Talk about history in the making.
According to Complex, Georgia’s longest-running criminal case that led Atlanta rapper Young Thug to plead guilty in October came to an end on Tuesday (December 3rd) after the last two defendants were found not guilty of racketeering, murder, and gang-related charges.
Yak Gotti, birth name Deamonte Kendrick was acquitted of all charges, while Shannon Stillwell was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon but found not guilty of all other charges.
Stillwell received a maximum 10-year sentence, with credit for two years served. He will serve the rest of his time on probation.
BREAKING: NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES for Deamonte Kendrick aka Yak Gotti. #ysltrial pic.twitter.com/fLZwzoBXaB
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) December 3, 2024
The verdict came nearly two years after jury selection in the YSL RICO trial began and a year after opening statements in a trial plagued with problems.
Prosecutors were accusing Yak Gotti and Stillwell of killing Donovan Thomas Jr. in a drive-by shooting because of his ties to a rival gang. Their trials faced a lot of delays, with one of the most recent happening after Yak Gotti was stabbed inside the Fulton County Jail.
28 people were indicted in the case, and nine defendants, including Gunna, took plea deals before the trial started.
Last month, Young Thug entered a non-negotiated plea deal and was sentenced to five years in jail, which was commuted to time served. The Grammy Winner also got 15 years of probation and a “backloaded” 20-year sentence, which he would serve if he violated his probation.
As part of his probation requirements, the rapper is expected not to step foot in metropolitan Atlanta for the first 10 years of his probation, with the exception of events such as funerals, graduations, and weddings. If he does, he must leave within 48 hours after the events.
Additionally, Young Thug is required to host anti-gang and anti-gun presentations four times a year during each year of his probation, perform 100 hours of community service during each year of his probation, and have zero contact with anyone from, involved or suspected of being involved in a criminal street gang.
