YSL trial: Who’s who and what are they charged with

Prosecutors allege that Atlanta rapper Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) is the leader and co-founder of a gang called YSL, or Young Slime Life. Williams is a founder of the recording label YSL, with stands for Young Stoner Life. He is one of 28 defendants named in a Fulton County indictment. (Natrice Miller/natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@

Prosecutors allege that Atlanta rapper Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) is the leader and co-founder of a gang called YSL, or Young Slime Life. Williams is a founder of the recording label YSL, with stands for Young Stoner Life. He is one of 28 defendants named in a Fulton County indictment. (Natrice Miller/natrice.miller@ajc.com)

In May 2022, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office issued an 88-page indictment naming 28 members of an alleged gang known as Young Slime Life, or YSL. (The office issued a larger reindictment in August 2022 with more charges.) YSL is otherwise known as an Atlanta-based record label founded in 2016, although that label’s initials stand for Young Stoner Life. Several of the names in the indictment are popular rappers, including Young Thug (who is on trial) and Gunna (who accepted a plea deal).

In January 2023, jury selection began with 14 of those named in the indictment. A jury was selected and seated on November 1, 2023.

The number of defendants going to trial has been reduced to six due to nine defendants taking plea deals and 12 being tried separately. One had charges dropped after being convicted for an unrelated murder.

Oral arguments are schedule to take place starting Nov. 27.

Here are the defendants currently set to stand trial:

On trial now

Marquavius Huey, left, appears and his attorney Careton Matthews at the Fulton County Courthouse on Jan. 4, 2023. (Natrice Miller/natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

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Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

Marquavius Huey (”Qua”)

  • Facing 19 charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; three counts of armed robbery; four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; four counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony; hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree; four counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; possession of weapon by incarcerated individual; and possession of a telecommunication device by incarcerated individual.
Deamonte Kendrick appears in court for jury selection at the Fulton County Courthouse on Jan. 4, 2023. (Natrice Miller/natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

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Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

Deamonte Kendrick (“Yak Gotti”): Rapper with lyrics referenced by district attorneys. Has recorded on the 300 Entertainment label. Charged with 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.

  • Facing nine charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; murder; participation in criminal street gang activity; three counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; possession of a machine gun; possession of a firearm by convicted felon previously convicted of felony involving the use or possession of a firearm.
Quamarvious Nichols (right) looks through documents as his lawyer Lamar Gardner waits for the Jury selection portion of the trial to continue in a Fulton County courtroom on Monday, Feb 6, 2023. Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Credit: Miguel Martinez

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Credit: Miguel Martinez

Quamarvious Nichols (”Qua”): Charged in 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks.

  • Facing seven charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; murder; two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; possession of a firearm by convicted felon previously convicted of felony involving the use or possession of a firearm; and two counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felon.
  • Prior convictions: Criminal damage to property (2013); illegal use of a credit card (2017); trafficking of drugs (2017); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2018).
Rodalius Ryan appears in court for jury selection at Fulton County Courthouse on Jan. 4, 2023.  (Natrice Miller/natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

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Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

Rodalius Ryan (“Lil Rod”): Currently serving life in prison for the 2019 murder of Jamari Holmes.

  • Facing one count of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Prior convictions: Murder and aggravated assault.
Shannon Stillwell, right, appears in court for jury selection at the Fulton County Courthouse on Jan. 4, 2023. (Natrice Miller/natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

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Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

Shannon Stillwell (“Shannon Jackson” or “SB”): Charged in 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks and with the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.

  • Facing eight charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; two counts of murder; two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; two counts of possession of a firearm by convicted felon previously convicted of felony involving the use or possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
Jeffery Williams, center, the rapper known as Young Thug, made his first in-person appearance at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Dec. 15, 2022. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

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Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Jeffery Williams (“Young Thug” or “Slime”): Grammy-winning rapper and founder of YSL Records. Alleged co-founder and co-leader of YSL gang. His lyrics have been referenced by district attorneys. Has recorded with the YSL, 300 Entertainment, Atlantic Records, Cash Money and 1017 Brick Squad labels.

  • Facing eight charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; three counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; and possession of a machine gun.

Accepted plea deals

Of the 28 named in the original indictment, the following have accepted plea deals:

Derontae Bebee (”Bee” or “B”): Negotiated guilty plea on Nov. 3, 2023. Will not testify on behalf of the state.

  • Plead guilty to Conspiracy to violate RICO; theft by receiving stolen property; two counts of violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act; possession of a firearm by convicted felon; participation in criminal street gang activity; armed robbery (reduced to robbery by force); and hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree.
  • Sentenced to 15 years, to serve 5 years in jail and 10 on probation

Trontavious Stephens (“Tick” or “Slug”): Acknowledged co-founder of YSL. Negotiated guilty plea on Dec. 29, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Sentenced to 10 years, 2 years commuted to time served, 8 years probation.

Antonio Sledge (“Mounk Tounk”): Acknowledged member of YSL since 2012. Negotiated guilty plea on Dec. 28, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty to two counts: Conspiracy to violate RICO and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
  • Sentenced to 15 years probation.
  • Prior convictions: Possession of cocaine (2013); Criminal street gang, aggravated assault (2015), served 2 years.

Antonio Sumlin (“Obama”): Negotiated guilty plea Dec. 22, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty on four counts: Conspiracy to violate RICO; two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime; and one count of participation in criminal street gang activity.
  • Sentenced to 15 years probation.
  • Prior conviction: Aggravated assault (2012).

