During the RICO trial against rapper Young Thug and the alleged YSL street gang, a witness from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office made a surprising admission on Tuesday. The witness confessed to being under the influence while testifying on the stand.
During his testimony, Adrian Bean, a key witness for the prosecution, requested a glass of water to quench his thirst. In a candid moment, he casually commented to the court, “I’m feeling quite relaxed at the moment, almost like I could fall asleep.”
Bean, who has been called to testify under a subpoena, has been testifying since February 29. Throughout his testimony, he has consistently stated that he cannot recall any details related to an armed robbery, a shooting, and a car chase that occurred in September 2013. Prosecutors claim that Bean was the alleged getaway driver for Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffrey Williams, and other defendants involved in the case.
In May 2022, Willis brought charges against Williams and 27 other individuals in a comprehensive RICO indictment. The indictment alleges that Williams is the kingpin of Young Slime Life, a street gang based in Atlanta that is connected to the notorious national Bloods gang. Williams’ legal team has contended that YSL is simply an abbreviation for the name of the Grammy-winning artist’s record label, Young Stoner Life.
The YSL trial, which began in November, is anticipated to continue until 2024. Notably, the process of selecting the jury itself took a lengthy ten months.
The 28 co-defendants faced charges under Georgia’s wide-ranging Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. This is the same law that Willis used to indict former President Donald Trump and 18 of his allies, accusing them of attempting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.
During the cross-examination on Friday, Bean reached a breaking point. He informed the Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville that he had experienced threats and harassment. This occurred after his phone number was revealed in court. Bean also accused the defense of being responsible for these unwanted incidents.
“I keep telling you, I can’t remember anything from 2013,” Bean exclaimed. “You have my name and phone number recorded. These people are harassing me. They keep calling me, your honor. I have lost my job and I am dealing with a lot right now.”
In a dramatic turn of events, Bean leveled accusations at the attorneys, claiming they were attempting to undermine his character. He repeatedly questioned the judge, seeking reassurance that he himself was not on trial. In a firm response, Glanville clarified that Bean was indeed summoned as a witness and would remain subject to examination until released.
In court, Bean attributed his memory loss to drug use, stating, “I used to take a significant amount of drugs in the past as a result of various challenges I faced within my family.”
“After turning my life around following my release from prison, everything seemed like a clean slate,” he recounted. “I have no recollection of what transpired during that time, including any interactions with others.”
Prosecutors have attempted to prove that Williams was present during the incident that resulted in Bean’s arrest. They argue that the rapper, along with another suspected gang member, managed to escape while Bean and another individual were being apprehended for the incident that occurred in 2013. However, Bean has testified that he struggles to recollect any specific memories from that particular period.