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Young Thug will finally receive an array of items that were confiscated from him during the YSL RICO investigation.
During a court hearing held on Monday, August 18, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker ruled in favor of Thugger's attorneys, who previously filed a motion to dismiss a civil forfeiture lawsuit. According to Billboard, the ruling means authorities must return numerous personal belongings that they seized from the Atlanta rapper when they arrested him three years ago in connection with the YSL case, including a Chevrolet Corvette, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, various pieces of jewelry, and nearly $145,000 in cash.
“I think that the court has no option under the case law and under the statute but to grant this dismissal, so the dismissal is granted,” Judge Whitaker said.
The judge stated that prosecutors had missed key deadlines to litigate the case. However, prosecutors pointed the finger Young Thug's attorney Brian Steel. They claimed he requested to change the court date due to his involvement in Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial in New York City. Nonetheless, Judge Whitaker explained that "the procedural rules and requirements of these forfeiture statutes are mandatory and the statutes are strictly construed against the state."
Young Thug was arrested at his home in Metro Atlanta in May 2022. After he was taken into custody, police also seized luxury items like a Lamborghini Aventador, Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and multiple Glock handguns. The rapper's attorneys said those items have already been returned. Now, authorities will have to return the rest of Thug's possessions pending an appeal from the state.
“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,” Deputy District Attorney Jeff DiSantis told FOX 5 Atlanta. “We are evaluating the case now for possible appeal considering that strange procedural history.”
After spending over two years in jail, Young Thug was released following his acceptance of a plea deal in the YSL RICO case. While he still must adhere to strict post-release conditions, Thugger has made the best of his newfound freedom by hitting the stage at several festivals and releasing music alongside Future and Lil Baby. He's currently preparing to drop his first album since the YSL case ended.