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Young Thug RICO Case: Eighth YSL Affiliate Takes Plea Deal While Two Others Reject Offer
December 06, 2015
Young Thug and YSL’s RICO case continues to make headlines as another affiliate of the record label has struck a plea deal before heading to trial.
According to Law & Crime Network‘s Cathy Russon, Trontavious Stephens, who also goes by “Tick” and “Slug,” appeared in court on Thursday (December 29) and pleaded guilty to racketeering. He was sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
However, Stephens was credited with two years for time served and the remaining eight years will be converted to probation, resulting in his imminent release from prison.
Stephens has agreed to testify at trial where he won’t be able to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights on the stand. He admitted he was a founding member of YSL (Young Slime Life) and that it was a gang, as well as recognized a pair of arrests with one involving the robbery of a woman.
More on plea: Stephens agrees to testify truthfully at trial & can't assert 5th.He admits YSL is a gang, that he is one of the founding members. He says YSL changed name from Young Slime Life to Young Successful Lifestyle after Jeffrey Williams aka #YoungThug signed a record deal pic.twitter.com/TudVDgHiMd
After a prosecutor read out an alleged text from Thugga which said: “Y’all ain’t beat him up or shot him yet? Y’all gettin’ soft,” Stephens acknowledged the text which was said to be aimed at a rival.
A prosecutor also brought up lyrics from Young Thug’s “You” where he raps: “She getting robbed by Tick.” It remains to be seen if lyrics will be allowed to be used against Thugger in the trial next month.
The number of YSL associates taking their case to trial has dwindled from 28 to a possible 14, but some still don’t have proper legal representation and it could’ve been even lower Thursday night if not for a pair of affiliates who denied the plea deals being offered.
Tenquarius Mender, who goes by “Nard” and Derontae Bebee both rejected plea deals on Thursday which would have seen them released from prison. They now head to trial alongside Thugger with Nard facing 50 years and Bebee facing a life sentence.
Earlier Thursday, Antonio Sledge, also known as Mounk Tounk, was sentenced to 15 years probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.