“I take full responsibility for my crimes and the charges,” Williams told the court.
“I would like to express my apologies to everyone involved in this situation.”
In his five-minute speech, he described himself as a “good person with a good heart” who “got through a lot just because he was nice or cool.”
“And I understand that you can’t do that because once you reach a certain height, things can go bad… and fall on you.”
Prosecutors planned to ask for 45 years in prison, including 25 years in prison and 20 years of probation.
But plea negotiations failed and Superior Court Judge Paige Whittaker chose the sentence, commuting the sentence to time already served, clearing the way for his release.
“I want you to focus more on solutions than on problems,” Judge Whitaker said.
As part of the deal, Williams pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.
He also entered a plea of no contest to charges of leading a gang and violating the state’s Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act. This means he decides not to contest those charges and accepts the punishment for them.
Judge Whittaker further stipulated that he must complete 100 hours of community service, have no contact with gang members or former co-defendants, and be prohibited from remaining in the Atlanta metropolitan area except under special circumstances for the first 10 years of his 15 years of probation. He has to host four times a year, including weddings, funerals, and anti-gang and gun presentations.
Thursday’s arguments will likely end a multi-defendant case that has been plagued by multiple delays, courtroom turmoil and mistrial motions.
After the man known to fans as ‘Thugger’ was arrested in May 2022, prosecutors charged him and 27 associates from his rap label Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records with conspiracy to violate the Ricoh Act, famously used to prosecute mafia .
Claiming to actually represent a criminal organization called Young Slime Life, YSL implicated men, including fellow rap superstar Gunna, in a series of felonies on the streets of Atlanta, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking.
But the indictment sparked widespread outrage over prosecutors’ use of YSL rap lyrics as evidence of the gang’s actions and criminal intent. Critics argued that the charges violated the rappers’ free speech rights and were part of a growing attack on the black-dominated art form.
Several of Mr. Williams’ co-defendants were convicted or had their cases dropped, and one had his charges dropped after an unrelated murder conviction. By the time the trial begins, only six defendants remain.
Jury selection began in January 2023 and lasted nearly 10 months.
The trial was put on hold indefinitely in July this year after Mr. Williams’ lawyer asked the former judge to recuse himself from allegations of misconduct.
Attorneys said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “inappropriate” meeting June 10 when he met behind closed doors with prosecutors and key witnesses.
They claimed Judge Glanville pressured witnesses to testify and that lawyers pressured him to recuse himself, which the judge rejected.
Mr Williams’ lead lawyer, Brian Steel, was also charged with contempt in June this year after refusing to disclose how he learned of the meeting.
The trial also featured several unusual incidents, including the arrest of a Fulton County deputy accused of trying to smuggle contraband to the defendant.
In another instance, the court’s Zoom account was hacked by an apparent supporter of Mr Williams who shouted “Free Thug!”
Earlier this week, three of Mr Williams’ co-defendants in the case were found guilty.
The other two defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, reportedly plan to proceed to trial.
