Young Thug's Co-Defendants Acquitted in Georgia's Longest Criminal Trial

The high-profile YSL gang and racketeering case concludes with mixed verdicts after years of legal proceedings and controversy.

Deamonte Kendrick, known as Yak Gotti, was acquitted of all charges, while Shannon Stillwell was found guilty only of felony gun possession and sentenced to probation.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, pleaded guilty in October and avoided prison time, receiving 15 years of probation and a 10-year ban from Atlanta.
Prosecutors alleged YSL was a violent gang responsible for multiple crimes, but defense attorneys argued the evidence, including rap lyrics and social media posts, was insufficient and unreliable.
The trial, plagued by delays and controversies, lasted over two years, making it the longest in Georgia's history, with jury selection alone taking 10 months.
The case has drawn criticism over the use of rap lyrics as evidence and parallels to another high-profile RICO case brought by Fulton County DA Fani Willis against President-elect Donald Trump.