Monday’s 88-page indictment, however, alleges that the gang was involved in a wide variety of illegal activities, including witness intimidation, murder, attempted murder, carjacking, robbery, theft and drug dealing. A number of people are named as victims of shootings or attempted shootings, including Dwayne Carter, the New Orleans hip-hop star who raps under the name Lil Wayne, and whose tour bus was shot at by a YSL member named Jimmy Winfrey in April 2015, according to the indictment.
Mr. Williams is named as having committed a number of illegal acts for which he is not charged, but which are described as “overt acts” in furtherance of the group’s criminal conspiracy. Among those allegations are an instance of threatening to kill a man at a mall and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Mr. Williams is also alleged to have rented a silver Infiniti Q50 sedan that was used in the commission of the murder of a rival gang leader, Donovan Thomas Jr., in January 2015.
Five men are charged with murder in connection with Mr. Thomas’s death. One of them, Deamonte Kendrick, is identified as Yak Gotti, a rapper on the YSL label.
Previous court documents say that Mr. Thomas’s compatriots blamed YSL for his death. On Tuesday, Ms. Willis said that his murder “created violence like Atlanta has never seen.” She also said she promised Mr. Thomas’s mother she would do everything she could “to make sure that her son had justice.”
Brian Steel, a lawyer for Mr. Williams, said that YSL was not a street gang. “Mr. Williams came from an incredibly horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at,” Mr. Steel said. “He’s committed no crime whatsoever.”
Also charged with one count of racketeering is Sergio Kitchens, the well-known rapper who performs as Gunna. The indictment alleges he committed felonies including receiving stolen property and drug possession with intent to distribute.
