The YSL gang RICO case has some 28 people involved with rappers Gunna and Young Thug among them. Gunna has been in jail since May and despite their best efforts of his legal team to get him out on bail, it seems now that he has accepted a plea deal to get out of jail. 

Gunna’s attorneys, Steve Shadow and Don Samuel, announced that Gunna (real name Sergio Kitchens) entered a plea deal where he received time-served and a suspended sentence. 

Members in the involved in the YSL Gang indictment are being accused of committing several street gang activities including drug possession, armed robbery, attempted murder, and aggravated assault. 

Gunna had originally pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the RICO Act in 2013. By accepting an Alford plea, Gunna is effectively pleading guilty to the offences whilst maintaining his innocence. The deal allows the defendant to avoid a trial that risks a more severe sentence. 

Gunna made a statement to Complex, “When I became affiliated with YSL in 2016, I did not consider it a ‘gang’; more like a group of people from metro Atlanta who had common interests and artistic aspirations. My focus of YSL was entertainment – rap artists who wrote and performed music that exaggerated a ‘glorified’ urban life in the Black community. 

“While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.

“I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL. An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge. I love and cherish my association with YSL music, and always will. I look at this as an opportunity to give back to my community and educate young men and women that ‘gangs’ and violence only lead to destruction.”

Gunna’s suspended sentence has conditions including 500 hours of community service. 

Young Thug is facing more serious charges including the aforementioned conspiracy to violate the RICO act and participation in street gang activity. Additionally, seven felonies were added after the police raided his home including:

• possession of marijuana with intent to distribute,
• possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute,
• possession of a firearm during commission of a felony,
• possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon or silencer,
• and three charges for unlawful participation in gang activity while employed by/associated with a criminal street gang.

It is unclear if Young Thug will take a similar plea, if it is even available to him.