Rapper Gunna has been released from the Fulton County Jail in downtown Atlanta after striking a plea deal with prosecutors in his RICO case. Gunna’s attorneys reached the deal on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Atlanta Rapper Gunna Set Free In RICO Case
The development means that the rapper has been sentenced to time-served, which officially suspends his sentence. He was released from jail just after 5 p.m. ET. after taking an “Alford” plea.
Through his legal representation, Gunna released the following statement:
“While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.”
What Is An Alford Plea?
An Alford plea is one in which the defendant pleads guilty but continues to assert his innocence.
In Georgia, Alford pleas are only offered in felony cases.
Gunna’s bail was denied by the judge in May.
Prosecutors say the rapper’s musical associates, who collectively call themselves YSL (Young Slime Life), is a criminal operation. In court, the State alleged that Gunna serves in a “command” role in the organization.
In his statement Wednesday, Gunna said he didn’t look at YSL as a gang when he joined them more than eight years ago, but they were “more like a group of people from metro Atlanta who had common interests and artistic aspirations,” Gunna wrote. “My focus of YSL was entertainment — rap artists who wrote and performed music that exaggerated and ‘glorified’ urban life in the Black community.”
When Was Gunna’s Trial Set?
The judge set a trial date for January 9, 2023, for Gunna to face the charges. With the new developments, it’s clear that Fulton County attorneys are content to go after the bigger fish: Young Thug, the YSL honcho Young Thug, real name is Jeffery Williams.
He has been jailed for months now.
Young Thug was arrested at his Buckhead mansion on May 9 and Gunna surrendered to authorities two days later after Fulton County officials issued a 56-page gang indictment. The document alleges the pair are a part of — and running — a criminal organization involved in some serious crimes, including murder.
What Is RICO?
A RICO case is one that involves charges of participation in organized crime and in this case specifically, street gang activity. Georgia’s RICO Act is more wide-ranging than the federal equivalent so there is more of a chance that the charges may stick.
RICO, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, was made into law in 1970 as a way for the United States to fight organize crime.
The indictment also includes charges of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, murder, armed robbery , participation in criminal street gang activity.
What Is Gunna Charged With?
What Is Young Thug Charged With?
Thug is facing a litany of charges besides the RICO counts including possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon, or silencer; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
This is a fast developing case. Stick with AtlantaFi.com for more news.
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