In Fulton County, Georgia, tensions ran high during a pre-trial conference for the final three defendants in the YSL RICO case. The courtroom saw heated exchanges as Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sparred with defense attorneys over delays and requests for extra time to review evidence.
“If you interrupt me again, we are going to have a problem. I am talking,” Judge Whitaker warned, making it clear she was frustrated with the lack of progress. The situation escalated when one attorney, Terrell Dark, who represents Demise McMullen, mentioned a scheduling conflict due to international travel planned for mid-February. Dark claimed he had filed for leave back in December, but the judge said her team only found out about it that morning.
Meanwhile, prosecutors, led by Chief Deputy District Attorney Adam Abbate, assured the court they were finalizing redactions on parts of the indictment and promised to complete the task by Monday.
By the end of the conference, everyone agreed that jury selection for the trial would begin on March 3. Judge Whitaker has called for 400 potential jurors, hoping to speed up the process after the first YSL trial’s 10-month-long jury selection. She also stated that the indictment reading would be shorter than the four-hour reading in the earlier proceedings. The next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for February 7 at 9:30 a.m.
This trial is expected to last up to 90 days, but six weeks might be a more realistic timeline.
There have been recent developments in the YSL case. Earlier this week, a defendant named Tenquarius Mender accepted a plea deal, admitting to possession of weapons and a cellphone while in custody. He also entered an Alford plea to a gang-related charge, which means he didn’t admit guilt but agreed there was enough evidence for a conviction. Mender received a 10-year sentence, including time served and at least five years on probation.
On the same day, Christian Eppinger, another defendant, turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in life in prison. Eppinger faces charges, including attempted murder for allegedly shooting Atlanta Police Officer David Rodgers six times in February 2022. If convicted, he could receive two life sentences plus 100 years.
The YSL case first made headlines in 2022 with an indictment that accused multiple individuals, including well-known rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The indictment linked the defendants to alleged violent crimes. Many of the accused, including rapper Gunna (Sergio Kitchens), took plea deals to avoid trial.
The first trial, which began in November 2023, faced numerous challenges, including illnesses, the arrests of a juror and a lawyer, stabbings of defendants, and motions for mistrials. Young Thug and three other defendants eventually accepted plea deals in October 2024 and were released. Two defendants, Shannon Stillwell and rapper Yak Gotti (Deamonte Kendrick), were found not guilty of the most serious charges, including murder. Stillwell has since been released, but Kendrick remains in jail on other charges.
As the trial for the last three defendants approaches, here’s what they are facing:
- Damekion Garlington, also known as Dee or SXarefaxe, is charged with conspiracy to violate RICO, attempted murder of rapper YFN Lucci inside Fulton County Jail, two counts of participating in criminal street gang activity, the 2022 murder of Shymel Drinks, and possession of a firearm during a felony.
- Demise McMullen, also called Nard, is charged with conspiracy to violate RICO and the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.
- Christian Eppinger, who goes by Bhris, faces a long list of charges, including conspiracy to violate RICO, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, two counts of possessing a firearm as a first offender probationer, theft, two counts of attempted murder, and three counts of participating in gang activity.
The case continues to capture attention as it unfolds in the Fulton County courtroom. Judge Whitaker is determined to keep the trial on track and avoid further delays. With jury selection just weeks away, the spotlight remains on the courtroom and its players as they prepare for what’s expected to be a challenging trial.
