Fulton County Superior Court

***EFILED***NY
Date: 5/15/2023 12:00 AM
Cathelene Robinson, Clerk

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY

STATE OF GEORGIA

STATE OF GEORGIA, )
)
vs. )
) CASE NO.: 22SC183572
TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS, )
)
Defendant. )
_____________________________)

Transcript of the Guilty Plea

before the Honorable Ural D. Glanville
held on December 29, 2022
at the Justice Center Tower, Courtroom 8-F

APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL:

For the State: ADRIANE LOVE

SIMONE HYLTON
Assistant District Attorneys
For the Defendant: KRISTI GLADDEN
Attorney at Law

Kristina Weaver, RPR, CCR-B-1785

185 Central Avenue, S.W.
Suite T-8955
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404)612-0525

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 I-N-D-E-X T-O E-X-H-I-B-I-T-S

For the State:

EXHIBIT TENDERED ADMITTED
1-TS 22 22

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 1 P-R-O-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-S
2 THE COURT: Good morning, counsels, interested
3 parties. We're here on the record in the matter of State
4 of Georgia v. Trontavious Stephens in Indictment
5 22SC183572.
6 Good evening, Ms. Gladden, and good evening,
7 Mr. Stephens.
8 MS. GLADDEN: Good evening, your Honor.
9 THE DEFENDANT: Good evening.
10 THE COURT: And good evening, Ms. Love, and good
11 evening, Ms. Hylton.
12 Mr. Stephens, can I get you to raise your right hand
13 the best you are able, please.
14 Do you solemnly swear or affirm the evidence you will
15 give in the matter now in hearing shall be the truth, the
16 whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God? If
17 so, affirm.
18 THE DEFENDANT: I do.
19 THE COURT: You need to speak up, sir.
20 THE DEFENDANT: I do.
21 THE COURT: Okay. All right. Put your hand down.
22 Mr. Stephens, over the next several minutes -- I'm
23 sure Ms. Gladden's probably told you -- we're going to go
24 through what's called a providency inquiry. Half of it is
25 what we call your Boykin rights. That means those are

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 1 constitutional rights that every criminal accused enjoys.
2 In our system of jurisprudence, we don't force people
3 to plead guilty so Courts have to make sure that you
4 understand your rights, you give those up freely and
5 voluntarily before I can sentence you, okay. So that is
6 the first part.
7 The second part of the inquiry, the State has to lay
8 out a factual basis as to what they would have been able to
9 prove at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
10 So assuming they can -- those two things, they pass,
11 then I can determine that your plea is provident and accept
12 your negotiated plea, okay?
13 THE DEFENDANT: (Nods in the affirmative.)
14 THE COURT: You have to answer yes or no for the
15 record.
16 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
17 THE COURT: So, Ms. Love, is it going to be you,
18 Ms. Love?
19 MS. LOVE: It's going to be Ms. Hylton today.
20 THE COURT: Ms. Hylton is going to ask you a series
21 of questions that are designed to get at the two areas we
22 talked about. When she's done, your attorney, Ms. Gladden,
23 will offer me some things on your behalf. And then you and
24 I will have a short conversation and I should be able to
25 accept your plea; okay?

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 1 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
2 THE COURT: Okay. Wonderful.
3 All right, madam, go right ahead.
4 MS. HYLTON: Thank you.
5 BY MS. HYLTON:
6 Q. Mr. Stephens, if you could please state your true and
7 correct legal name.
8 A. Trontavious Stephens.
9 Q. And are you the same person referred to as Trontavious
10 Stephens, also known as Tick and also known as Slug, on
11 Indictment 22SC183572?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. Are you at this time taking or under the influence of
14 any alcohol, drugs, or medicine?
15 A. No.
16 Q. How old are you?
17 A. 29.
18 Q. How far have you gone in school?
19 A. I got a GED.
20 Q. Okay. Are you able to read, write, and understand the
21 English language?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. Do you understand that you are charged in this
24 indictment with Count 1, conspiracy to violate the Racketeer
25 Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act?

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 1 A. Yes.
2 Q. Do you understand that you have the right to plead
3 either guilty or not guilty to these charges?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. And if you plead not guilty or remain silent you may
6 receive a jury trial?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. Have you had enough time to speak with your lawyer,
9 Attorney Gladden, about all the facts and circumstances known to
10 you regarding the charge in this indictment?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. Have you also been able to speak with her about any
13 potential defenses?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Do you need any more time to discuss this matter with
16 your attorney?
17 A. No.
18 Q. Are you satisfied with her counsel and representation?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Do you waive formal reading of the indictment?
21 A. Excuse me?
22 MS. GLADDEN: So waived.
23 BY MS. HYLTON:
24 Q. I asked if your attorney -- you and your attorney
25 waive formal reading of the indictment.

