Atlanta rapper Young Thug, who was banished from metro Atlanta after pleading guilty in the “Young Slime Life” case, is being allowed to fly through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as early as Tuesday.
The request was made Tuesday morning in a motion by Young Thug’s attorneys Brian Steel and Keith Adams. They asked Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker to allow him to allow the rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, to travel through the metro Atlanta area for the purpose of using the airport for commercial air travel for business and other lawful purposes.
In an order granting the request, Whitaker said Williams is permitted to travel through the Atlanta metro area “solely for the stated purpose and only for the time necessary to effectuate that purpose.”
According to the motion, Williams was trying to travel “as soon as” Tuesday morning or the days after, if the court grants permission to do so. Williams’ probation officer did not object to the request, according to the motion.
After nearly two-and-a-half years behind bars, Williams was sentenced to time served and 15 years on probation after pleading no contest — meaning he did not admit to nor deny — to one count each of conspiring to violate the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and participating in criminal street gang activity. But he pleaded guilty to six charges, including gang, gun and drug charges.
Williams was originally banished by Whitaker from the metro Atlanta area — as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau — for 10 years as part of the probation he’s serving after pleading guilty in the long-running gang case in October. According to the Census Bureau, the metro Atlanta area extends to the state line with Alabama to the west, Meriwether County to the south, near Athens to the east and Dahlonega to the north.
Last month, Williams asked Whitaker to reconsider his exile so he can stay in one of his Atlanta-area homes for the holidays. However, Whitaker quickly denied his request and ordered the rapper to remain in exile from metro Atlanta for at least three years.
Whitaker said Williams may return to Atlanta after those three years have passed on his probation if no violations have occurred during that time, but he can only visit that home located “a few miles to the most extreme border” of metro Atlanta for up to two weeks at a time and only up to four times per year starting Oct. 31, 2027. The rapper must notify his probation officer at least five days before going to the address.
Williams is allowed to enter metro Atlanta to attend immediate family members’ weddings, funerals, graduations or medical emergencies, but he can enter the area only 24 hours before such events and must leave within 48 hours after.
His sentence also requires the rapper to return to Atlanta four times per year for a “live anti-gang and anti-gun violence presentation” at a grade school, middle school, Boys & Girls club or similar group and can include a benefit concert. He is also required to do 100 hours of community service each year of probation.
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