Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer After a long, drawn-out trial, Young Thug has accepted a plea deal in his long-standing RICO case.
Standing before a judge earlier today, the rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, pleaded no contest to RICO and gang leader counts, and pled guilty to the rest of his charges including two gun charges and three drug charges.
Thug changed his plea after Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker asked if he had agreed to a non-negotiated plea, meaning prosecutors and defense could not agree on a sentencing deal and the power to determine punishment turned over to the judge.
Georgia prosecutors had previously offered a plea that Thug turned down. That deal would have allowed him to walk free today for 15 years on probation, which if completed would have allowed him to avoid jail time, but would potentially put him behind bars for 23 years if he violated probation.
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