US rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, has finally been released from jail after a grueling 900-day ordeal.
He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including gang, drug and gun offenses, as part of a plea agreement.
“I take full responsibility for my crimes, for my charges. To really everybody that has got something to do with this situation, I want to say sorry,” Williams said in court.
The 33-year-old Grammy winner was initially facing a 45-year sentence but Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker commuted his sentence to time served, followed by 15 years of probation.
Williams expressed remorse in court, describing himself as a “good guy with a good heart” who got caught up in trouble due to his nature of being “nice or cool.”
He acknowledged that his actions had consequences and vowed to be more responsible moving forward.
He said: “And I understand that you can’t be that way when you reach a certain height because it could end bad… and it could fall on you.”
The terms of his probation are quite strict, including 100 hours of community service, restrictions on gang contact, and a ban from staying in the Atlanta area for the first decade, except for family events and anti-gang presentations.
The trial itself was a long and tumultuous process, with numerous delays and disruptions.
Young Thug and 27 associates from his record label, YSL Records, were accused of crimes under the RICO Act, with prosecutors alleging that YSL was a front for a criminal gang linked to violent crimes in Atlanta.
With Williams’s release, the remaining defendants, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, are expected to proceed with their trials.
