Three of Young Thug’s 13 co-defendants in the sprawling RICO case against his Young Slime Life (YSL) collective are facing new charges stemming from an alleged jail stabbing.
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat told WSB-TV on Wednesday (February 1) that Christian “Bhris” Eppinger, Rodalius “Lil Rod” Ryan and Damone “Bali” Blalock have been accused of stabbing a fellow inmate inside Fulton County Jail.
Authorities have yet to share further details about the attack, so the identity of the victim and their condition are unknown. It’s also unclear what prompted the stabbing.
Ryan and Blalock are already serving life in prison in connection with separate murder cases, while Eppinger stands accused of shooting an Atlanta police officer six times in February 2022.
Eppinger is also one of two YSL members who allegedly stabbed YFN Lucci inside Fulton County Jail last February. Prosecutors claim Eppinger and Antonio “Obama” Sumlin (who has since taken a plea deal) worked to get Young Thug’s permission to make a second attempt on Lucci’s life.
In a statement obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ryan’s attorney Angela D’Williams maintained her client’s innocence in relation to the alleged jail stabbing.
“Mr. Ryan is hopeful that there is a thorough investigation and that there is not a rush to judgement,” she said. “Mr. Ryan maintains his innocence regarding this incident.”
The latest twist in the YSL RICO case come shortly after Ryan was hit with additional charges for delaying proceedings in the trial, for which jury selection began last month.
Ryan, who has been described by authorities as an “ongoing problem,” allegedly spat in a deputy sheriff’s face while awaiting transportation to court on January 23.
The deputy claimed Ryan was uncooperative when he asked him to exit the patrol car, leading to him forcibly removing the defendant from the vehicle. In the process, however, Ryan’s attorney claimed he was punched in the head and fell on the sidewalk, resulting in injuries to his legs, hands and head.
Ryan was also charged with unauthorized possession of a prohibited item by an inmate in January for his role in an alleged courtroom drug deal involving Young Thug and fellow YSL co-defendant Khalieff Adams.
Adams was accused of handing Thug a single Percocet pill when court was in session. The alleged exchange was captured on closed-circuit cameras inside the Fulton County Superior Courthouse.
Young Thug, meanwhile, remains behind bars awaiting trial, which is expected to last for at least six months. The Atlanta rapper faces eight charges in the 65-count indictment, including conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and participation in criminal street gang activity, along with various weapons and drug offenses.
Despite a courtroom video of him looking “defeated” going viral last week, close friends and collaborators maintain that the YSL leader is keeping his spirits high while in jail.
“I be talking to him, he’s blessed man,” Metro Boomin told DJ Drama last month. “Anybody know Slime know he got a heart of gold, but he got the heart of a warrior at the same time, so he got his head up.”
[VIA]
