YSL defendant Damekion Garlington sentenced after murder charge dropped
YSL defendant Damekion Garlington sentenced
YSL defendant Damekion Garlington was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 5 served after entering an Alford plea in his YSL case. The murder and attempted murder charges against him were dismissed.
ATLANTA - Just days before the second YSL gang trial is set to begin in Fulton County, one of the final three co-defendants entered a plea — avoiding a potential life sentence and removing a murder charge from his record.
What we know:
Damien Garlington entered a non-negotiated Alford plea on Wednesday. Garlington was accused of operating as a member of the Young Slime Life (YSL) street gang, and initially faced multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder. In exchange for the plea, those more serious charges were dropped or reduced.
The courtroom proceedings marked a familiar pattern in the high-profile case, as the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office continues to secure convictions by reducing major charges ahead of trial.
What they're saying:
"This is a sentencing hearing for Mr. Garlington," the judge began, after Garlington officially pleaded guilty to five charges — including violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and aggravated assault.
Prosecutors argued for a 45-year sentence with 20 years to be served in prison, noting that Garlington was already on probation at the time of the crimes. "So Mr. Garlington, unfortunately, never learned his lesson the first time around," one prosecutor said.
Garlington’s defense team pushed back, seeking leniency and a chance for their client to start over. In the end, Judge Page Reese Whitaker sentenced him to 20 years, with credit for time served, meaning Garlington could be released from prison in about two years.
"Good luck to you, and I hope not to ever see you again, because if you violate your probation, you’re coming before me," Judge Whitaker said during sentencing.
What's next:
As part of the sentence, Garlington must leave Fulton County and is prohibited from returning for the duration of his probation. His defense team says he plans to relocate and rebuild his life elsewhere.
"It was a relief to see Judge Whitaker come down the way she did on this ruling," a member of Garlington’s legal team said.
With his case now resolved, only two defendants remain in the sweeping YSL case. Their trial is set to begin next Monday.
What Is an Alford Plea?
What we know:
An Alford plea is a special kind of guilty plea that allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors likely have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
His decision mirrors the approach taken by rapper Jeffery Williams, better known as Young Thug, who entered a similar nonnegotiated plea in 2024. He was finally released from jail on Oct. 31, 2024.
RELATED: Young Thug released from jail after accepting plea deal in YSL trial
What was the sentence?
By the numbers:
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Garlington to the following:
- Count 1 (RICO charge): 20 years, with 5 years to serve and 15 years probated.
- Count 42: 20 years to serve 5, balance probated, concurrent with Count 1.
- Count 49 (reduced to aggravated assault): 20 years to serve 5, balance probated, concurrent.
- Count 50: 20 years to serve 5, balance probated, concurrent.
- Count 54: 5 years consecutive to Count 50, suspended if probation is successfully completed.
As part of the probation conditions, Garlington is barred from contacting any victims or their families and must avoid all gang-related activity, paraphernalia, and individuals. He is also prohibited from possessing firearms or replicas. Garlington must secure full-time employment within the first month of probation and remain employed for at least six months. He is also required to complete his GED within the first year.
Additionally, Garlington must sign both a social media waiver and a Fourth Amendment waiver, allowing law enforcement to search his person, vehicle, home, and social media accounts at any time without probable cause. He will also be required to stay out of Fulton County for the entire length of his probation.
Only Two Defendants Remain
What's next:
Now that Garlington has been sentenced, only two of the more than 20 original defendants will remain: Christian Eppinger and Demise McMullen.
Eppinger faces a lengthy list of charges, including violating the RICO Act, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, attempted murder, firearm possession, and gang-related offenses. McMullen is charged in connection with the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.
Jury selection for the remaining two defendants is scheduled to begin June 9. The newspaper reports they are both in the process of negotiating plea deals.
RELATED: YSL RICO case: Trial for 3 remaining defendants to be delayed until June
Inside the YSL Case
The backstory:
The YSL case centered on allegations that Young Slime Life, a group founded by Atlanta rap star Young Thug, was not merely a music collective but a criminal enterprise responsible for a string of violent crimes. Prosecutors alleged the organization operated out of southeast Atlanta since 2012, committing acts of murder, drug trafficking, and weapons violations under the cover of a legitimate record label.
The investigation came to a head in May 2022, when Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' office unsealed a 65-count indictment against Young Thug and 27 associates under Georgia’s RICO statute.
Key Defendants Included:
Jeffery Williams (Young Thug): Accused of co-founding and leading YSL. He initially faced eight criminal charges.
Yak Gotti (Deamonte Kendrick): Charged with murder and other gang-related offenses.
Shannon Stillwell: Also charged with murder and weapons violations.
While many defendants accepted plea deals or had their charges reduced, others were convicted of lesser crimes. None of those charged with murder or attempted murder have been convicted of those crimes.
A Trial Full of Delays and Chaos
The YSL trial has gone down as the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia’s history. Jury selection alone took 10 months. The trial lasted nearly two years and featured testimony from around 200 witnesses. It was plagued by disruptions, including witness intimidation, arrests of both jurors and attorneys, the replacement of the original judge, and even a stabbing incident involving a defendant in custody.
On Oct. 31, 2024, Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang and drug charges. He was sentenced to time served, 15 years of probation, and ordered to stay out of metro Atlanta for a decade (some of those conditions have since been modified).
In December, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell faced a jury verdict. Gotti was acquitted of all charges. Stillwell was convicted only of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a 10-year sentence, but with credit for time served. He is serving the remainder on probation.
RELATED: YSL RICO Trial: Verdicts reached for Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti), Shannon Stillwell
Bigger Questions Still Linger
Big picture view:
The YSL case sparked widespread debate over Georgia’s use of the RICO law and the role of rap lyrics and social media in criminal investigations. Prosecutors presented music videos and lyrics as evidence of gang affiliation, while defense attorneys pushed back, arguing that artistic expression was being unfairly criminalized.
Though prosecutors secured several convictions and plea deals, the mixed outcomes left questions about the strength of their broader narrative—that YSL was more than just a music label.
Why you should care:
As the final two defendants prepare for trial, the case continues to influence discussions around free speech, prosecutorial power, and the blurred lines between culture and crime.