Young Thug to remain on probation, but judge issues stern warning
Young Thug's probation will remain intact, a judge ruled Thursday, after prosecutors attempted to have it revoked over a post the artist made on social media.
The Atlanta-based rapper, whose trial on gun and racketeering charges was the longest in Georgia history, will remain on probation, Judge Paige Whitaker decided, but issued a warning about future social media usage.
The ruling follows a motion filed Wednesday by the Fulton County DA's office alleging the rapper had engaged in "threatening" behavior online, according to reports, and posed a danger to the community.
Paste BN has reached out to the DA's office and representatives for Young Thug for comment.
In the motion, shared by Channel 2 Action news and in reports from The Atlanta Journal Constitution, prosecutors alleged Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, "demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law" by using his social media to publicly expose the identity of an investigator in the district attorney's office.
In response, Williams' lawyers filed their own motion Thursday, asserting the post did not violate the terms of probation − an argument the judge agreed with.
"While the Court does not find that the cited social media post rises to the level of a violation," the judge wrote in Thursday's order, "it may be prudent for (Williams) to exercise restraint regarding certain topics."
In a post to his X account Wednesday, Williams seemingly responded to prosecutors' original motion, writing: "I don’t make treats (sic) to people I’m a good person, I would never condone anyone threatening anyone or definitely participate in threatening anyone. I'm all about peace and love."
Williams, who pleaded guilty in October to racketeering charges, avoided prison time when a judge sentenced him to 15 years of probation to account for time already served. On top of that 15 years, the judge ordered a "backloaded" 20 years, a sentence to be served in custody if the rapper did not complete his probation.
That prison loomed large when prosecutors alleged Williams' "continued presence in the community under probationary supervision presents a clear and present danger to public safety and undermines the rule of law."
Williams, who was originally tried alongside other members of YSL, which prosecutors alleged is a violent street gang, is accused of recirculating a social media post from a blogger that revealed the identity of Marissa Viverito, an investigator currently testifying in a hearing over a multi-defendant gang murder.
The court had explicitly outlined that the identity of witnesses should be kept confidential but the blogger posted a photo of Viverito anyway, according to the motion, alongside the caption: "She doesn't want to be shown on screen? Well, here she is."
Williams then reposted the image Tuesday, prosecutors alleged, with his own caption reading: "Marissa Viverito is the biggest liar in the DA's office." The post quickly went viral, the motion says, collecting over 2 million views along with large numbers of comments and likes.
The motion from prosecutors said the rapper's post resulted in direct danger for Viverito, whose home address was outed, and District Attorney Fani Willis, who was threatened with assassination.
"The escalation from targeting a testifying witness to making a direct threat against the elected District Attorney of Fulton County is a grave and unprecedented attack on the justice system," prosecutors wrote.
In their response, lawyers for Williams argued that his actions did not amount to a violation and if he need to appear at a hearing to prove it, he would be "prepared."
"A revocation of Mr. Williams' probation involves the loss of liberty," lawyers for the rapper wrote, "which is a serious deprivation."
Contributing: Edward Segarra