Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, says he is “concerned” for the rapper’s health and well-being after he was rushed to a hospital for the 2nd day in a row.
Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was rushed to an Atlanta hospital after he fell ill during court proceedings on Thursday.
He was released from the hospital and returned to court on Friday, where he promptly fell ill again at the defense table.
Williams, 31, is among more than two dozen Young Slime Life gang members charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and gang activity.
His attorney told the judge the rapper is too ill to sit for jury selection on Friday.
“I know he’s had some difficulty of a similar sort at the Cobb County Jail a few months ago, and so I’m obviously concerned about his well-being,” the lawyer told Judge Ural Glanville on Thursday.
The lawyer said Williams recently fell ill at the Cobb County Jail after suffering physical exhaustion from sleep deprivation and malnutrition from the unappetizing jail food.
“Mr. Williams is sleep deprived, mandated to wake up on court days between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. and not having more than five hours of sleep per night,” Steel said. “By the end of the week, Mr. Williams is fighting to pay attention to the goings on in his case.”
Williams’s legal team filed a 4th motion for the rapper’s release on bond. In the motion filed on April 24, Steel said Williams subsists on a meager diet of food with “zero health benefits,” such as chocolate bars and potato chips.
Steel said Williams has been deprived of fresh air and sunshine since May 2022 when he was arrested. The only sunlight he gets is on the way to the courthouse and back to jail.
Steel said Williams is unable to exercise due to the tiny confines of his jail cell where he is locked down 23-hours a day.
The judge is considering the latest motion. The trial is expected to last a year. A jury has not been seated out of 600 potential jurors.
Another 300 potential jurors will be called this month.
