ATLANTA (AP) — Jurors in Atlanta are currently deliberating following a lengthy trial centered on gang and racketeering charges that initially involved rapper Young Thug. The case has unfolded over the past year, drawing significant public attention.
The jury is tasked with deciding the fates of Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, better known as Yak Gotti, who are facing serious charges related to gang activities, murder, drug offenses, and gun possession. The original indictment named 28 individuals accused of conspiring under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Opening statements for the trial commenced a year ago, and since then, the case has seen several developments. Four defendants, including Young Thug, accepted plea deals and pleaded guilty last month, which resulted in Thug receiving probation. In contrast, Stillwell and Kendrick opted to decline plea negotiations and chose not to present any evidence or witnesses during the trial.
On Tuesday, after closing arguments wrapped up the night before, both Kendrick and Stillwell appeared to be in good spirits, engaging in light conversation and laughter with their legal teams before the jury arrived for its instructions. Deliberations began in the afternoon and were dismissed at 5 p.m., with jurors expected to reconvene Wednesday morning. If they fail to reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, they will break for the Thanksgiving holiday and return the following Monday.
The charges against Kendrick and Stillwell stem from the 2015 shooting death of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” which occurred in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors argued that both men are affiliated with a violent street gang called Young Slime Life (YSL), a group co-founded by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, in 2012.
During the prosecution’s closing arguments, they highlighted various pieces of evidence, such as tattoos, song lyrics, and social media posts, claiming these elements indicated a pattern of gang behavior—specifically that Stillwell and others acknowledged their involvement in violent acts against rival gangs. They asserted that Thomas was linked to a rival gang and that Stillwell was also implicated in the 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors described as a retaliatory killing.
In defense of their clients, attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt contended that the prosecution’s case relied on unreliable testimonies and selective evidence, arguing that it painted a misleading picture of Stillwell, Kendrick, and their associates. Schardt emphasized that several alleged YSL members had admitted to fabricating statements to law enforcement, suggesting that the pressure from police led to false accusations.
Schardt further stated that their clients’ pursuits of music were motivated by a desire to escape poverty, noting societal issues faced by the communities from which they hail: “As a society, we know the struggles that these communities have had. It’s a sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison, or death,” he remarked.
The influence of the YSL record label, which also stands for Young Stoner Life, was evident during the trial. Kendrick’s contributions to popular songs like “Take It to Trial” and “Slatty” from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2 were presented as part of the prosecution’s arguments.
Weinstein asserted that prosecuting Kendrick based on his musical expressions was unjust, but prosecutor Simone Hylton countered that surveillance footage and phone evidence verified their narrative. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” she stated.
This trial has faced numerous delays; jury selection alone took nearly 10 months. Additionally, Stillwell’s safety was compromised when he was stabbed at the Fulton County Jail, causing further interruptions in court proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker later took over the case after the previous judge was removed for holding a meeting with prosecutors without defense representation.
Ultimately, four defendants, including Young Thug, entered guilty pleas this October. Thug’s guilty plea was of the “blind” variety, meaning no deal was established with the prosecution beforehand. Prior to the trial, nine other individuals had accepted plea deals, including rapper Gunna. Furthermore, charges against 12 others remain pending, while one defendant’s charges were dropped after he was convicted of murder in a separate case.
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Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon
