Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial continues to make headlines. Thugger’s former colleague Lil Woody (real name Kenneth Copeland) was arrested for contempt of court, despite being granted immunity after a heated court hearing.
Woody was taken into custody on Friday (June 7) after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to appear in court against Young Thug. Although portions of Copeland’s 2021 felony arrest affidavit to authorities have leaked through the media, Copeland refused to cooperate with prosecutors after appearing in court, leading to a tense exchange between the two sides.
“I’ve grown up. I’m an adult,” Copeland responded when asked to confirm his age. “I’m picking the fifth one.” Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville then ordered Copeland to be held in custody until June 10 on a charge of willful contempt because prosecutors had granted immunity.
“I just want to make sure you understand,” Glanville said. “If you don’t testify, then I have several remedies as the judge in this case. One of them is that I can hold you in contempt and jail you because the way you get out of that contempt is by testifying.
Copeland was originally arrested in Fulton County in October 2021 after he was found with a loaded gun during a traffic stop. At that time, Copeland reportedly revealed details of YSL’s crimes and promised to get Young Thug to confess.
Young Thug’s attorney, Brad Steel, attempted to file a motion for a mistrial on the basis that it was known that witnesses would be defending the fifth case, but Glanville denied the motion.
According to a fan page on Twitter (X), Copeland shared multiple posts on social media following the incident, which also reportedly confirmed his plans to defend the fifth man following his court appearance.
“I’m fine, don’t call me again, I’m not crying at all,” Copeland wrote on Instagram Story. “This is my last time in prison. I love you guys. I have to go on this journey with my head held high. No one is forcing me to do this. I’m going to be fine. God didn’t take me this far in vain. This is it. The way I want to go.
Young Thug is one of two dozen defendants charged in RICO cases and has been in jail since his arrest in May 2022. YSL recording artist Gunna pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of racketeering.
Watch video of the hearing, including the incident with Copeland, below.
