Federal prosecutors rely on rapper Young Thug’s social media and music for evidence to show his criminal involvement under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis accused Jeffery Lamar Williams, better known as Young Thug, of being the co-founder of the Young Slime Life (YSL) in Atlanta’s Cleveland Avenue and of promoting the gang in his songs and on social media.
Thug’s lyrics from nine of his songs are mentioned in the indictment that states the lyrics constituted “an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.”
The case of Young Thug
Young Thug was arrested early this week for "Conspiracy To Violate The Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Act," according to Fulton County police records.
The rapper, along with 28 people—including Yak Gotti, Gunna, and Thug's brother Unfoonk—is accused of being active members of the Young Slime Life (YSL), a criminal street gang involved in crimes like drugs, theft and violence.
Young Thug is expected to appear before a Supreme Court Judge and the rapper will remain in custody until then.
The RICO Act
The 1970s statute created to take down mafias and mobsters allows the state to find multiple parties guilty. The state must prove that everyone in the organization or group committed serious crimes and that those crimes were part of a larger racketeering plan.
Violating RICO carries a maximum of 20 years and a fine that is greater of $25,000 or three times the amount of pecuniary gain.
