Atlanta Press Releases category interest

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Witness testimony was set to resume Friday in Young Thug’s internationally watched criminal trial as the jury was set to return after a days-long hiatus.

But before the jury was set to return, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker blasted District Attorney Fani Willis for an email that was apparently copied to the court, and demanded the email be entered into evidence in Atlanta’s trial of the 21st century.

Douglas Weinstein, who represents Deamonte Kendrick (aka Yak Gotti) in the trial, objected to an email from Willis in response to a citizen’s message about her prosecution of Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams.

“Given the history of ex parte communications in this case, I don’t think it was appropriate for the court to have been copied on that communication, especially one that reads more like a campaign ad,” Weinstein said. “I ask the court to direct the DA to limit the number of ex parte communications they have with this court.”

“It’s a shame the court would even have to say something like that,” Whitaker replied.

Fulton County Assistant Chief District Attorney Simone Hylton said the email wasn’t a direct communication with the court but rather a response to a citizen that was copied to the court.

“I take issue with any argument this wasn’t a direct communication with the court,” Weinstein countered. “It was sent from DA Willis’ office to the court; it was inappropriate; and it praised Georgia’s RICO statutes to the court.”

Witness testimony is set to resume soon after a Fulton County deputy was arrested on charges she accepted bribes to overlook drugs and other contraband being passed to a co-defendant in the trial.

Karmen Nicelle Bailey, 31, a former Fulton County sheriff’s deputy and detention officer, has been charged with four counts of violation of oath, two counts of bribery, and two counts of obtaining/procuring/giving inmates prohibited items without authorization. Bailey was arrested on Oct. 4, 2024.

“Ms. Bailey indirectly received money from inmate Marquavious Huey by accepting $500 from Ms. Malissa Huey (via Apple Pay) on May 6, 2024,” Bailey’s arrest report said. Marissa Huey is Marquavious Huey’s mother.

“This would cause a reasonable person to believe it influenced her job performance because Ms. Bailey failed to perform the official action of seizing contraband (e.g., substance appearing to be white pills) from inmate Huey,” Bailey’s arrest report said.

Prosecutors allege Young Thug and his co-defendants are members of the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang, while defense attorneys argue YSL is simply the name of a record label, Young Stoner Life.

Defense attorneys claim Williams and his co-defendants are not responsible for any of the violent crimes the state has highlighted during the trial.

Young Thug is facing eight criminal counts under a federal law that was originally enacted to fight organized crime. Georgia is one of 33 states with its own RICO law.

Defense attorneys argue that YSL is not a gang but simply the name of a record label, Young Stoner Life. They claim Williams and his co-defendants are not responsible for any of the violent crimes the state has highlighted during this trial.

Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

Atlanta News First is broadcasting gavel-to-gavel coverage of Young Thug’s trial on its live stream and YouTube channel.

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