New Developments In Young Thug’s Trial: Attorney In Hot Water
In a shocking turn of events, the court held Young Thug’s attorney in contempt during the rapper’s trial. This incident is just another bump in the road for Young Thug’s lengthy court appearances.
Attorney Brian Steel represents rapper Young Thug in his trial for breaking racketeering and gang laws. Authorities charged the rapper two years ago and indicted him along with two dozen others who allegedly conspired to violate Georgia anti-racketeering laws. Additionally, authorities have charged Young Thug with firearms, gang, and drug offenses, along with five other individuals.
On Monday, June 10th, Steel informed the presiding Judge, Judge Ural Glanville, that he had been made aware of an ex-parte meeting. He added that the meeting and its rhetoric were “troubling.” Steel claimed that the meeting was a form of coercion, witness intimidation, and improper ex-parte communication.
The judge was concerned about how Steel learned about the meeting. In response to Steel’s arguments, the judge said that Steel had “made several claims regarding the sum and substance of the communication that the Court found troubling.” The judge asked Steel to reveal his sources, which Steel declined multiple times. Shortly after, Glanville wrote an order to have Steel found contempt.
Initially, the judge ordered Steel to spend 20 days in Fulton County Jail, serving every weekend for the next 10 weeks.
The judge said, “[Steel will] be reporting to 901 Rice Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30318. At 7 p.m. on Fridays, [he will] be released on 7 p.m. on Sundays. And it’s to commence this Friday, June 14th, at 7 p.m. and not to end until Sunday, August 18th, 2024, at 7 p.m.”.
Changes In Young Thug’s Attorney’s Status
After the judge’s initial order, Steel requested to serve his sentence in the same prison where they held his client. He argued that this change would allow them to work more on their defense.
The attorney tried to overturn the order, bringing the original ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court for further investigation. The higher court later ruled to put attorney Steel’s charges on hold.
Steel’s legal team released a statement expressing joy that his family will have him home this Father’s Day. Young Thug’s attorney has been released on bail and has filed an appeal of the judge’s original rulings. His appeal is still pending amidst the ongoing judicial process surrounding Young Thug’s trial.
Young Thug’s Trial
Back in May 2022, police arrested rapper Young Thug, setting the music world ablaze. The artist, born Jeffery Williams, has been in police custody since then.
Young Thug’s main charges centered around his label, “YSL,” which stands for “Young Stoner Life.” According to the original charges, the acronym also stands for the name of a Georgia gang, “Young Slime Life.” The gang engages in violent activity, including firearms, drugs, and racketeering.
The Fulton County District Attorney named Williams and a few other rappers in the area. In an 88-page indictment, authorities charged a total of 28 people. The prosecutor at the time cited Williams as the leader or kingpin of gang activity in the area.
After a long pretrial process, the jury selection process proved to be even more lengthy. Throughout the year it took to start the trial in 2023, the list of indictees dwindled due to plea deals and other circumstances.
Even after the pitfalls and roadblocks, further obstacles, such as the arrest of Young Thug’s attorney, have added even more confusion to the trial.
Who is Young Thug?
Young Thug, also known as Jeffery Lamar Williams, is a famous American rapper. He has a unique sound, which eventually helped coin the term “mumble rap” in hip-hop. Throughout the early 2010s, he released a series of mixtapes. Young Thug struck gold in 2014 with his “Stoner” and “Danny Glover” singles. That same year, he also gained popularity for guest appearances with artists like T.I., Rich Gang, and Tyga. Nowadays, his name has gone alongside music giants such as Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott.
Around 2016, Thug’s popularity grew even further with the creation of his record label, YSL Records. Around this time, he began to have more run-ins with the law. Most incidents include drug charges and gang violence centered around gangs such as the Bloods Street Gang.