Fireworks erupt between Mounk Tounk and prosecutors in Young Thug trial

ATLANTA, Georgia (Atlanta News First) – Tensions rose rapidly in the Fulton County, Georgia courtroom, where Atlanta's “Trial of the 21st Century” is taking place, on Monday as Antonio Sledge (aka Mounk Tounk) continued to retract statements he made to prosecutors in the case against Young Thug.

Sledge was sharply criticized by Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Adrianne Love for his previous statements to police regarding a drive-by shooting on April 28, 2015. He repeatedly used a phrase already made famous by the previous witness: “I don't remember.”

Like the prosecution's previous key witness, Lil' Woody (real name Kenneth Copeland), Sledge also has a plea agreement after pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

At several points during Monday's testimony, Love raised her voice, visibly expressing frustration with Sledge's noncommittal answers, prompting Sledge to tell Love to stop talking to him as if he were a child.

Sledge had worked as head of security for Young Thug's record label YSL. Court documents show that he admitted that YSL is a group of three or more members who committed crimes, among other things, to increase their notoriety and street credibility. Last week, however, Sledge walked back those statements and claimed YSL is not a gang.

Sledge will continue to be cross-examined by defense attorneys on Monday.

Last week, the trial was rocked by news of Rich Homie Quan's death, with no further details released.

The rapper – real name Dequantes Devontay Lamar – had been listed as a possible witness in the historically lengthy criminal trial against Young Thug, in which he faces eight charges under a federal law originally enacted to combat organized crime.

On Thursday, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office said it had been notified of Quan's death by Grady Memorial Hospital. The rapper's death was also confirmed by his former record label, Young Money Entertainment.

In September 2014, Quan's father, Corey Lamar, was injured when his barbershop was the target of a shooting. Fulton County prosecutors are trying to link the incident to an alleged criminal gang led by Young Thug, who is currently on trial in Atlanta on multiple criminal and gang-related charges.

A few weeks ago, Copeland admitted that he and a friend opened fire at the barbershop.

When asked about his motive by Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Symone Hilton, Copeland said he wanted to send a message with the shooting that “we are not being played with.”

Two weeks ago, under intense questioning from his defense attorneys, Copeland (aka Lil' Woody) accused Fulton County prosecutors of releasing a 2015 police interrogation video to paint him as a “traitor.” On Wednesday, under questioning from Young Thug attorney Brian Steel, Copeland said the release of the video was the reason he needed to retain legal representation for his own protection.

Copeland was once considered the prosecution's star witness, a wannabe rapper who police and prosecutors used to link Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) to a gang they believed was responsible for a series of gang-related crimes, including the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas.

Copeland was once considered the prosecution's star witness, a wannabe rapper who police and prosecutors used to link Young Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) to a gang they believed was responsible for a series of gang-related crimes, including the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas.

Jeffery Lamar Williams – also known as Young Thug – celebrated his 33rd birthday on August 16, 2024, after being arrested along with 27 other alleged gang members in Buckhead on May 9, 2022, as part of a 56-count indictment.

Jury selection took longer than any other trial in Georgia history, and the actual testimony itself will likely surpass state records, both of which were set by the Atlanta Public Schools teachers scandal and trial of 2014-15.

The trial itself began on November 27, 2023. Defense attorneys have repeatedly raised concerns about the length of the trial, and Fulton County prosecutors have yet to call more than 100 witnesses.

The prosecution is trying to prove that YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous crimes. The defense says YSL is not a gang, but merely the name of a record label.

Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to resell, possession of codeine with intent to resell, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

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