The trial has faced many delays, including in July when the\u00a0original judge was removed<\/a>\u00a0after two defendants sought his recusal, citing a meeting the judge held with prosecutors and a state witness.<\/p>\n Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges. He also entered a no contest plea to another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning that he decided not to contest those charges but can be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.<\/p>\n The judge imposed a sentence of 40 years with the first five to be served in prison but commuted to time served, followed by 15 years on probation. If he successfully completes that probation without any violations, another 20 years will be commuted to time served. But if he violates the conditions, he will have to serve those 20 years in addition to any penalty for a probation violation.<\/p>\n Young Thug must stay away from the metro Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his probation, except for weddings, funerals, graduations or serious illness of family members, the judge said.<\/p>\n But she also ordered him to return to the Atlanta area four times a year during his probation to make a live anti-gang, anti-gun violence presentation at a school or a community organization serving children. She said that can count toward the 100 hours of community service she ordered him to perform each year during probation.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also not allowed to associate with gang members or with the victims or other defendants in the case, with the exception of his brother and the rapper Gunna, with whom he has contractual obligations. He also cannot promote any criminal street gang or gang activity and can\u2019t use hand signs or terminology that promotes a street gang.<\/p>\n Additional conditions include submitting to random drug screens and not possessing a gun. But he is allowed to travel both nationally and internationally for work, even while on probation.<\/p>\n Love had outlined for the judge the evidence she would have presented to prove Young Thug\u2019s guilt, including some of his rap lyrics. She asked the judge to sentence him to 45 years, with 25 years in prison and the remaining 20 years on probation.<\/p>\n The rapper\u2019s lead attorney Brian Steel said they \u201cvehemently disagree\u201d with many of the statements Love made and said it was \u201coffensive\u201d that the state is using Young Thug\u2019s lyrics against him.<\/p>\n Steel said the evidence against his client is weak and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting and hiding evidence, saying Young Thug was \u201cfalsely accused.\u201d Steel said he told his client that he thought they were winning the trial and should go through to a jury verdict.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he told me, \u2018I can\u2019t wait another three months if there is any possibility I could go home because I have children that are hurting. I have things to do,\u2019\u201d Steel said.<\/p>\n Steel asked the judge to impose a sentence of 45 years with five in prison commuted to time served and 40 years on probation.<\/p>\n Young Thug asked the judge to let him go home, saying he wouldn\u2019t be in a similar situation again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned from my mistakes, you know. I come from nothing and I\u2019ve made something and I didn\u2019t take full advantage of it. I\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The judge said she appreciated that he realized the impact that he has on people worldwide. She said rap music may involve a lot of posturing but that children emulate some of the dangerous behavior mentioned in songs. She encouraged Young Thug to use his talent and influence to encourage kids to do the right thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,\u201d Whitaker said.<\/p>\n A tremendously successful rapper, Young Thug started his own record label, Young Stoner Life or YSL. Prosecutors have said he also co-founded a violent criminal street gang and that YSL stands for Young Slime Life.<\/p>\n He was\u00a0charged two years ago<\/a>\u00a0in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen other people of conspiring to violate Georgia\u2019s anti-racketeering law. He also was charged with gang, drug and gun crimes.<\/p>\n Three of his Young Thug\u2019s co-defendants had\u00a0already pleaded guilty<\/a>\u00a0this week after reaching deals with prosecutors. The pleas leave the fates of two other co-defendants still undecided.<\/p>\n Nine people charged in the indictment accepted plea deals before the trial began. Twelve others are being tried separately. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case.<\/p>\n Source: \u00a0![\"Associated](\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Associated-Press-logo.png\"){kind=logo}
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