Gunna’s lawyers speak out about the rapper’s “intensely problematic” RICO indictment

nme.com:

Gunna’s lawyers have spoken out about the rapper’s recent RICO indictment.After being named in a 28-person grand jury indictment that also included Young Thug earlier this week, rapper Gunna was taken into custody on Wednesday (May 11).Gunna – real name Sergio Kitchens – is charged, along with the other 27 people listed in the 56-count indictment, with conspiracy to violate the state of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.The indictment centres around the YSL record label and collective, allegedly formed by Thug – real name Jeffery Lamar Williams – in 2012, which authorities claim is a “criminal street gang”.

Part of the indictment is based around Williams, Kitchens and other YSL associates’ lyrics and social media posts allegedly being “acts in furtherance of the conspiracy”.Among those lyrics are a line from Williams and Kitchens’ collaboration ‘Slatty’, in which the latter raps: “I killed his man in front of his momma / Like fuck lil bruh, sister and his cousin.”Now, Gunna’s legal team have responded, describing the RICO indictment as “intensely problematic”.In a new motion seeking Gunna’s release on bond, the lawyers say he has “no significant criminal history” and that he shouldn’t be locked up because of his lyrics.“It is intensely problematic that the state relies on song lyrics as part of its allegations,” they said.“These lyrics are an artist’s creative expression and not a literal recounting of facts and circumstances.