Rapper Young Thug, who has been facing racketeering charges since November 2023, has changed his plea to guilty in the ongoing trial.

Reports indicate that a significant legal development occurred on Thursday.

The Atlanta-born rapper known as Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, entered a guilty plea in a Georgia court after a short break, according to NBC News and ABC News.

During the proceedings, Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker inquired whether Young Thug had chosen to give up his rights and plead guilty because he was indeed guilty. He affirmatively responded with “Yes,” as reported by ABC.

Prior to this change in plea, Judge Whitaker had confirmed if the rapper was accepting a non-negotiated plea deal.

Prosecutors and the defense were unable to reach an agreement on a sentencing deal, leaving the judge to determine the punishment, as reported by NBC.

YSL News has sought comments from Young Thug’s representatives.

In related news, Young Thug’s trial has resumed after a two-month break, featuring testimony from Lil Woody.

This shift in Young Thug’s legal strategy follows his co-defendants—Quamarvious Nichols, Rodalius Ryan, and Marquavius Huey—who each entered guilty pleas.This week, Rolling Stone reported that Nichols received a 20-year prison sentence, while Ryan and Huey were given sentences of 10 and 25 years, respectively.

The trial involving the rapper, which holds the record for being the longest in Georgia’s history, resumed on August 12 after a nearly two-month break featuring various judges. Kenneth “Lil Woody” Copeland, a former associate of Young Thug and an important witness for the prosecution, testified for several hours during this time.

Copeland reportedly confessed to placing blame on Young Thug during his discussions with law enforcement.

“I believed the police would never approach him,” he stated, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “So, it was simple for me to deflect responsibility onto him to divert attention from myself.”

What led to Young Thug’s trial?

On May 9, 2022, Young Thug was apprehended as part of a broad investigation into a conspiracy aiming to breach Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as RICO, is at the center of the accusations against him. He was charged with being a co-founder of a violent street gang known as Young Slime Life. Following two indictments in May and August 2022, he faced serious charges including racketeering, drug offenses, and gun-related crimes.

Jury selection for his trial commenced in January 2023, with the actual trial starting ten months later. The proceedings have experienced several delays throughout the process.

Since November 2023.

Judge Whitaker has taken over the case following the removal of Chief Judge Ural Glanville in July, with Superior Court Judge Shakura L. Ingram also recusing herself shortly thereafter.

Younger Thug has pleaded not guilty and continues to assert his innocence. Many of the original 28 defendants, including rapper Gunna, have since reached plea agreements since their charges were filed in 2022.