More YSL Plea Deals Made In Young Thug Racketeering Case

ATLANTA, GA — Two more defendants in the expansive YSL trial in Fulton County have accepted plea deals, bringing the total of guilty pleas to three in two days.

Co-defendants Rodalius "Lil' Rod' Ryan, 20, and Marquavius "Qua" Huey, 28, pled guilty to various charges Wednesday - leaving the number of defendants left in the trial at three, including rapper Jeffery "Young Thug" Williams.

Defense attorneys maintain YSL is Williams' record label and stands for Young Stoner Life, while state prosecutors say YSL is a criminal street gang named Young Slime Life. Twenty-eight total defendants were arrested, with some of them previously taking plea deals and testifying in the current trial.

With court recessed around 5 p.m. Wednesday, it is unknown if more defendants have accepted pleas.

Quamarvious "Qua" Nichols, 29, pled guilty to violation of the RICO Act and was sentenced to 20 years, with seven years to be served in custody and the remainder on probation.

The state dismissed the charges of murder, participation in criminal street gang activity, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony against Nichols.

Rodalius "Lil' Rod" Ryan

Ryan pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

"This trial has been exhausting for everybody, and that certainly includes Mr. Ryan, who has been going through the court system since he was 15 years old," attorney Leah Abbasi said during the plea hearing. "This plea today ... is going to be the best for his future."

Abassi, who represents Ryan, said he is denying that YSL is a criminal street gang as state prosecutors have alleged.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker accepted the negotiated sentence of 10 years commuted to time served and to be run concurrently with the life sentence Ryan is presently serving in connection with the fatal shooting of Jamari Holmes.

Abassi said Ryan was 15-years-old at the time of the killing. She added that "he was out at all different hours, doing different things" and "grouped himself with others who called themselves YSL."

He was not attempting to further the interests of a criminal street gang, Abassi said.

Ryan is appealing the murder conviction in connection with the death of Holmes.

"I think Mr. Ryan has grown up a lot during this trial," Abbasi said, adding Ryan does not wish to be in another courtroom.

Whitaker advised that someone Ryan's age could be granted parole in the future if he stays "on the straight and narrow" and follows prison rules.

If Ryan is later released from prison, Whitaker encouraged him to play "the long game so that you have a future in front of you still."

Abassi said Ryan wishes to move forward with his life and "to put this behind him."

Marquavius "Qua" Huey

Huey pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, three counts of robbery, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a weapon by an incarcerated individual.

His plea has made him a first-time convicted felon, his attorney, Careton Matthews Sr., said.

Huey was initially additionally facing charges of armed robbery, first-degree hijacking a motor vehicle, participation in criminal street gang activity, reckless driving, driving- fleeing and attempting to elude among other charges. These charges were dropped, excluding the armed robbery charge, which was reduced to robbery.

Whitaker said due to the gravity of the charges, the negotiated plea of 25 years with nine years to be served in prison was to Huey's benefit. Nine years were suspended, and the balance will be served on probation. She accepted the plea as negotiated.

Matthews requested time served for the approximate four years that his client has been incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail. Whitaker said the Georgia Department of Corrections will determine the amount of time served.

Whitaker told Huey the recommended sentence was "frankly remarkable and something that you should not take for granted or take lightly at all. These are very serious charges."

She noted Huey was facing three consecutive life sentences plus about 100 years.

"You are getting a huge opportunity to turn your life around," Whitaker said to Huey.

During her sentencing, she recommended Huey undergo a transitional program and take advantage of job training in prison.

Huey, a father to two small children, said a few words after the sentencing.

"I want to thank the court and thank God, and I want to apologize to my kids and my family and everybody that's supported me in this stressful process," he said.

Huey, an Atlanta native, added he will return a "better man" after his release from prison.

Matthews said Huey was raised in the Jonesboro South community. His father was murdered in 2010, leaving Huey without a father, Matthews said.

He and multiple siblings were raised by a single mother. Matthews said Huey and his family, for some time, were homeless, even sleeping in a car.

"He's seen a lot of things in his short 28-year life," Matthews said. "... He's had a very hard life as it relates to his upbringing."

Wednesday's plea hearing was the first time he has physically seen his 2-year-old daughter, who was born in July 2022 while Huey was incarcerated. Fulton County Jail records show Huey was arrested in December 2021.

"He recognizes that choices put him before this court in this case," Matthews said. " ... We are here before this court because it's an acceptance of responsibility."

He added he believes the negotiated plea is fair.

After his prison release, Matthews said Huey plans to start a nonprofit and establish a trucking company after securing a commercial driver's license.

Through a nonprofit, Huey wants to share his experiences with teenagers. He wants to tell them, "Don't do what I did, and you have another way in which you can go," Matthews said.

Matthews said he has connected Huey with a local organization for mentorship.

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