ATLANTA – One other defendant within the sweeping YSL gang indictment is anticipated to seem in a Fulton County courtroom Wednesday afternoon because the high-profile case nears its conclusion.
Examine again right here at 1 p.m. for a livestream from the courtroom
Damekion Garlington, 29, has reportedly entered a nonnegotiated Alford plea to 5 prices within the ongoing case, which accuses members of the Younger Slime Life group of working as a violent avenue gang below the guise of a music label, in line with the Atlanta Journal Structure.
What we all know:
Garlington had initially confronted numerous severe allegations, together with the homicide of rival gang member Shymel Drinks and orchestrating a jailhouse stabbing that injured rapper Rashawn “YFN Lucci” Bennett. He was additionally charged with possessing a firearm throughout a felony and conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Garlington’s plea reportedly contains the RICO cost, two counts of participation in felony avenue gang exercise, one depend of aggravated assault, and one depend of possessing a firearm throughout a felony. Prosecutors have dropped the homicide and tried homicide prices as a part of the plea association, in line with the newspaper.
What Is an Alford Plea?
What we all know:
An Alford plea permits a defendant to keep up their innocence whereas acknowledging that prosecutors doubtless have sufficient proof to safe a conviction. On this case, Garlington has chosen to forego trial, leaving sentencing solely within the arms of Fulton County Superior Court docket Decide Paige Reese Whitaker — the identical decide who has been presiding over the broader YSL case.
His choice mirrors the method taken by rapper Jeffery Williams, higher generally known as Younger Thug, who entered the same nonnegotiated plea in 2024. He was lastly launched from jail on Oct. 31, 2024.Â
RELATED: Younger Thug launched from jail after accepting plea deal in YSL trial
Solely Two Defendants Stay
What’s subsequent:
As soon as Garlington is sentenced, solely two of the greater than 20 authentic defendants will stay: Christian Eppinger and Demise McMullen.
Eppinger faces a prolonged listing of prices, together with violating the RICO Act, armed theft, hijacking a motorized vehicle, tried homicide, firearm possession, and gang-related offenses. McMullen is charged in reference to the 2015 homicide of Donovan Thomas Jr.
Jury choice for the remaining two defendants is scheduled to start June 9. The newspaper stories they’re each within the strategy of negotiating plea offers.Â
RELATED: YSL RICO case: Trial for 3 remaining defendants to be delayed till June
Contained in the YSL Case
The backstory:
The YSL case centered on allegations that Younger Slime Life, a gaggle based by Atlanta rap star Younger Thug, was not merely a music collective however a felony enterprise chargeable for a string of violent crimes. Prosecutors alleged the group operated out of southeast Atlanta since 2012, committing acts of homicide, drug trafficking, and weapons violations below the quilt of a legit file label.
The investigation got here to a head in Might 2022, when Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis’ workplace unsealed a 65-count indictment towards Younger Thug and 27 associates below Georgia’s RICO statute.
Key Defendants Included:
Jeffery Williams (Younger Thug): Accused of co-founding and main YSL. He initially confronted eight felony prices.
Yak Gotti (Deamonte Kendrick): Charged with homicide and different gang-related offenses.
Shannon Stillwell: Additionally charged with homicide and weapons violations.
Whereas many defendants accepted plea offers or had their prices diminished, others have been convicted of lesser crimes. None of these charged with homicide or tried homicide have been convicted of these crimes.Â
A Trial Filled with Delays and Chaos
The YSL trial has gone down because the longest-running felony trial in Georgia’s historical past. Jury choice alone took 10 months. The trial lasted almost two years and featured testimony from round 200 witnesses. It was suffering from disruptions, together with witness intimidation, arrests of each jurors and attorneys, the alternative of the unique decide, and even a stabbing incident involving a defendant in custody.
On Oct. 31, 2024, Younger Thug pleaded responsible to gang and drug prices. He was sentenced to time served, 15 years of probation, and ordered to remain out of metro Atlanta for a decade (a few of these situations have since been modified).Â
In December, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell confronted a jury verdict. Gotti was acquitted of all prices. Stillwell was convicted solely of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He acquired a 10-year sentence, however with credit score for time served. He’s serving the rest on probation.
RELATED: YSL RICO Trial: Verdicts reached for Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti), Shannon Stillwell
Greater Questions Nonetheless Linger
Huge image view:
The YSL case sparked widespread debate over Georgia’s use of the RICO regulation and the position of rap lyrics and social media in felony investigations. Prosecutors offered music movies and lyrics as proof of gang affiliation, whereas protection attorneys pushed again, arguing that creative expression was being unfairly criminalized.
Although prosecutors secured a number of convictions and plea offers, the blended outcomes left questions concerning the power of their broader narrative—that YSL was greater than only a music label.
Why it is best to care:
As the ultimate two defendants put together for trial, the case continues to affect discussions round free speech, prosecutorial energy, and the blurred strains between tradition and crime.
