Young Thug has scored a major post-trial victory after a Georgia judge ordered authorities to return multiple luxury vehicles and roughly $149,000 in cash that were seized during the high-profile YSL RICO case. The order reportedly comes in Fulton County, Georgia, shortly after the Atlanta rapper – born Jeffery Williams – was acquitted of racketeering charges in the long‑running Young Slime Life prosecution led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s office, which has drawn national attention for its aggressive use of Georgia’s RICO statute.[1][2] According to reports, the ruling represents a significant legal win for Young Thug and a setback for the prosecution following the collapse of its core racketeering case.
According to court coverage from Atlanta outlets, authorities had seized several high‑end cars and the six‑figure sum in cash during the original May 2022 raid and subsequent investigation that swept up Young Thug and more than two dozen alleged YSL associates under a 56-count RICO indictment.[1][2] The YSL RICO trial, which began jury selection in early 2023 and evolved into what local media have described as the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia history, centered on accusations that YSL functioned as a violent street gang – allegations that Young Thug has consistently denied. Prosecutors moved to tie music, lyrics and lifestyle markers to alleged criminal activity, a strategy that drew intense scrutiny from civil liberties advocates and artists’ rights organizations.[1][2]
As the case dragged on, numerous co-defendants accepted plea deals, while others went to verdict; in late 2025, Young Thug himself was found not guilty on RICO counts after jurors reportedly rejected the state’s broader conspiracy theory.[1][3] With the acquittal in place, his legal team pushed for the return of property they argued was improperly held once the underlying racketeering case against him fell apart. According to reports, the judge’s new order directs Georgia authorities to release the seized vehicles and cash back to Young Thug, reinforcing the principle that assets tied to charges must be returned when those charges do not result in a conviction.
The decision lands at a pivotal moment for both Young Thug and Fulton County. For the rapper, it marks a concrete step toward rebuilding his career and finances after years of pretrial detention and court battles that effectively sidelined one of Atlanta’s most influential hip‑hop figures.[2] For DA Fani Willis’s office, the order underscores mounting questions about the scope and tactics of the YSL RICO prosecution, even as prosecutors continue to pursue remaining defendants connected to the original indictment.[1] In the broader hip-hop community, the ruling will likely be viewed as a symbolic affirmation of Young Thug’s legal victory and a cautionary note about the use of expansive racketeering theories and asset seizures against rap artists.
