The YSL RICO case has been full of twists and turns, and now, the prosecution in the case has been prompted to file another motion in response to the drama.
According to court documents obtained by HipHopDX, the motion — which was filed on Friday (January 19) — requests that all livestreaming, and cameras, be banned from the courtroom. The prosecution is citing what’s commonly known as Georgia Rule 22, which lays out strict guidelines for media in the courtrooms.
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Prosecutors claim that the motion is necessary to “preserve the integrity of the proceedings.”
“The State is not outright requesting an outright denial of recording in this trial,” the motion reads in part. “Instead, each of the State’s requests is explicitly referenced in Rule 22(G)(2) as an example of a “least restrictive possible limitation” on recording short of denial.”
YSL Rico Case: Prosecutors move to permanently ban cameras & livestreaming from courtroomhttps://t.co/52WCdDsvQrpic.twitter.com/x7cb8sli8t
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) January 19, 2024
Judge Ural Glanville has not yet ruled on the motion.
Earlier this month, the YSL RICO trial made headlines when somebody watching the hearing on Zoom interrupted to shout, “Free Thug! Mistrial!” twice. But as pointed out by legal journalist Meghann Cuniff, the interruption is not enough to warrant a mistrial.
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Before the heckler’s outburst, Young Thug’s brother Unfoonk, who previously accepted a plea deal, sent a message of support to the rapper which read: “I promise God hear us, I wish I can call u and tell I understand now.”
Fans of Thug have repeatedly called Unfoonk a “snitch” since the moment he accepted a plea deal last year. Unfoonk has denied snitching on anybody including his brother.
In another turn of events, YSL co-founder Trontavius Stevens took to the stand last week, where he answered prosecutors’ questions about gang signs and other identifying details of the alleged gang he co-founded.
As part of his plea deal made with the prosecution, Stevens is required to tell the truth in his testimony, according to an analysis by CourtTV. And though Stevens has been mostly uncooperative during his testimony, he ultimately pointed out Young Thug and “other members of the YSL, Young Slime Life, gang,” at the request of the prosecutor.
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In December, the trial was delayed after one of Young Thug’s co-defendants, Shannon Stillwell, was stabbed in jail.
Stillwell, who was arrested alongside Young Thug and 27 others in May 2022, was previously stabbed in July 2022, according to jail officials.
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As for Thug, he faces eight charges including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, as well as a string of drug and weapons offenses.
If convicted as charged, he faces up to 120 years in prison.
