Georgia judge denies bail for Atlanta rapper Young Thug
This browser does not support the video element.
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ATLANTA — A Georgia judge on Thursday denied bail for Atlanta rapper Young Thug, who is awaiting trial after authorities alleged that the Grammy Award winner and his Young Slime Life syndicate were involved in gang-related activity.
At a hearing in Fulton County Superior Court, Judge Ural Glanville said that the rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, constituted a flight risk, WSB-TV reported. The judge also was apparently swayed by arguments that Williams might intimidate witnesses if he was released, according to Billboard.
“I realize that Mr. Williams is presumed innocent,” Glanville said, according to the entertainment outlet. “However, in this particular circumstance there have been significant (claims) about Mr. Williams being a danger to the community.”
Williams was arrested on May 9 and booked in the Fulton County Jail on charges of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and participating in criminal street gang activity, WSB reported. He was indicted on 56 counts alongside fellow YSL rappers including Sergio “Gunna” Kitchens, Rolling Stone reported.
The indictment alleged that Williams and other YSL members “conspired to associate together and with others for the common purposes of illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of racketeering activity, and conducting and participating in the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering.”
Williams appeared in a video from the Cobb County Jail during Thursday’s proceedings. Kevin Liles, the co-founder of 300 Entertainment, testified on behalf of the rapper, the magazine reported.
Brian Steel, Williams’ attorney, has denied the allegations against his client.
“Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever, and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him,” Steel told WSB last month.
Williams’ trial is expected to begin on Jan. 9, 2023, Rolling Stone reported.
Photos: Young Thug through the years Here are some memorable photos of rapper Young Thug through the years. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2014: Rappers Meek Mill and Young Thug make a special appearance at the PUMA Lab Powered by Foot Locker at Foot Locker at the Gallery at South Dekalb Mall on February 6, 2014, in Atlanta. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for PUMA)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2015: Young Thug performs at the Tabernacle on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (Katie Darby/Invision/AP)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2016: Recording artist Young Thug (left) and Jerrika Karlae attends the 2016 BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2017: Young Thug celebrates Futures birthday at Versace Mansion on November 17, 2017, in Miami. (Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Freebandz)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2018: Kanye West, Kim Kardashian West, Young Thug, 2 Chainz and Kesha Ward attend the the Versace fall 2019 fashion show at the American Stock Exchange Building in lower Manhattan on December 2, 2018, in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2019: Bebe Rexha and Young Thug attend the 61st annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2020: Young Thug attends the 62nd annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2021: Young Thug attends the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 1, 2021, in Atlanta. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
Photos: Young Thug through the years 2022: Young Thug attends Gunna's DS4EVER LA Listening Party on January 6, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DS4EVER Presented by Gunna, Young Stoner Life Records, 300 Entertainment)