Quantavious Grier (“Unfoonk”): Rapper with lyrics referenced by district attorneys. Brother of Jeffrey Williams (“Young Thug”). Negotiated guilty plea on Dec. 20, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty on two counts: one count of violating the state’s RICO act and one count of theft by receiving stolen property.
  • Sentenced to 12 years, 2 years commuted to time served, 10 years probation.
  • He was arrested on May 4 on a gun charge, in violation of his plea deal.

Martinez Arnold (“Duke”): Rapper. Negotiated guilty plea on Dec. 16, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty on two counts: Conspiracy to violate RICO and participation in criminal street gang activity. Three other charges dropped.
  • Sentenced to 12 years, 2 years commuted to time served, 10 years probation.

Wunnie Lee (“Slimelife Shawty”): Rapper with lyrics referenced by district attorneys. Entered Alford plea on Dec. 16, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty on one count of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Sentenced to 10 years, 1 year commuted to time served, 9 years probation.

Sergio Kitchens (“Gunna”): Grammy-nominated rapper with lyrics referenced by district attorneys. Has recorded on the YSL, 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records labels. Alleged to be co-leader of YSL gang. Entered Alford plea on Dec. 14, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Sentenced to 5 years, with one year commuted to time served and the rest of the four years of his sentenced suspended.

Walter Murphy (”DK”): Alleged to have co-founded YSL, is former road manager for the record label. Negotiated guilty plea on Dec. 13, 2022.

  • Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Sentenced to 10 years, 1 year commuted to time served, 9 years probation.
  • Previously spent seven years in prison on criminal street gang, aggravated assault and aggravated battery charges (2015).

Not going to trial

Twelve of the 28 named on the original indictment will be tried separately at a later date.

Kahlieff Adams (also known as “Bobby Hunt”): Currently serving life in prison for a 2016 murder committed during a home invasion. He is also accused of the attempted murder of Rashawn “YFN Lucci” Bennett inside the Fulton County Jail.

Damone Blalock (”Bali”): Currently serving life in prison for the 2019 murder of Jamari Holmes.

  • Facing one charge of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Prior conviction: Murder (2021).
  • His case was severed after falling ill during jury selection.

Javaris Bradford (”Tuda”): Charged with 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.

  • Faces two charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; and murder.
  • His case was severed for not having an attorney when trial began.

Justin Cobb (”Duwap”): Charged with 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr., has not been arrested.

  • Faces two charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; and murder.
  • Prior convictions: Possession and distribution of cocaine (2013); robbery (2014); aggravated assault and possession of firearm (2015).
  • Had not been arrested at the time of the trial starting.

Christian Eppinger (”Bhris”): Accused of shooting an Atlanta police officer in February 2022 while on probation for crimes committed in 2016. Bond was granted in the 2022 case but Eppinger was never released.

  • Facing 14 charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; armed Robbery; hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree; two counts of possession of a firearm by first offender probationer; theft by taking; two counts of attempted murder; two counts of possession of firearm during commission of a felony; three counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; and conspiracy to commit crime.
  • Prior convictions: armed robbery and aggravated assault (2016).
  • His case was severed after being involved in an investigation that resulted in a deputy being arrested for having a relationship with Eppinger, his lawyer’s laptop was seized as a result.

Miles Farley (“Slato” or “Lil Miles”): Alleged creator of the “Make America Slime Again” clothing line. Charged in 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks.

Jevon Fleetwood (“4Tray” or “Psycho”)

  • Faces one charge of conspiracy to violate RICO.
  • Prior convictions: Possession of firearm (2019); Armed robbery (2019); Criminal street gang, attempt to commit murder (2020); federal armed robbery.
  • His case was severed for not having an attorney when trial began.

Damekion Garlington (“Dee” or “SXarefaxe”): Charged in 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks. He is also accused of the attempted murder of Rashawn “YFN Lucci” Bennett inside the Fulton County Jail.

  • Faces eight charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; attempted murder; two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; murder; two counts of participation in criminal street gang activity; and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
  • Prior convictions for criminal street gang activity (2017).
  • His case was severed for not having an attorney when trial began.

Demise McMullen (”Nard”): Charged with 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.

  • Faces two charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; and murder.
  • Prior convictions for theft by stolen property (2004); cocaine and marijuana (2004); cocaine sales (2004); possession of firearm by a convicted felon (2006); smash and grab burglary (2010); aggravated assault (2015) and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (2016).
  • His case was severed for not having an attorney when trial began.

Tenquarius Mender (”Nard” or “Stunner”): Rejected possible plea deal.

Jayden Myrick (“Settrip” or “Jayman”): Currently serving life without parole for the 2018 murder of Christian Broder. He is also accused of the attempted murder of Rashawn “YFN Lucci” Bennett inside the Fulton County Jail.

Jimmy Winfrey (”Roscoe”): Once convicted of firing shots at Lil Wayne’s tour bus in 2015.

  • Faces four charges: Conspiracy to violate RICO; violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act; possession of a firearm by convicted felon; and participation in criminal street gang activity.
  • Prior convictions: Criminal street gang activity (2015); narcotics; and controlled substance.
  • Had not been arrested at the time the trial started.

Charges dropped

Cordarius Dorsey (“Polo” or “Juicy”): Currently serving life in prison for the 2019 murder of Sulaiman Jalloh and for the 2020 murder of Xavier Turner.