Former Atlanta Detective Barred from Testifying in Young Thug RICO Trial

The YSL RICO trial of Young Thug and his associates took a dramatic turn as former Atlanta police detective Ty Dennis was permanently barred from testifying after making an improper statement in court. The incident occurred while Dennis was discussing a photo of co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick standing on the hood of a luxury Maybach belonging to alleged rival gang member YFN Lucci. Dennis mentioned Kendrick’s release from jail, sparking an objection from Kendrick’s attorney and calls for a mistrial.

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker excused Dennis from the stand and barred him from testifying further, criticizing him for not exercising better judgment. Despite calls for a mistrial, Whitaker denied the motion but instructed the jury to disregard Dennis’ testimony from that day. The development further complicates the already slow-moving trial, which has set a record as Georgia’s longest-running jury selection process.

Prosecutors allege that Young Thug is the leader of the Atlanta-based gang Young Slime Life (YSL), involved in violent crimes including robberies, shootings, and murders. The defense argues that YSL is simply the name of Williams’ record label and that their clients are innocent of gang-related charges. With the trial ongoing since January 2023, the latest ruling involving Dennis adds another layer of complexity to the high-profile case. Stay tuned for more updates as the trial continues.