Judge Blasts DA, Denies Mistrial Motion in Young Thug’s Ongoing RICO Trial

In the latest developments of the highly publicized RICO trial involving rapper Young Thug and his associates from the Young Stoner Life (YSL) collective, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has expressed significant frustration with the prosecution’s handling of the case. On Monday, September 30, following a delay caused by Hurricane Helene, the trial resumed in Fulton County, Georgia.

During the proceedings, Young Thug’s defense team, led by attorney Brian Steel, filed a motion for a mistrial, citing issues with hearsay evidence presented by the prosecution. Judge Whitaker criticized Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love, stating, “I can’t figure out what it is, but it is baffling to me that somebody with your years of experience, time after time, seems to purposefully hide the ball as long as you possibly can.”

Despite the defense’s arguments, Judge Whitaker denied the motion for a mistrial after a recess. She attributed the ongoing issues in the trial to “poor lawyering” rather than intentional attempts to compromise the case. The YSL trial, which began in November 2023 after a record 10-month jury selection process, has been marred by numerous disruptions, including illnesses, arrests, and the stabbing of a defendant.

The trial has also drawn attention from other celebrities, with rapper Drake criticizing the Fulton County prison system after a private call between Young Thug and Mariah the Scientist was leaked on social media. Drake described the situation as “jail misconduct” and called for Young Thug’s release, stating that the whole case is a “wash.”