According to Atlanta’s Channel 2 Action News and Pitchfork, Gunna pled guilty today to one count of conspiring to break the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. In order to protect himself, the rapper entered an Alford plea, which means that he admitted guilt on one count while adamantly claiming innocence on the other.
Gunna was given a five-year jail term, but it was reduced to time served and the remainder of the sentence was suspended, so he will probably be let go when the time comes. The rapper will perform 500 hours of community service as part of the agreement.
Gunna made the following remarks in a statement sent to Pitchfork by his attorney, Steve Sadow:
When I became affiliated with YSL in 2016, I did not consider it a “gang”; more like a group of people from metro Atlanta who had common interests and artistic aspirations.
My focus of YSL was entertainment – rap artists who wrote and performed music that exaggerated and “glorified” urban life in the Black community.
While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.
I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL. An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge. I love and cherish my association with YSL music, and always will. I look at this as an opportunity to give back to my community and educate young men and women that “gangs” and violence only lead to destruction.
Along with Young Thug and other members of the Young Stoner Life (YSL) label and imprint, Gunna was detained in May. The rappers and others were accused of conspiring to break the RICO Act in an indictment that led to the arrests.
While he awaits his trial, Young Thug is still behind bars. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the case’s jury selection will start on January 4th, 2023.
