In Atlanta, two individuals standing trial alongside rapper Young Thug entered guilty pleas on Wednesday, following plea agreements with prosecutors. This development comes a day after another defendant, Quamarvious Nichols, also accepted a plea deal.
Rodalius Ryan, aged 18, admitted to conspiring to breach the state’s anti-racketeering law. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker approved the plea deal, sentencing Ryan to ten years, which was reduced to time already served. Ryan remains in custody, serving a life sentence for murder, which is currently under appeal. His attorney, Leah Abbasi, strongly denies that YSL is the dangerous gang it is portrayed to be, asserting that the plea was in Ryan’s best interest.
Young Thug, a prominent rapper who established the record label Young Stoner Life (YSL), faces accusations of co-founding a violent gang known as Young Slime Life. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Marquavius Huey, 28, also pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, robbery, firearm, gang, and aggravated assault charges. The plea agreement allows some sentences to run concurrently. Judge Whitaker sentenced Huey to 25 years, with nine years in prison, 11 on probation, and five years suspended. Huey’s lawyer, Careton Matthews Sr., denies some allegations but acknowledges the evidence supporting the charges. Huey has already spent about four years in custody, which will count towards his nine-year prison term.
Quamarvious Nichols, one of Young Thug’s co-defendants in the YSL case, pleads guilty to a RICO charge.
As part of his plea deal, all other charges against him, including murder, have been dismissed.pic.twitter.com/W7W5BXFaNj
— No Jumper (@nojumper) October 29, 2024
Judge Whitaker remarked it was remarkable that the state agreed to Huey’s sentence given the serious nature of the charges, which could have resulted in three consecutive life sentences plus roughly 100 years. She warned Huey against violating the agreement terms, emphasizing the opportunity he has to change his life. The pleas leave Young Thug and two others with unresolved cases in what is now Georgia’s longest criminal trial. Jury selection began in January 2023, lasting nearly ten months, with the trial commencing in November.
Since then, prosecutors have presented numerous witnesses. Young Thug, a Grammy award-winning artist, was indicted two years ago, accused of conspiring with over two dozen individuals to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, alongside gang, drug, and gun charges. Before the trial, nine defendants accepted plea deals, while twelve are undergoing separate trials. Charges were dropped against one defendant following a murder conviction in an unrelated case.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AOL reports that two more defendants in the Young Thug YSL RICO trial are expected to take plea deals, adding to ongoing developments in the case.(read more)
- AP News: Two more Young Thug co-defendants accept plea deals, impacting the ongoing trial with potential for reduced charges and case complexity.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who recently took plea deals in the Young Thug trial?
Rodalius Ryan and Marquavius Huey took plea deals.
What charges did Rodalius Ryan plead guilty to?
Ryan pleaded guilty to conspiring to breach the state’s anti-racketeering law.
What sentence did Marquavius Huey receive after his plea deal?
Huey received a 25-year sentence, with nine years in prison.
What is Young Thug accused of in the trial?
Young Thug is accused of co-founding a violent gang and violating anti-racketeering laws.
How long did the jury selection last in Young Thug’s trial?
Jury selection lasted nearly ten months.
