Rapper Young Thug has been freed from jail after pleading guilty to gang, drug and gun charges.
The 33-year-old Grammy winner, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, had spent more than 900 days behind bars since his arrest on racketeering and gang-related charges.
Prosecutors alleged the rap label he founded - Young Stoner Life (YSL) Records - was a front for an organised crime syndicate responsible for “75 to 80 per cent of violent crime” in Atlanta.
In a dramatic twist that ended the longest criminal trial in Georgia history, he pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.
He also entered a no contest plea to another gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, meaning that he decided not to contest those charges but could be punished for them as if he had pleaded guilty.
Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker imposed a sentence of 40 years, with the first five to be served in prison.
But the rapper was able to walk free because of the amount of time he had already spent behind bars.
He will be on probation for 15 years.
In court Young Thug described himself as “a good guy with a good heart” who found himself “in a lot of stuff because I was just nice or cool”.
He added: “I take full responsibility for my crimes, for my charges. To really everybody that has got something to do with this situation, I want to say sorry.”
He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service, banned from contacting gang members or former co-defendants, and banned from remaining in the Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his 15-year probation period except under special stipulated circumstances.
He could be could be put back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.
“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Judge Whitaker told him.
Prosecutors had planned to recommend a sentence of 45 years, including 25 in custody and 20 on probation.
