Gunna Released From Jail After Taking Plea Deal in YSL Case

Photo Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Atlanta rapper Gunna has been released from a Georgia jail after pleading guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

The 29-year-old platinum-selling artist was arrested in May along with Grammy Award-winning rapper Young Thug, after a 56-count grand jury indictment naming 28 members and associates of the record label imprint YSL (Young Stoner Life) was filed in the state.

"I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL," the rapper said in a written statement shared with the media on Wednesday by his attorney Steve Sadow. 

"An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge."

Thanks to the plea Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, will serve no prison time.

WATCH: Atlanta rapper #Gunna released from Fulton County Jail hours after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy.
MORE DETAILS >>> https://t.co/Ap9ALLy5xZ pic.twitter.com/1p3IQNJcSB

— Mikaela Thomas (@MikaelaThomasTV) December 14, 2022

One year of his five-year sentence was commuted to time served and the rest was suspended. While the musician does not face any more time behind bars, he does have other obligations to keep as conditions of his release.

As part of the 500 hours of community service he is beholden to, Gunna is required to spend 350 hours speaking to young men and women about the hazards and immorality of gangs and gang violence.

The grand jury indictment that led to his arrest and that of his associates claims that the record label imprint YSL is "a criminal street gang" that "claims affiliation with the national Bloods gang."

The indictment cites numerous gang-related incidents, spanning years, that include criminal actions by YSL operatives in coordination with the Bloods gang, including murder.

#BREAKING: Attorneys representing Atlanta rapper #Gunna confirm his release from jail is expected in the next few hours. Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, said in a statement he plead guilty to the single RICO charge against him but maintains his innocence. @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/toACWsj39Y

— Joi Dukes Fox 5 (@JoiDukesTV) December 14, 2022

"When I became affiliated with YSL in 2016, I did not consider it a 'gang'; more like a group of people from metro Atlanta who had common interests and artistic aspirations," Gunna said."My focus of YSL was entertainment — rap artists who wrote and performed music that exaggerated and 'glorified' urban life in the Black community."

I love and cherish my association with YSL music and always will. "I look at this as an opportunity to give back to my community and educate young men and women that 'gangs' and violence only lead to destruction."

The "Drip Too Hard" artist made it clear that even though he took a plea that he will not be involved in the prosecution of his co-defendants.

He added, "While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case, and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way."