Young Thug Released on Probation After Georgia's Longest Criminal Trial
Since his release, Young Thug's prosecution has already tried to send him back to jail, but a judge ruled he has not violated his probation.
Young Thug's legal fate has been determined.
Photo Credit: Prince Williams for Wireimage
Editor's Note: The post was originally published in October 2024 and has been updated for comprehensiveness in April 2025.
In another turn of events in the longest criminal trial in Georgia history, Young Thug’s legal fate has been determined in a new YSL legal case update.
On Oct. 31, 2024, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced the 33-year-old to 40 years in prison and 15 years of probation with a “backloaded” 20 years in custody if he fails to complete the probation. Judge Whitaker's sentence stipulated that he serve five years in prison, but she commuted the sentence to time served.
The judge's sentence came after Thug pleaded guilty to six counts of the RICO case. Those charges include possession of drugs and firearms. He pled no contest to two other counts of conspiracy to violate RICO.
Prosecution recommended a sentence of 45 years, with 20 served in prison and another 20 on probation. As Meghann Cuniff noted, Young Thug could have agreed to their plea deal, but he disagreed with the terms.
This update in Young Thug news arrived a little more than a week after a fateful court mishap unfolded on Oct. 22. According to 11Alive, Slimelife Shawty (born Wunnie Lee) read a redacted section from a social media post used as evidence in the trial. Judge Whitaker quickly dismissed the jury and witness.
Young Thug had been behind bars since he was arrested on RICO charges on May 9, 2022.
The terms of his 15 year probation are strict. He must stay away from his hometown of Atlanta for the next 10 years, he cannot own any guns and he can't promote gang activity, in addition to other conditions. He's already been back to the judge once, in April, who ruled that a social media post he made that included a photo of a law enforcement officer did not amount to violation of his probation, but that he should show more caution in what he posts.
