Young Thug to remain on probation despite outcry over social media post, judge decides
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Rapper Young Thug will remain on probation, a judge has ruled, despite a social media post that prosecutors said identified a gang investigator.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker on Thursday declined prosecutors’ request to remand the “Pushin P” artist to custody for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. The motion filed Wednesday evening accused Young Thug — born Jeffery Lamar Williams — of publicizing the identity of a law enforcement investigator and witness in an ongoing “multi-defendant gang murder” case via social media.
“Having reviewed the terms and conditions of [Williams’] probation imposed by this Court, the Court declines to revoke [Williams’] probation based on the violation asserted,” Whitaker said in the order, reviewed by The Times.
The YSL gang and racketeering trial is over: A jury found the last two defendants not guilty of racketeering, murder and gang-related charges.
Williams, 33, pleaded guilty to gang, drug and gun charges in October, bringing his turbulent RICO trial to an end after more than a year. At the time, a Fulton County Superior Court judge imposed a sentence of 40 years with the first five to be served in prison, but commuted to time served, followed by 15 years on probation. If he were to complete that probation without any violations, another 20 years would be commuted to time served. But if he were to violate the conditions, he would have to serve those 20 years.
The judge said in October that, among other terms of his sentence, Young Thug is not allowed to associate with gang members or the victims or other defendants of the case. He also cannot promote any criminal street gang or gang activity and can’t use hand signs or terminology that promotes a street gang.
Prosecutors in their motion this week alleged that Williams, since his sentencing, “has engaged in conduct that directly threatens the safety of witnesses and prosecutors, compromises ongoing legal proceedings, and warrants immediate revocation of probation.”
According to the motion, the court previously ordered that the investigator “should not be shown on television while testifying.” A “known blogger” allegedly violated that order and shared a social media post revealing the individual’s identity and appearance, according to a screenshot included in the motion.
Williams retweeted the blogger’s post on Tuesday, adding in his caption the investigator “is the biggest liar in the DA’s office.” The motion also included a screenshot of the rapper’s post.
A judge sentenced Young Thug to 40 years with the first five to be served in prison, but commuted to time served, followed by 15 years on probation.
Prosecutors claimed the musician’s since-deleted post “quickly went viral,” garnering more than 2 million views and “thousands” of comments and retweets, many allegedly including “direct threats” to the witness and their family. Screenshots in the motion show that some X (formerly Twitter) users continued to spread the witness’ identity and personal details, including their home address. Another social media user also threatened to “personally make sure” that a prosecutor in Young Thug’s case “is assassinated,” according to another screenshot.
“The escalation from targeting a testifying witness to making a direct death threat against the elected district attorney of Fulton County is a grave and unprecedented attack on the justice system,” the motion said.
Prosecutors said the latest string of social media posts is “part of a calculated campaign of intimidation, harassment and misinformation to undermine the legal process” and alleged that Young Thug’s social media activities “mirror the established tactics of criminal organizations.”
The motion added: “[Young Thug’s] probation should be immediately revoked to prevent further harm, ensure compliance with the law, and send a clear message that witness intimidation and threats against public officials will not be tolerated.”
Brian Steel, a lawyer for Young Thug in the rapper’s RICO case, avoids an imminent 10 weekends in jail as a Georgia court stays a judge’s contempt finding.
Williams and his legal team responded Thursday morning with a legal filing that denied the prosecutors’ allegations and urged the judge to dismiss the motion with prejudice. The response, reviewed by The Times, distances Williams from the blogger’s post, denies the rapper’s tweet violated the court’s directive or terms of his probation and asserted the threatening posts “cannot be attributed to Mr. Williams in order to support a violation of his probationary sentence.”
“A revocation of Mr. Williams’ probation involves the loss of liberty which is a serious deprivation,” the response added, before calling the motion “deficient.”
The “Go Crazy” rapper seemingly addressed the allegations against him on social media even before prosecutors filed their motion.
“I don’t make treats to people I’m a good person, I would never condone anyone threatening anyone or definitely participate in threatening anyone,” he tweeted Wednesday evening, about an hour before prosecutors filed their motion. “I’m all about peace and love.”
Despite deciding to keep Williams on probation, Whitaker said Thursday afternoon in her order that “it may be prudent for [Williams] to exercise restraint regarding certain topics.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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