FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The longest-running trial in Georgia's history hangs in the balance, and following developments in the last week, a possible mistrial is looming.
Court proceedings were canceled late last week in the Young Thug, YSL trial as this possibility hung over proceedings.
The controversy stemmed around a new witness, rapper Slimelife Shawty, who took the stand on Wednesday.
It's unclear when media will be allowed back in or when Judge Paige Reese Whitaker will address the mistrial question. As a result, it remains possible that the matter could continue to drag out into this week.
Nine of the original 28 defendants have accepted plea deals in the case thus far, with six - including rapper Young Thug - still on trial. Nearly all those who took the deals have received some form of probation.
Deals taken so far
Sergio Kitchens (Gunna) — sentence complete
A grand jury indicted Sergio Kitchens on one charge: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
He took an Alford plea in December 2022, which allows him to continue asserting his innocence. He was sentenced to five years; the first year to be served in confinement was commuted to time served, and the remainder was suspended once he completed at least 350 hours of community service, "a substantial portion of which will require that you speak to young men and women about the hazards and immorality of gangs and gang violence and the decay that it causes in the community."
He reserved his Fifth Amendment right for future testimony and cannot have any contact with any other persons on this indictment except through counsel or as determined by your avocation in the music industry.
Martinez Arnold (aka Duke) — on probation
A grand jury indicted Martinez Arnold on seven charges: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), participation in criminal street gang activity, three counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a machine gun.
In December 2022, he pleaded guilty to the first two counts in exchange for the state declining to prosecute (nol pros) the rest. His 12-year sentence was commuted to time served (2 years); he'll spend the remaining 10 on probation.
As a special condition of his sentence, he agreed to testify that he is a member of the Rollin' 60 Crips and that he became associated with and/or affiliated with YSL in the year 2015 at the age of 27. He will also have to testify to his role in certain crimes and YSL identifiers, such as "green for slime" and the word "slatt."
Wunnie Lee (Slimelife Shawty) — on probation
A grand jury indicted Wunnie Lee on one charge: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
Lee took an Alford plea as a First Offender in December 2022, which allowed him to continue asserting his innocence. His 10-year sentence was commuted to time served (1 year), with the remaining 9 years on probation.
The Court did not object to sealing his file after three years of probation had been served if he fulfilled all the special conditions of the sentence. His probation can also end if he successfully completes two years of college and shows proof of a certificate of associate in arts.
Walter Murphy (DK) — on probation
A grand jury indicted Walter Murphy on one charge: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
He pleaded guilty to that charge in December 2022. His 10-year sentence was commuted to time served (1 year), and the remaining 9 years were on probation.
He agreed to perform 300 hours of community service, a substantial portion of which will require him to "speak to young men and women about the hazards and immorality of gangs and gang violence and the decay it causes in our communities."
His probation could be suspended after 5 years, provided he successfully completes all the special conditions and commits no law violations greater than a high and aggravated misdemeanor.
Trontavious Stephens (Tick or Slug) — on probation
A grand jury indicted Trontavious Stephens on one charge: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
He pleaded guilty to that charge in December 2022 and was sentenced to eight years on probation.
As a special condition of his sentence, he agreed to testify that he is a founding member of Young Slime Life (YSL) and that it is an "organization made up of three or more members or associates who share common identifiers that include but are not limited to colors, hand signals, and terminology, who have committed crimes intended to increase the notoriety, street credibility and reputation of YSL."
If asked, he will also have to testify truthfully about his involvement in those crimes.
Quantavious Grier (Unfoonk) — probation revoked
A grand jury indicted Quantavious Grier on two charges: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and theft by receiving stolen property.
He pleaded guilty to both charges in December 2022. His 12-year sentence was commuted to time served (2 years), with the remaining 10 years on probation.
His sentence included no contact with his brother Jeffery Williams (Young Thug) and 750 hours of community service. He reserved his Fifth Amendment right for future testimony.
However, the Court found that Grier violated special conditions of his probation by possessing a firearm (exceptional condition c) and by committing the new felony offenses of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity (special condition d) and revoked his probation in June 2023.
Antonio Sledge (Mounk Tounk) — probation revoked
A grand jury indicted Antonio Sledge on two charges: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In December 2022, he pleaded guilty to both charges in exchange for 30 years on probation and his testimony to a specific set of factual statements. In October 2024, Judge Whitaker revoked his probation for "knowingly and willfully" contradicting key elements of his plea deal.
Antonio Sumlin (Obama) — probation could be revoked
A grand jury indicted Antonio Sumlin on four charges: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and participation in criminal street gang activity.
In December 2022, he pleaded guilty to all four of those counts in exchange for 15 years of probation. He reserved his Fifth Amendment right for future testimony but must testify to a series of factual statements.
In October 2024, his probation officer filed a petition for modification/revocation of probation. They wrote that Sumlin had been arrested for shoplifting in DeKalb County and had fallen behind on payments. The judge has yet to make a ruling.
Derontae Bebee (aka Bee or B) — in custody
A grand jury indicted Derontae Bebee on eight charges: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), theft by receiving stolen property, two counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, participation in criminal street gang activity, armed robbery and hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree.
In November 2023, he pleaded guilty to all but one of those charges; the armed robbery charge was lowered to the lesser charge of robbery by force. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, the first five of which must be in confinement.
As a special condition of his probation, he agreed not to promote or allude to "YSL" in public or on any social media platform. He also relinquished any Fifth Amendment right related to any statement contained within "Defendant's Factual Acknowledgements."
Quamarvious Nichols (aka Qua) — in custody
A grand jury indicted Nichols on seven charges in 2022. Those include conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), murder, two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving the use or possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to the RICO charge in front of several of his co-defendants. He will serve a 20-year sentence, seven of which will be in prison and the remainder on probation.
He was also given credit for time served, with a little more than two years in jail already as part of the case. That would leave about five on his sentence.
As part of the plea deal, the state declined to prosecute his remaining charges, including murder.
Rodalius Ryan (aka Lil Rod) — in custody
A grand jury indicted Rodalius Ryan on one charge: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
On Wednesday, he pleaded was sentenced to ten years for pleading guilty to the count. However, the sentence was commuted to time served to run concurrently with a life sentence he is already serving for an unrelated murder.
The murder conviction remains under appeal with the Georgia Supreme Court.
Marquavious Huey (aka Qua) — in custody
A grand jury indicted Marquavious Huey on nineteen counts: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), three counts of armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree, four counts of participation in criminal street gang activity, possession of a weapon by incarcerated individual and possession of a telecommunication device by incarcerated individual.
Huey pleaded guilty to the RICO count and accepted reduced sentences on charges of robbery (reduced from armed robbery), as well as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, firearm possession charges and participation in criminal street gang activity.
One of his charges was merged with another; nine others were dismissed. He was sentenced to 25 years total: nine in custody, 11 on probation and five to be suspended.