The highly publicized YSL trial has reached a significant conclusion with the acquittal of the final two defendants, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell, who were both found not guilty of RICO charges. The trial, which has captivated Atlanta’s hip-hop community, has been a long and dramatic legal battle, with the stakes high for those connected to the Young Slime Life (YSL) label and its association with alleged criminal activities.
Yak Gotti, whose real name is Deamonte Kendrick, was acquitted of all charges, including a 2015 murder charge that had been one of the central points of the case. Gotti’s victory in the courtroom came after a tumultuous journey, which included being stabbed in jail just days before the verdict. He appeared in court with stitches on his forehead, but his attorney confirmed that he would fully recover from the injury. Stillwell, who faced a series of serious charges, including the same 2015 murder and another from 2022, was found guilty only on one count: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was acquitted of all other charges, including the two murder counts. Stillwell was sentenced to time served and probation, a relatively light sentence given the gravity of the accusations. After the verdict, Stillwell embraced his attorney, Max Schardt, visibly relieved.
The verdicts marked the end of a protracted and complex trial that had stretched on for several months. Jury deliberations began on November 26, 2023, and continued until the morning of December 4, with breaks for Thanksgiving and further review of key evidence, including videos related to the murders and jail calls that had been central to the prosecution’s case. The jury even requested to hear certain YSL songs, which had been presented as evidence of the group’s criminal culture.
This trial was a continuation of the legal drama surrounding YSL, a record label founded by rapper Young Thug, who has been at the center of the charges. The RICO charges accused members of YSL of running a violent street gang under the guise of a music label, allegedly involved in a range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, shootings, and murders. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was initially considered the central figure in the case. However, in a surprise turn of events,
Thug took a plea deal in November, pleading no contest to the RICO charge and guilty to other charges, but avoiding jail time by walking free under heavy probation restrictions. His plea marked a significant turning point in the trial, with many other defendants following suit.
Four of the original six defendants took plea deals, including Quamarvious Nichols, Marquavius Huey, and Rodalius Ryan, all of whom received favorable prison sentences. The dramatic turn of events, with several high-profile defendants opting for plea deals, left Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell as the last remaining defendants to stand trial.
The legal battle for YSL began in earnest in January 2023, when jury selection began. Finding jurors who could commit to such a long and complicated trial proved difficult, and delays in the case only added to its complexity. The trial was further delayed in July, when Judge Ural Glanville, the original judge, was recused after it was revealed that he had held a secret meeting with a witness and prosecutors. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over the case, and she made a commitment to bring the trial to a close by the end of the year. With the verdicts of Gotti and Stillwell, the case has concluded as promised, though the ripple effects of the trial are far from over.
Despite the acquittals of Gotti and Stillwell, the YSL prosecutions are far from finished. Twelve more defendants remain in the legal pipeline, each facing charges that could carry serious consequences for their lives and careers. The broader YSL case has cast a spotlight on the intersection of hip-hop culture and alleged criminal activity, raising important questions about the line between artistry and criminal behavior. With the trial now behind, the legal system and the public will await the outcomes of the remaining cases, as the saga of YSL and its members continues to unfold in Atlanta’s courts.
