Rapper YFN Lucci, born Rayshawn Lamar Bennett, could soon find himself a free man as Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis has recommended his early release.
On July 23, 2024, rapper Drew Findling's attorney, Drew Findling, shared during an interview with WSB-TV that DA Fanni Willis has submitted a letter to the State Board of Pardons supporting his early release, as per All Hip Hop.
The Atlanta-based rapper was initially turned to the authorities in 2021 on alleged murder, gang, and racketeering charges. However, in January 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, as per CNN. By this time, he had served three years in jail.
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The 33-year-old rapper rose to prominence when he signed a record deal with Think It's A Game Entertainment and released his debut mixtape, Wish Me Well, in 2014. He has given some significant hits, including Everyday We Lit, Heartless, Key to the Streets, Made For It, and Both of Us.
A closer look at YFN Lucci's incarceration: Fulton County DA recommends early release for the rapper
According to Billboard, YFN Lucci was arrested in January 2021; he was among the dozens of rappers arrested under the RICO act, including YSL rapper Young Thug.
The publication reports that Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Charles Hampton said at a news conference on May 4, 2021, that the Atlanta rapper was charged under several alleged crimes, including racketeering, aggravated assault, murder, gun, armed robbery, property damage, theft, and gang-related charges.
The investigation officer said that Lucci and other people were involved in a sub-group of the national Bloods gang. Also, he had connections with the groups who had committed various crimes. As per Billboard, Drew Findling said over a phone interview that YFN Lucci did not belong to any group and was never involved in such activities —
"He's absolutely not a gang member, and this indictment — neglectfully or purposely — fails to say that Mr. Bennett is a nationally and internationally recognized musical artist."
This year, in January, the Atlanta rapper's 12 out of 13 charges against the YFN Lucci were dropped, including felony murder, which comes with a life sentence, which was related to the alleged murder of James Adams, who was shot dead by a rival gang in Atlanta, reports Billboard. The reason for the charge's dismissal is not given. However, they could be dropped because of lack of evidence.
"After three years of pretrial litigation, more than two weeks of jury selection and three years of incarceration waiting for his jury trial, today, the prosecution finally relented and dismissed the murder and RICO charges against Rayshawn Bennett."
YFN Lucci's attorney further added that now, after the dismissal of 12 charges against the rapper, he will not enter a plea deal related to the gang-related count —
"After the dismissal of 12 of the 13 counts against him, Mr. Bennett entered a plea to one gang-related count."
The rapper's attorney also revealed to a television station in Atlanta, WSB-TV, that Fulton County DA Fanni Willis had recommended Lucci's early release —
"The District Attorney of Fulton County did the unorthodox. That letter from the district attorney is a powerful punch and is really at the heart of the letter and supporting documents and the memorandum that we have shared with the parole board."
After the dismissal against YFN Lucci, Findling told Billboard that the rapper would be eligible to apply for parole. The attorney further stated that his prosecution had also agreed to his early release to reunite with his children and resume his hip-hop career —
"By entering into this resolution, he will be eligible for parole in as early as four months from now. The prosecution has also agreed that he should be released early on parole, which will allow him to get back to his children, family, and career."
As of now, under one charge that has not yet been dismissed, YFN Lucci was charged to serve 20 years in prison, for which he will serve 10 years in jail, and 10 on probation.
