Georgia’s Longest-Running Criminal Trial Ends with Not Guilty Verdicts for Two Defendants in High-Profile RICO Case Involving Young Thug

Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial concluded on Tuesday with not guilty verdicts for the two remaining co-defendants, except for one charge, in a wide-ranging racketeering case that involved rap superstar Young Thug. The defendants, Deamonte Kendrick (rapper Yak Gotti) and Shannon Stillwell, were charged under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. The most serious charges included the 2015 drive-by shooting of an alleged rival gang member and conspiracy to violate RICO, with Stillwell also charged in the 2022 murder of another rival. After deliberating for several days, the jury found Kendrick not guilty and Stillwell not guilty except for one felony gun possession charge. Judge Paige Whitaker sentenced Stillwell to 10 years, with two years credited for time served, and the remainder on probation.

The case originally involved 28 co-defendants, including Young Thug, whom prosecutors accused of leading the Atlanta street gang Young Slime Life (YSL) in a 2022 indictment. The trial, which had seen multiple delays and unexpected developments, began in November 2023 with six co-defendants, with the proceedings livestreamed and closely followed on social media. Prosecutors used Young Thug’s lyrics to claim gang violence, while defense attorneys argued that the evidence was insufficient. By the trial’s end, more than 175 witnesses had been called, though Stillwell and Kendrick’s defense teams presented no witnesses.

Kendrick’s case took a dramatic turn when he was stabbed in jail just days before the verdict, but he appeared in court and embraced his lawyer upon hearing the not guilty decision. Stillwell’s lawyer praised the jury for their thorough deliberation, asserting that the prosecution failed to prove its case. Prosecutors had argued that the defendants were part of a criminal street gang that used weapons and violence to intimidate rivals, while the defense denied the charges, emphasizing the lack of concrete evidence.

The trial also involved significant controversies, including criticisms of District Attorney Fani Willis’ use of rap lyrics as evidence and the state’s application of RICO laws to target Black hip-hop artists. The case saw dramatic setbacks, such as the removal of the original trial judge and a prosecutorial mistake that nearly led to a mistrial. Despite these issues, four co-defendants reached plea deals, and Young Thug ultimately took a deal that resulted in his release after serving time and being placed on probation.