Atlanta rapper Young Thug has been facing ongoing legal proceedings for over a year. The racketeering court case has been ongoing since he was indicted in May 2022, and the lyricist has received several charges, including involvement in a criminal organisation, possession of illegal firearms, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of schedule V drugs such as codeine and morphine.
However, the trial has been delayed for the umpteenth time as the artist’s co-defendant, Shannon Stillwell, was stabbed by an inmate in Fulton County Jail on Sunday night.
Stillwell is one of the six defendants currently on trial in the case and, akin to Thug (real name Jefferey Williams), has been charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), participation in criminal street gang activity.
Following the near-fatal assault, Stillwell’s attorney, Max Schardt, released a statement reading, “Currently, we do not have comprehensive details regarding the circumstances surrounding the attack, but we are diligently monitoring Shannon’s condition. We do know that Shannon has a target on his back due to the false allegations in this RICO indictment. We remain committed to ensuring his safety with hopes to get him back home to his family.”
Concerning the trial, Judge Ural Glanville filed two orders so that his courthouse colleagues could visit Stillwell in the hospital to make sure he was “kept separate from the other defendants in this case at all times.” Glanville has assured the county that he will provide transportation to jail and the courthouse when he recovers.
Stillwell is an affiliate of Williams’ crew. According to music publication Billboard magazine, lawyers on the case have stated, “For ten years and counting, the group calling itself ‘Young Slime Life’ dominated the Cleveland Avenue community. They created a crater that sucked in the youth and innocence and even the lives of some its youngest members.”
Last month, Young Thug’s lawyer filed for a mistrial. However, he was unsuccessful, and the court proceedings have been ongoing for over a year. Both Williams and Stillwell have pleaded not guilty.
