The YSL RICO trial, already packed with plenty of drama, hit another bump on Wednesday as the judge considered declaring a mistrial due to a prosecutor’s misstep.
In the latest twist of this 11-month saga involving rapper Young Thug and his co-defendants, Slimelife Shawty, one of the original 28 defendants, took the stand and let something slip that he shouldn’t have.
The prosecutor asked Shawty to review social media posts to identify others involved in the case. However, Shawty read aloud a post saying “FREE QUA,” unintentionally informing the jury that Quardavious Nichols, one of the defendants, was incarcerated—a fact the jury wasn’t supposed to know.
Bruce Harvey, Nichols’ attorney, immediately raised the alarm. “Now the jury knows my client is in jail, and we can’t undo that. We’re asking for a mistrial,” he argued.
Judge Paige Whitaker, who’s overseeing the case, excused the jury while hearing the defense’s arguments. Harvey, clearly frustrated, said, “The state clearly isn’t prepping their witnesses.” It’s just the latest in a series of blunders that have left defense attorneys feeling fed up. Harvey even remarked, “We’re not going to be able to unring 100 bells at this rate.”
While Judge Whitaker acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, she ruled out a mistrial with prejudice, meaning the case wouldn’t be thrown out for good. However, she left the door open for a mistrial without prejudice, which would allow the state to retry the case.
“At least nobody will have wasted a year of their lives in this trial,” the judge said with a touch of humor as she pondered her next steps. For now, the trial is set to continue on Thursday.
The YSL Records racketeering trial, which began on November 27, 2023, stems from a May 2022 indictment. It charges 28 individuals connected to YSL Records (Young Stoner Life Records) under Georgia’s RICO Act. Prosecutors allege that YSL operates as both a hip hop label and a criminal street gang.
Although many defendants have taken plea deals, Young Thug and five others remain, facing multiple charges, including racketeering, drug possession, and gang-related activity. All have been denied bond multiple times.
