Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has denied a request for bond from rapper Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Williams, as he faces a RICO case in Georgia. The decision was confirmed by Courthouse News Service. Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, had sought his release on bond during the trial, a motion that Judge Whitaker refused.
In addition to rejecting the bond request, Judge Whitaker also dismissed a motion for a mistrial. This motion was based on allegations of improper conduct by the previous judge in the case, Chief Judge Ural Glanville, who reportedly held a secretive, ex-parte meeting with prosecutors and a state witness.
Judge Whitaker clarified her stance on the issue: “I am not going to reconsider any bond issues that have already been considered and ruled upon by another court absent legitimate changed circumstances,” she stated. She also denied bond for two of Young Thug’s associates, Deamonte Kendrick and Marquavius Huey.
The trial has become notable for its duration, now in its 19th month, making it the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history. Despite the recusal of Judge Glanville, which was not attributed to any bias or the inappropriateness of the ex-parte meeting itself, Whitaker emphasized that the decision was due to how Glanville handled the facts in his rulings.
Whitaker has yet to make a decision regarding Young Thug’s further request to disqualify the lead prosecutors, Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love and Deputy District Attorney Simone Hylton, over their involvement in the ex-parte meeting. She stated she would await a review of the meeting’s transcript before determining whether the prosecutors acted coercively.
Young Thug was indicted in May 2022 under a 65-count charge that includes 191 alleged overt acts related to gang activities through an entity known as YSL, which stands for “Young Slime Life.” However, Young Thug contends that YSL is an acronym for Young Stoner Records and denies any gang affiliations among his associates.
