Following his arrest earlier this week as part of a 28-person grand jury indictment that also included Gunna, Young Thug has been charged with seven more felonies.
Young Thug, 30, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, was arrested after authorities accused the YSL label and imprint, which he is alleged to have co-founded in 2012, as being a “criminal street gang”.
At the time of his initial arrest on Monday (9th May), Thug was charged on two counts: participating in “criminal street gang activity” and conspiracy to violate America’s RICO law – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
After police raided the rapper’s home in Buckhead, Atlanta, however, seven more felonies have been added to the list, according to WSB-TV reporter Michael Seiden.
Two of the charges are reported to be drug-related (the intent to distribute marijuana, and the intent to distribute Schedule III, IV or V drugs); another two are said to be related to firearms (possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and possession of sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon or silencer).
Meanwhile, Gunna – real name Sergio Kitchens – was taken into custody yesterday morning.
In a statement to TMZ, Kitchens’ attorneys – Donald F. Samuel, John A. Garland and Kristen W. Novay – said Kitchens was innocent.
“The indictment falsely portrays his music as part of a criminal conspiracy,” they said, criticising the use of the rapper’s lyrics as legal grounds to prosecute him. “Mr. Kitchens has been an advocate for his community, and it is our privilege to advocate for him.”
Part of the 56-count indictment centres around Williams, Kitchens and YSL associates’ lyrics and social media messaging, including the lyrics for the track ‘Slatty’, in which Gunna raps: “I killed his man in front of his momma / Like fuck lil bruh, sister and his cousin.”
