ATLANTA (AP) — The long-running trial focused on gang activity and racketeering, which prompted Atlanta rapper Young Thug to plead guilty in October, concluded on Tuesday with the final two defendants acquitted of serious charges, including racketeering, murder, and involvement with gang activities.
Deamonte Kendrick, known as Yak Gotti in the music world, was found not guilty of all allegations, while Shannon Stillwell was only convicted of gun possession. These verdicts came nearly two years after jury selection commenced and a year following the initial statements in a trial that faced numerous challenges.
The case originated from an extensive indictment that included 28 individuals and utilized song lyrics and social media content as evidence to argue they conspired to breach Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams and a Grammy-winning artist, received probation in October after pleading guilty to charges related to gang involvement, drugs, and firearms.
Kendrick and Stillwell were implicated in a 2015 drive-by shooting outside a barbershop in Atlanta that resulted in the death of Donovan Thomas Jr., also referred to as “Big Nut,” who was allegedly part of a rival gang. Additionally, Stillwell faced charges for fatally shooting Shymel Drinks at a traffic light in 2022, reportedly as revenge for the earlier killings of two associates in the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang, which prosecutors asserted was co-founded by Young Thug.
Following the verdict, Stillwell was sentenced to the maximum penalty of ten years for firearm possession, having previously been convicted of a felony involving a gun. He received credit for the two years he had already served, with the remaining sentence to be completed on probation.
Before the trial began, nine of the defendants, including rapper Gunna, accepted plea deals, while four additional individuals pleaded guilty during the trial in October. Charges remain pending against twelve others, and prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. This left Kendrick and Stillwell, who both sustained stab wounds while imprisoned—Stillwell last year and Kendrick just this past Sunday.
The outcomes of the trial marked a significant setback for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who faced criticism regarding her enforcement of the state’s anti-racketeering law, a tactic she also employed against President-elect Donald Trump concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
“We always respect the verdict of a jury,” stated Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Willis.
Defense attorneys contended that the prosecution’s case relied on flawed evidence, including song lyrics, selectively chosen social media posts, and unreliable witness accounts that painted a distorted picture of young men trying to escape poverty through music.
Kendrick’s mother, Tasha Kendrick, was emotional following the jury’s decision. “I’m just thankful for so many things right now,” she expressed. “My emotions are all over the place right now.”
Prosecutors claimed that Williams and two accomplices established Young Slime Life in collaboration with the national Bloods gang in 2012. The 33-year-old Young Thug also runs a label named Young Stoner Life. Kendrick appears on popular tracks from the compilation album *Slime Language 2*, including “Take It to Trial” and “Slatty,” as well as on Young Thug’s “Slime Sh-t,” which were presented as evidence in the trial.
In October, Williams made a significant legal move by entering a “blind” plea, meaning he pleaded guilty without a predetermined sentence agreement. His attorney noted that he initially felt optimistic about their chances, but Williams expressed that being in court felt torturous and that he wanted to reunite with his family. Fortunately for him, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker granted probation with stringent conditions, including a ten-year restriction from the metro Atlanta area, except for specific situations.
The trial had a profound effect on Atlanta’s rap community. Williams rose from a housing project in Atlanta to become a highly successful artist known for adding his unique melodic spin to the contemporary Southern trap genre he helped popularize.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville was eventually removed from the case in July after meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Following this, Kendrick’s defense attorney, Doug Weinstein, asserted that the defendants received a “fair trial” once Whitaker took over, highlighting her reprimand of the prosecution for its disorganization and failure to disclose evidence timely.
During the closing arguments, Stillwell’s defense attorney, Max Schardt, aimed to undermine the credibility of gang investigators and other state witnesses, revealing that several alleged YSL members testified they had lied to authorities to avoid incarceration. Schardt claimed these officers had threatened them with extended prison sentences if they didn’t provide the desired narratives.
The prosecution countered that these witnesses were truthful when speaking to police, but not during the trial, where they were in the presence of those they had previously “snitched” on. They maintained that their statements were supported by additional evidence, including lyrics and social media posts in which the defendants allegedly boasted about violent acts.
Weinstein argued that the prosecution had hastily linked lyrics, online posts, and irrelevant information together to see what could eventually prove incriminating. He pointed out that, while the defendants had previously engaged in criminal acts, these actions were primarily meant to generate income within economically deprived communities, rather than to promote gang activities. Music, he noted, had offered a pathway for some to escape destructive lifestyles.
“As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt remarked. “It’s a sad reality that the options often come down to rap, prison, or death.”
Both defense attorneys mentioned that Kendrick and Stillwell still face other pending charges but are hopeful for their swift release from jail. Schardt emphasized that Stillwell recognizes this as a second chance at life. Weinstein conveyed that Kendrick, close friends with Young Thug, was focused on his burgeoning music career before being pulled back into the criminal justice system. “I’m so happy that he can now put this behind him and move forward,” Weinstein stated.
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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.