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 1 MS. GLADDEN: Yes.
2 THE COURT: If not, I've got to read the indictment.
3 THE DEFENDANT: Oh.
4 MS. GLADDEN: So waived, Judge.
5 BY MS. HYLTON:
6 Q. Do you waive any and all defects, if any, with respect
7 to the indictment?
8 MS. GLADDEN: Yes.
9 BY MS. HYLTON:
10 Q. Mr. Stephens, have you been arrested on these charges?
11 MS. GLADDEN: Have you been arrested on these
12 charges?
13 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
14 MS. HYLTON: And, your Honor, the State is unaware of
15 any outstanding warrants related to these charges.
16 Ms. Gladden, are you aware of any outstanding
17 warrants as relates to these charges?
18 MS. GLADDEN: I'm not.
19 BY MS. HYLTON:
20 Q. Has your attorney advised you of the minimum and
21 maximum sentence for the charge in which you are pleading to?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. Do you understand that as to Count 1, conspiracy to
24 violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act,
25 that it carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20

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 1 years in custody?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. Do you understand that this is a negotiated plea of
4 guilty which means that the State will recommend to the Court a
5 sentence that I will read but the Court does not have to accept
6 this recommendation and that the Court can sentence you to the
7 maximum on each charge?
8 A. Yes.
9 Q. Do you understand that?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. Do you understand that this plea -- the State's offer
12 on this plea is as to Count 1, ten years to serve two years
13 commuted to time served with the balance of eight years on
14 probation. Do you understand that?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. Do you understand that there are special conditions as
17 it relates to this negotiation?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. For one, you shall abide in full by each and all of
20 the terms of this negotiated agreement, and your failure to
21 abide by any of the terms of the agreement shall constitute a
22 violation of this agreement. Do you understand that?
23 A. Yes.
24 Q. Do you understand that you shall testify truthfully
25 all about matters relating to this case upon which you are

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 1 requested at any trial or judicial proceeding stemming from the
2 facts alleged in this indictment?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. Do you understand that in accordance with testifying
5 truthfully about all matters related to this case, you
6 acknowledge that each and all the statements contained within
7 the defendant's factual acknowledgments portion of this
8 agreement are true and that you will testify truthfully about
9 those statements and any matters related to this case when asked
10 to do so?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. Do you understand that as a special condition you
13 shall possess no guns unless your right to do so is restored?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. That you shall also submit to random drug screens by
16 the Department of Community Supervision and any agency
17 designated by this Court?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. That you shall commit no criminal acts?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. And that you will relinquish any Fifth Amendment right
22 related to any statement contained within the defendant's
23 factual acknowledgments contained within this plea agreement,
24 and you will make no attempt at trial to assert a Fifth
25 Amendment privilege when questioned on these matters; do you

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 1 understand that?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. Do you understand that some of the factual
4 acknowledgments that you acknowledge is: One, that Young Slime
5 Life a/k/a YSL, is an organization made up of three or more
6 members or associates who share common identifiers that include
7 but are not limited to colors, hand signals, and terminology,
8 who have committed crimes intended to increase the notoriety,
9 street credibility and reputation of YSL.
10 Is that one of your acknowledgments?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. Do you also acknowledge that you were one of the
13 founding members of Young Slime Life?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Do you also acknowledge that you committed an
16 aggravated assault as alleged in Count 1 of this indictment by
17 brandishing a gun at an undercover police officer that was
18 surveilling a vehicle that was hijacked from a woman?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Do you acknowledge that in October of 2014 you were
21 arrested with a red bandanna and you were observed with a YSL
22 tattoo and a Cleveland Avenue ROC Crew tattoo amongst other
23 tattoos?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. Do you also acknowledge in that same incident when you

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 1 were asked by law enforcement about your ROC Crew and your YSL
2 tattoos that you truthfully advised law enforcement that you
3 were a member of a gang called ROC Crew but that that group was
4 no longer going by that name and now goes by YSL, which
5 originally stood for Young Slime Life?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. Did you also in that same conversation advise law
8 enforcement that YSL originally stood for Young Slime Life but
9 the group began calling itself Young Successful Lifestyle after
10 Jeffery Williams a/k/a Young Slug, signed a record deal?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. Do you also acknowledge that the statements made to
13 police about ROC Crew and YSL as reflected in sections 3 and 4
14 above, which I just mentioned, are true and accurate?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. You acknowledge that you have been accused of and
17 arrested for robbing women?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. You acknowledge that you are the same person referred
20 to as Tick in the song by Young Thug entitled "You" in the
21 verse, "She gettin' robbed by Tick"?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. You also acknowledge that on October -- excuse me, on
24 February 4, 2021, you participated in a group chat with fellow
25 YSL founder Jeffery Williams, a/k/a Young Thug, and YSL

