Could Song Lyrics and Social Media Posts be the Reason Young Thug Goes Down in RICO Case? Attorney Gives Insight

Last week, Young Thug was arrested at his Atlanta home after being named in a broad 56- count gang indictment. According to the indictment, the rapper and 27 other people, including Atlanta rapper Gunna, allegedly conspired to violate the Georgia criminal racketeering law. 

Several reports have been made on the arrest, but many wonder what this means for them. Now that the two are listed in the indictment, does this mean they’re being charged with all 56 counts? Criminal Defense Attorney Caesar Chukwuma gave Baller Alert the details on the case.

Specifically, the 28 people in the indictment are all charged with conspiracy to violate the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Georgia’s version of the federal law was initially designed to fight organized crime. “What this statute does is allow the government and prosecutors to go after individuals who themselves didn’t commit these crimes but had their subordinates commit criminal acts on their behalf,” said Chukwuma.

Under this statute, prosecutors must prove that the defendants committed at least two specific offenses within a 10-year period that were part of a racketeering scheme. If found guilty, penalties for RICO include up to 20 years in prison, a monetary fine, or both.

Attorney Chukwuma explained how posting lyrics from a song is not a crime. However, if a social media post or music lyrics are investigated, and the evidence cooperates and supports a criminal act, it can be used against you in court.

The government claims that YSL—Young Thug’s rap collective and label, also known as Young Stoner Life —is a criminal gang with ties to the national Bloods organization. Although there’s no significant evidence, some of Thug and Gunna’s alleged crimes include the lyrics to several songs, and various social media photo’s over the years of him flashing a YSL gang sign. Chukwuma shared, “You have to be mindful of what you post on social media. Anything you say on social media can be used against you. It’s basically like an admission.”

Recently, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has shown no qualms about using lyrics as evidence. “The First Amendment does not protect people from prosecutors using [music] as\ evidence if it is such,” she said at a press conference.

One of the songs cited in the indictment is “Take It to Trial,” by Young Thug, Gunna, and Yak Gotti, from last year’s YSL compilation Slime Language 2. According to the indictment, Yak Gotti raps, “For my slimes, you know I’ll kill.” Young Thug sings the hook.

Young Thug is also charged with participation in a criminal street gang, while Gunna is charged only under RICO. “If the government has evidence or witnesses who are willing to cooperate – especially if these witnesses are within the criminal organizations themselves – they’re less likely to beat those charges,” said Chukwuma. 

Some of the most serious charges in the indictment involve the January 2015 death of Donovan Thomas, Jr., who was shot at an Atlanta barbershop in a suspected drive-by shooting. Three days before the alleged murder, the indictment asserts, Young Thug rented a silver Infiniti sedan that was used in the killing. The indictment claims that Thomas was a rival gang member.

A little more than two weeks after Thomas’ death, Young Thug and a different alleged gang leader purportedly took part in a conversation where one of them said that “sacrifices must be made, soldiers must fall in order for battle to be won.” The next day, Young Thug allegedly said in a video posted to social media: “So a n**** lie to they momma, lie to they kids, lie to they brothers and sisters then get right into the courtroom and tell the God’s honest truth, don’t get it, y’all n***** need to get fucking killed bro, from me and YSL,” in what prosecutors argue was another RICO offense.

Young Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, told news outlets that “Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever” and he would “fight till his last drop of blood to clear him.”