Read the RICO charges facing Young Thug

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Jeffery Williams, the rapper known as Young Thug, is facing eight criminal counts under a federal law that was originally enacted to fight organized crime.

The federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law was passed and signed into law in 1970 by President Richard Nixon. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, it allows prosecutors to link apparently unrelated crimes with a common objective into a prosecutable pattern of racketeering.

RICO also provides for more severe penalties and permits a defendant to be convicted and separately punished for the underlying crimes that constitute a racketeering pattern.

Georgia is one of 33 states that has its own RICO law, but in the Peach State, the alleged criminal enterprises do not have to have existed as long as the federal law.

Under the Fulton County grand jury indictment, Williams is charged with participation in a criminal street gang activity.

RELATED STORIES:

Fulton DA Fani Willis, defense attorney Brian Steel facing off in Young Thug trial

Judge Ural Glanville in Young Thug trial has extensive military background

Jury selection for rapper Young Thug trial set to begin in Fulton County

Technical difficulties delay rapper Young Thug’s pre-trial hearing

Atlanta rapper Young Thug facing new charges for alleged street racing

DA requests delay of trial for Young Thug, Gunna, others charged in RICO case

Rapper Young Thug denied bond again during court hearing

Rapper Young Thug and others facing new charges

Atlanta rapper Young Thug again denied bond in criminal case

Atlanta native Young Thug denied bond on gang-related charges

Young Thug’s nephew arrested for killing girlfriend in East Point

Atlanta rapper Young Thug appears in court, dozens face gang-related charges

Motion seeks bond for jailed rapper Young Thug, reports say

Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved.