Young Thug, Gunna, & 28 Other YSL Affiliates Named In 56 Count Indictment

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

On Monday, May 9, Young Thug and Gunna were named in a 56 count federal indictment along with other affiliates of Thug’s YSL (Young Stoner Life) label. The news was first broken by reports from Atlanta’s WSB-TV. Both rappers are accused of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

It’s important to remember that under the Georgia Gang Act and RICO Act, any association of three or more people is considered a gang. Thanks to those acts, any person affiliated can get time–even if they didn’t have anything to do with the charges at hand.

A few things significantly stand out from the charges. First, is the allegations that Young Thug rented a car from Hertz that authorities claim was used to murder alleged rival gang member Donovan Thomas in 2015. That date helps give a better understanding of how long they have been building a case against the rapper and YSL.

The other allegation is that two men associated with YSL were working to get permission from Young Thug to make a second attempt to murder YFN Lucci while he is in jail for his own indictment.

Gunna’s role in this is–from the looks of it–just being in a video at the wrong time. While Young Thug was arrested, Gunna reportedly hasn’t been taken into custody. Several other well-known YSL rappers were also arrested including Slimelife Shawty, Yak Gotti, and Unfoonk.

WSB-TV adds that the indictment also said Williams and YSL members engaged in the activities such as:

• Preserving, protecting and enhancing the reputation, power and territory of the enterprise through acts of racketeering activity including murder, assault and threats of violence;

• Preserving, protecting and enhancing the reputation, power and territory of the enterprise by the posting of messages, images, videos and songs, demonstrating allegiance to the enterprise and a willingness to engage in violence on its behalf;

• Maintaining armed individuals ready and willing to preserve, protect and enhance the reputation, power and territory of the enterprise through the use of violence;

• Obtaining money, weapons and other property through acts of racketeering activity, including robbery, theft and the unlawful sale and distribution of drugs;

• Obstructing law enforcement investigations and court proceedings through witness intimidation and attacks upon law enforcement officers.

Source: Johnny Nunez/2021 BET Hip Hop Awards / Getty

Young Thug’s lawyer has spoken out on his arrest and says the rapper is innocent. He’s vowing to fight all of the charges to clear his name.

“I’ll tell you the response to any allegation is Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him.”

You can watch the news coverage featuring Thug’s lawyer below.