Young Thug and Gunna Arrested in Atlanta on RICO Charges
Young Thug and Gunna Arrested in Atlanta on RICO Charges
The Hip-Hop world is in shock with the recent news of two rappers being brought up on RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) charges related to alleged street crimes including murder and drug charges.
According to The New York Times, rappers Young Thug and labelmate Gunna, along with 26 alleged members of a criminal street gang supposedly headed and co-founded by Jeffery Lamar Williams also known as Young Thug, were named in the 56 count indictment. The associates were arrested on suspicion of gang involvement and conspiracy to violate the Georgia criminal racketeering law.
Young Thug was arrested Monday at his Atlanta home after being named in the indictment which is centered on Young Slime Life. Prosecutors stated that the group is a criminal street gang that was co-founded by the Grammy Award-winning rapper. The 30-year-old recording artist was booked into the Fulton County Jail following his arrest. He has been charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and participation in street gang activity.
The RICO Act charge is from an alleged offense back in January 2013, while the street gang activity charge goes back to allegations from May 2018, according to jail records. The 56-count indictment was filed last Thursday as it names 28 alleged associates of Young Slime Life. Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Giavanni Kitchens has been charged with one count of racketeering. In the court papers, it alleges that Gunna committed felonies which include receiving stolen property and drug possession with intent to distribute.
Other associates in Young Slime Life have been charged with violent crimes including murder and attempted armed robbery.
The indictment alleges Young Thug is a founder of Young Slime Life which began in Atlanta in 2012. The group is said to be affiliated with the Bloods gang. The 28 people listed in the indictment have all been charged with conspiracy to violate the state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. This is the federal law that has been used against several organized crime members since its inception of the law.
The 88-page indictment alleges that Young Slime Life was caught up in a wide variety of illegal activities, which include witness intimidation, murder, attempted murder, carjacking, robbery, theft and drug dealing.
As has been done in previous cases over the years across the country, prosecutors have stated that some of their alleged crimes were talked about in recordings.
Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel responded to the indictments:
“I’ll tell you the response to any allegation; Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him.”
.@youngthug defense attorney speaks with my colleague @MarkWinneWSB:
“I’ll tell you the response to any allegation; Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him.”
-Defense attorney Brian Steel pic.twitter.com/X7wXePahtf
— Michael Seiden (@SeidenWSBTV) May 10, 2022
Young Thug and Gunna Arrested in Atlanta on RICO Charges
