Co-defendants of Young Thug acquitted in Georgia's longest criminal trial

Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial ended Tuesday with not guilty verdicts, except for one charge, for the two remaining co-defendants in a sprawling racketeering case that had included rap superstar Young Thug.

Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial ended Tuesday with not guilty verdicts, except for one charge, for the two remaining co-defendants in a sprawling racketeering case that had included rap superstar Young Thug.

The defendants — Deamonte Kendrick, a rapper known as Yak Gotti, and Shannon Stillwell — were both facing charges linked to the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, statute. Among the most serious charges were for the killing of an alleged rival gang member in a 2015 drive-by shooting and conspiracy to violate RICO. Stillwell was also charged with murder in the 2022 killing of another alleged rival gang member.

The 12 jurors began deliberating on Nov. 26, and found Kendrick not guilty and Stillwell not guilty except for one felony gun possession charge.

Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker sentenced Stillwell to 10 years with credit for two years served since his arrest and the rest on probation.

"I cannot express the degree of thanks that Fulton County owes you for your service given the length of this trial," Whitaker told the jurors, who were first selected in January 2023.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/co-defendants-young-thug-acquitted-rcna180794

---