Young Thug's brother negotiates plea deal in YSL case

Young Thug's brother entered a negotiated guilty plea on December 20 as part of the Highly publicized indictment alleging criminal activities related to the YSL group, which prosecutors say is not only a record company called "Young Stoner Life", but also a "violent street gang".

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Quantavious Grier, who raps under the nickname Unfoonk, pleaded guilty to one count of violation of state RICO law and one count of theft by receipt of stolen property, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Grier's original 12-year sentence was split into two years commuted to time served and the 10 further years on probation. He will also have to perform 750 hours of community service, maintain a curfew and he is not allowed to contact his brother - whose real name is Jeffery Williams - or any of those implicated in the indictment. .

Grier is the fifth of the original 28 defendants to enter a negotiated guilty plea. Earlier this month Gunna invoked the 'Alford plea' as he maintained his innocence but accepted the punishment of a guilty verdict. He was given a four-year suspended sentence and will be subject to special conditions including 500 hours of community service. At the time, the "Pushin P" rapper released a statement in which he wanted "to make it perfectly clear that I have not made any statements, that I have not been interviewed, that I have not cooperated," and said he had no intention of participating in the upcoming January Trial.

Prosecutors have previously argued that Williams, who remains in custody, is one of the executives and founders of YSL while the defense maintains its position that it is only a record company.

In his statement, Gunna expressed his deep appreciation for his association with YSL music and that he looked to the future "as an opportunity to give back to my community and educate young men and women that 'gangs' and violence only lead to destruction."

The group was first charged in May with 56 counts related to the gang activity and racketeering. The case garnered media attention and controversy not only because it involved two of hip-hop's biggest names, but also because the court was using the rapper's words as evidence of their alleged crimes. The use of lyrics as evidence in criminal trials has become a highly controversial practice and in September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Decriminalization of Artistic Expression Act into law, which restricts the use of lyrics by rap as evidence in California courts, which the Black Music Action Coalition called a "crucial step in the right direction" to not introduce racial bias into legal proceedings.

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