Young Thug attends a Back-to-School Event at Hosea Helps on August 2, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Attorneys for rapper Jeffery Lamar Williams II — better known as Young Thug — asked a Fulton County judge to throw out a civil forfeiture case tied to the YSL racketeering prosecution, arguing the State missed a mandatory deadline required under Georgia law.
What Young Thug's lawyers claim
What we know:
In a newly filed motion, Williams and his company, YSL Enterprises, claim the State failed to hold a hearing within 60 days of a court order lifting a stay on the forfeiture proceedings, as required under O.C.G.A. § 9-16-12(f). The statute mandates that once discovery ends or a stay is lifted, a hearing must be held — or continued for good cause — within 60 days, or the complaint must be dismissed.
According to the motion, the stay was lifted on April 1, 2025, but Williams’ attorneys were not notified of the order and only discovered it on August 12. They argue that under the law, the forfeiture hearing should have been conducted by June 2, or at the very latest by Aug. 2 — even accounting for an additional 60-day period — but was instead set for Aug. 18. Because the State never requested a timely continuance, Williams contends the case must be dismissed.
Property listed includes almost $150K in cash, a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, a 2022 Porsche 911, three Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 2018 Lamborghini, several guns, and assorted jewelry.
Prosecutors respond to motion
The other side:
Prosecutors fired back in a response filed Aug. 14, saying it was Williams’ legal team that requested the initial continuance of a May 5 hearing due to a scheduling conflict with a federal case in New York. They argued Williams thereby consented to rescheduling outside the 60-day window and cannot now use the delay as grounds to dismiss the forfeiture action.
What happened in court
What they're saying:
A hearing took place on Monday morning in front of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker. After hearing from Williams' lead attorney, Brian Steel, she ruled in favor of the rapper. After her ruling, Judge Whitaker pointed out that the state is allowed to file an appeal and if they do so, the property will not be returned until a decision is made on the appeal.
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FULL: Young Thug property hearing
A hearing took place on Monday, Aug. 18, in Fulton County after Young Thug's lawyers asked for his property seizure case to be dismissed. The judge agreed.
Fulton County responds to decision
The other side:
After Judge Whitaker made her ruling on Monday morning, Deputy District Attorney Jeff DiSantis for the Fulton Country District Attorney's Office sent the following statement:
"While we are gratified that the defendant will not be receiving gang-related jewelry back, we are perplexed that Judge Whitaker dismissed the case based on a timeline requested by defense counsel and a date the court set for trial. We are evaluating the case now for possible appeal considering that strange procedural history."
Why property was seized
The backstory:
The property seizure case stems from the broader 2022 gang and racketeering indictment against Williams and others alleged to be associated with the "Young Slime Life" (YSL) street gang.
Williams entered a non-negotiated guilty plea in October 2024 and was released with a 10-year ban from metro Atlanta, though he negotiated to visit his Atlanta home starting in 2027 and travel through Hartsfield-Jackson Airport for performances.
Jewelry returned previously
What we know:
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker issued a consent order on Feb. 21 authorizing the return of several pieces of jewelry to Rafaello & Company Inc., doing business as A+A Diamonds Ltd.
The list of jewelry included a Rolex Datejust watch engraved with "King Slime" on the rear; a diamond cross pendant; a necklace with circular and square green jewels; a double-row diamond tennis necklace; diamond stud earrings; and a diamond ring with 13 diamonds.
RELATED: Judge orders Young Thug's jewelry to be turned over to jewelry company
What is he doing now?
What we know:
Young Thug celebrated his 34th birthday over the weekend. His girlfriend, Mariah The Scientist, reportedly gifted him with a matching bracelet for his birthday. The bracelets include their nicknames, Ry Ry and Jeffy, according to HotNewHipHop.com.
Young Thug has also been busy performing and fulfilling the terms of his probation by making appearances at events for young people and speaking about his experience.
The rapper and his lawyer spoke to students at an alternative high school for at-risk students in Atlanta in early August. Additionally, he visited a group of high school students that he regretted not finishing school and that it is important to finish school. Young Thug also showed up unexpectedly at a back-to-school event in Atlanta and visited with young inmates in a rehabilitation program in Miami.