After the YSL RICO trial ended with an acquittal, a judge ordered Georgia to return Young Thug’s car and $149,000, marking a defeat for Fani Willis.
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A Georgia judge ordered state authorities to return Young Thug’s limousine and more than $149,000 in cash seized by investigators during the YSL RICO investigation that ended in a major defeat for prosecutor Fani Willis.
Judge Paige Reese Whitaker ruled Wednesday that the state must return most of the items seized from the Atlanta rapper, including a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, a 2022 Porsche 911, three Mercedes-Benzes, a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 2018 Lamborghini, a Can-Am Spyder, jewelry and $149,000 by 5 p.m. Friday. USD cash
The ruling came after Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steele, argued that Georgia failed to hold a civil forfeiture hearing within the required 60-day deadline after the rapper reached a plea deal in October 2024 that ended the state’s longest criminal trial.
Judge Whittaker added that the state had no legal authority to retain custody of the property after the forfeiture complaint was dismissed.
Young Thug was released from prison on October 31, 2024, after pleading guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two firearms charges, while entering a no contest plea to racketeering conspiracy and another gang charge.
The rapper was sentenced to 40 years in prison, but was immediately released after spending more than two years in prison awaiting trial, with 15 years of probation and strict conditions, including not traveling to the Atlanta metropolitan area except for certain family events.
The YSL case began in May 2022, when Willis announced indictments against Young Thug and 27 others, accusing them of running a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, associated with the Bloods.
Prosecutors claimed the gang was responsible for multiple killings and that Young Thug’s record label, Young Stoner Life, was linked to criminal activity.
The trial was a disaster for Willis’ office, plagued by allegations of misconduct, judicial recusal and prosecutorial errors that led to the original judge resigning after being accused of misconduct.
Young Thug’s surprise plea came after several co-defendants reached plea deals, including rapper Gunna, who accepted Alford’s plea in December 2022, which allowed him to remain innocent while acknowledging prosecutors had enough evidence to convict.
The case was concluded in December 2024 with the final two defendants, Demonte Kendrick (Jacques Gotti) and Shannon Stilwell, being acquitted of almost all charges, including murder, dealing a heavy blow to Willis, with Georgia’s longest criminal trial ending without any murder convictions.
