American rapper Young Thug emerged from prison on Thursday evening after pleading guilty to gang, drug and weapons charges, in a dramatic twist at the end of the longest criminal trial in Georgia history.

The 33-year-old Grammy winner, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, has spent more than 900 days behind bars since I was arrested on racketeering and gang-related charges.

After May 2022, prosecutors allege the rap label has established a front for an organized crime syndicate responsible for “75 to 80% of violent crimes” in Atlanta.

E bin Dey was sentenced Thursday to prison and 15 years of probation, and jail records show they will be released later that evening.

“I take full responsibility for my crimes and for my accusations,” Williams told the court.

“To really say that we had something to do with this situation, I want to say sorry.”

In a five-minute speech I describe myself as “a good guy with a good heart”, which we “find in many things because I just find them nice or cool”.

“And I understand you saying that you’re not fit if you get to a certain height because the fit ends badly… and the fit falls on you.”

Prosecutors plan to impose a 45-year sentence, with 25 years in prison and 20 years of probation.

But plea negotiations failed, and Supreme Court Judge Paige Whitaker opted for punishment instead, commuting his sentence to time already served, paving the way for my release.

“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Judge Whitaker says.

As part of the deal, Mr. Williams pleads guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two weapons charges.

I also enter a no contest plea to leading a gang and violating the Racketeers and Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico), which means I choose not to contest these charges and accept punishment for them.

Judge Whitaker also demands 100 hours of community service, a ban on contact with gang members or former co-defendants, and a ban on remaining in the Atlanta metropolitan area for the first 10 years of a 15-year probationary period, except under special circumstances – including weddings, funerals and anti-gang and anti-gun presentations to take place four times a year.

Thursday’s change of plea ends a multi-defendant case that faces multiple delays, courtroom disturbances and motions for mistrials.

When the man known to his fans as “Thugger” bin ze was arrested in May 2022, prosecutors charged am and 27 employees of the IM rap label – Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records – with conspiracy to violate the Rico Act, which they famously use for mob prosecutions.

While they claim that YSL actually stands for a criminal gang called Young Slime Life, they tie men – including fellow rap superstar Gunna – to various crimes, including murder, armed robbery and carjacking on the streets of Atlanta.

But the indictment is sparking debate about prosecutors’ use of YSL rap lyrics as evidence of gang actions and criminal intent. Critics say the accusations violate the rappers’ freedom of speech and are part of a growing attack on a black-dominated art form.

Several of Mr. Williams’ co-defendants take plea deals or have the case dropped, and one even has charges dropped after an unrelated murder conviction — and by the time the trial begins, there are only six suspects left about.

Jury selection will begin in January 2023 and will last almost ten months.

These attorneys say Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “inappropriate” meeting on June 10, when I met privately with prosecutors and a key witness.

Dem claims Judge Glanville is trying to pressure the witness to testify and the lawyers are pushing to recuse themselves, motions the judge does not deny.

Dem also finds Williams’ lead lawyer, Brian Steel, in criminal contempt for June this year after he refused to reveal how he found out about the meeting.

The trial also recorded several unusual incidents, including the arrest of a Fulton County sheriff’s deputy for allegedly trying to smuggle contraband to a defendant.

For another example, on the court’s Zoom account, which was hacked by a supporter of Mr. Williams, we came shouting “free thug!”.

Earlier this week, three of Mr. Williams’ co-defendants in the case entered plea deals.

The remaining two defendants in the case, Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, reportedly plan to move forward with the lawsuits.