he needed to keep distance between himself and the crimes that YSL members and associates were committing in the name of the gang.”

Williams was one of 28 alleged gang members originally arrested last year and charged under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Since then, some have accepted plea deals, but Marquavius ​​Huey, Deamonte Kendrick, Quamarvious Nichols, Rodalius Ryan and Shannon Stillwell are facing trial alongside their alleged leader.

Williams, who has collaborated with stars including Camila Cabello, Travis Scott, Drake and Childish Gambino, has continued producing music behind bars since his arrest and released his album ‘Business is Business’ this summer.

Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com