Yak Gotti was found not guilty of murder and racketeering charges on Tuesday, as the YSL case wound down nearly two years after the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office revealed a massive indictment naming Grammy-winning rappers Young Thug and Gunna as defendants.
Yak Gotti, whose real name is Deamonte Kendrick, was acquitted of all charges, while co-defendant Shannon Stillwell was found guilty of a gun possession charge but not guilty of the gang-related charges. The YSL trial began initially with 28 defendants named in a 56-count RICO indictment claiming that the YSL was a gang and was responsible for crimes, including murder, in Fulton County.
Yak Gotti was alleged to be responsible for the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas, the manager of rival rapper YFN Lucci. According to the indictment, Gotti and fellow defendant Arnold Martinez (Lil Duke) conspired to murder Thomas.
The DA alleged that Yak Gotti and Lil Duke drove to the territory of a rival gang with the plan to murder another man in retaliation for a previous shooting. Both are alleged to have an AK 47 and a .40 caliber handgun and, in a car rented in Young Thug’s name. However, they ended up in a high-speed chase with police, which led to an accident and then being captured after attempting to flee.
Lil Duke had made a plea deal in relation to his conspiracy to violate the RICO Act. As for Yak Gotti, his mother, Latasha Kendrick, who was previously charged with one count of criminal attempts to commit a misdemeanor by allegedly smuggling her son tobacco, expressed joy at his acquittal.
“I still down, ten toes down for him, son, day in and day out. It was his decision not to take a plea and I said whatever you wana do, I wana do,” she said. She continued, “God is good; he did his big one… there is so much corruptness in this case.”
Deamonte “Yak Gotti” Kendrick’s mother speaks after jury acquits her son on all charges, including murder.
“I stood down- 10 toes down – every day.”
“You never give up no matter how bad it look.”
Video via @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/UITrlaB8bo
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 3, 2024
Gotti’s lawyer, Doug Weinstein, also addressed the press following the verdict, calling out the DA’s office and urging that the Rap Act be passed to protect people like his clients, whose lyrics were used as evidence in the trial.
“Stop using artists’ lyrics against them. We need to pass the Rap Act in Congress to protect the entire country. We need a Georgia Rap Act,” he said, adding that just because the YSL trial is over, the fight to protect freedom of speech in rap music shouldn’t be abandoned.
Weinstein also accused the DA’s office of only using rap lyrics in criminal trials against people of color.
PASSIONATE statement regarding the use of lyrics by Yak Gotti's attorney @Doug_Weinstein on the steps of the courthouse following his client's not guilty verdict. pic.twitter.com/VmB1kyd9CA
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) December 3, 2024
The verdict today comes weeks after Atlanta rapper Jeffery Williams, also known as Young Thug, was freed after pleading guilty to gang, drug, and gun charges. He is on 15 years’ probation.
For the remaining defendants, presiding Judge Paige Reese Whitaker hinted that the state could present more plea deals before the end of the month. Otherwise, trial dates will be set in January.
The remaining defendants include Christian Eppinger, who is facing more than a dozen charges, including murder. He was initially severed from the YSL trial. Others include Jimmy Winfrey (Roscoe), Miles Farley, Tenquarius Mender, Jevon Fleetwood, and others.
