Young Thug co-defendant Kahlieff Adams, who was accused of passing drugs to the rapper in court, was “tased several times,” a YSL defense attorney has claimed.
According to WSB-TV, attorney Surinder K. Chadha Jimenez, who represents one of Thug and Adams’ 12 other co-defendants, filed a motion on Friday (January 20) detailing what happened after the alleged drug exchange on Wednesday (January 18).
In the new court document, Jimenez also requested that an independent law enforcement agency, like the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, review the entire incident to not only determine whether Young Thug and Kahlieff Adams committed a crime, but also whether the Fulton County Sherriff’s Deputies used excessive force.
According to a previous motion filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a closed-circuit camera captured the moment on Wednesday where Adams allegedly walked up to Thug, who was seated next to his attorney, and handed him a Percocet tablet.
EXCLUSIVE: My colleague @MarkWinneWSB just obtained surveillance video that shows the moment prosecutors accuse Young Thug and his co defendant Kahlieff Adams of conducting a “hand-to-hand” drug deal in court.@wsbtvpic.twitter.com/smhVopvH7x
— Michael Seiden (@SeidenWSBTV) January 19, 2023
After confiscating the pill from the Young Stoner Life Records boss, authorities proceeded to take Adams to a back room, where they searched him and uncovered additional Percocet pills, marijuana, tobacco and other unspecified contraband.
Authorities claimed the defendant was taken to nearby Grady Memorial Hospital after attempting to ingest some of the items he was carrying, but Jimenez offered a different account of events.
“Shortly after Mr. Adams is taken to the back holding cells, while in the courtroom, the undersigned attorney, his client, and several other individuals could hear loud banging and yelling coming from the holding area where Mr. Adams was being held,” the defense attorney wrote. “While the disturbance took place, several officers ran into the courtroom and went into the holding area where Mr. Adams was being held.”
He continued: “Undersigned counsel observed at least two officers remove their belts and firearms and then rush into the holding area. The sounds were distressing to many in the courtroom, and at one point the Honorable Angela D’Williams asked to go to the back to check on her client but was not allowed. Undersigned counsel and possibly other people were concerned for the safety of the Defendants.”
The motion further insinuated that the entire exchange could impact the jury selection process, as potential jurors could hear the same noises from the hallway where they were waiting outside of the courtroom.
Surinder K. Chadha Jimenez added that he believes part of the reason why Kahlieff Adams was rushed to the hospital was that he had been tased multiple times while in the holding area.
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As a result of the disruption, Wednesday’s jury selection hearing was adjourned early, which prevented the court from considering any juror hardships — requests by potential members of the jury to be excused due to any physical or financial issues that might arise as a result of their participation in the court case, which is expected to last up to a year.
In an interview with WSB-TV on Thursday, shared via Twitter by reporter Michael Seiden, Young Thug’s lawyer Keith Adams maintained his client’s innocence.
“The reality is Mr. Williams had nothing to do with what went on in the courtroom yesterday,” the attorney said. “One of the co-defendants, on his way to the restroom, attempted to pass something to Mr. Williams, who immediately turned it over to the deputy. He did not know what it was, turned it over to the deputies right away.”
Kahlieff Adams’ attorney Angela D’Williams has not issued a statement about the incident.
This is the second time a defendant in the ongoing YSL trial has been accused of attempting to smuggle contraband.
On Tuesday (January 17), YSL rapper Yak Gotti’s mother was also arrested after she allegedly attempted to pass a bag filled with tobacco products and rolling papers to her son at the Fulton County Courthouse.