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 1 associates Wunnie Lee, a/k/a Slimelife Shawty, wherein Jeffery
2 Williams stated, "YSL rule the world, kid. Y'all just start
3 bringing me the money. Man, y'all stop playing with me". Do
4 you acknowledge that?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. Do you acknowledge that on May 13th, 2021, you
7 participated in another group chat with fellow YSL founder
8 Jeffery Williams, a/k/a Young Thug, and YSL associates Martinez
9 Arnold, Miles Farley, Quantavious Grier, Antonio Sumlin, Wunnie
10 Lee where Jeffery Williams asked, "Y'all ain't beat them up or
11 shot them yet," then states, "Y'all getting soft"?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. Do you acknowledge that the gas station at 151
14 Cleveland Avenue is a location where YSL associates sell drugs?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. That also the gas station at 221 Cleveland Avenue is a
17 location where YSL associates sell drugs?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. And also do you acknowledge that you cannot truthfully
20 assert that anyone charged in this indictment is not guilty of
21 the crimes alleged in the indictment and you will not make any
22 attempt at trial, prior to trial, or after trial to exonerate or
23 exculpate anyone charged in this indictment of the crimes
24 alleged in this indictment, nor will you claim that anyone on
25 this indictment is not guilty of the crimes as charged in this

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 1 indictment?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. Do you also acknowledge that if you violate the plea
4 agreement, the district attorney can and will use the statement
5 during any judicial proceeding?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. You also understand and acknowledge that if you
8 violate any portion of this plea agreement before, during, or
9 after the initial trial of this case, you are subject to having
10 the entirety of your sentence revoked?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. And you could be sentenced to prison?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. Do you also understand if you violate any terms of
15 this plea agreement it will result in your sentence being
16 revoked and the district attorney will recommend that you serve
17 up to the maximum sentence allowed by law in the Georgia
18 Department of Corrections?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Do you also understand fully that if prior to the
21 conclusion of the initial trial of this case that if you fail or
22 refuse to testify to any fact that you now acknowledge in this
23 plea agreement, such failure or refusal constitutes a violation
24 of this plea agreement and you will be subject to being
25 sentenced to serve the remainder of your sentence confined

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 1 within the Georgia Department of Corrections?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. Do you also acknowledge that no promises, agreements,
4 or conditions have been made other than those set forth in this
5 document and none will be entered into unless memorialized in
6 writing and signed by all parties?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. And did you along with your attorney sign this
9 document and date it today's date, December 29, 2022?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. And that's your signature here?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. Do you understand that this plea may be used to
14 enhance sentencing on other convictions in this jurisdiction as
15 well as other jurisdictions including the federal courts?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. Do you understand that if you are currently on
18 probation or parole, your probation or parole may be revoked
19 based on you entering a guilty plea today?
20 A. What was that?
21 (An off-the-record discussion was held between
22 Ms. Gladden and the defendant.)
23 A. Can you repeat that?
24 Q. I'm letting you know your rights. That is not
25 something that's -- I can't tell you that is not something

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 1 that's going to happen but that is not something we're asking
2 the Court to do but that is a right I have to read to you.
3 A. All right.
4 (An off-the-record discussion was held between
5 Ms. Gladden and the defendant.)
6 BY MS. HYLTON:
7 Q. So I'm going to go back to reading your rights that
8 you are giving up by entering into a plea.
9 Do you understand that if you are currently on
10 probation or parole, your probation or parole may be revoked
11 based on you entering a guilty plea today?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. Do you understand that if you are placed on probation
14 of any kind, you cannot violate any criminal laws of any
15 governmental unit or any special condition of probation without
16 being subject to revocation for the balance of the sentence?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. Do you understand that you are not allowed to possess
19 or use a firearm while on probation?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Do you understand that if you are not a United States
22 citizen, a guilty plea conviction will affect your immigration
23 status and will result in deportation?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. Do you understand that there may be other adverse or

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 1 unfavorable consequences as a result of this guilty plea
2 conviction just as there would be from a conviction following a
3 trial?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. For example, your guilty plea may affect your right to
6 vote; your right to hold public office; your right to serve on a
7 jury; your right to obtain a passport; your right to receive,
8 possess, or transport a firearm; or the ability to obtain
9 employment. Do you understand that?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. Do you understand that by pleading guilty to a felony,
12 if you use, receive, possess, or transport a firearm, or use a
13 firearm in a crime, you will be guilty of a felony which may
14 carry a sentence of 1 to 15 years?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. Do you understand that you waive any and all defenses
17 including any mental health defenses by entering a plea of
18 guilty?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Do you understand that if you went to trial you would
21 have the right to a trial by jury; the right to see, hear, and
22 confront witnesses called to testify against you; and the right
23 to testify or to remain silent and not incriminate yourself?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. Do you understand that by pleading guilty, you are

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 1 giving up the following rights. And after each one I'll ask you
2 to say yes or no.
3 Do you understand that you are giving up the right to
4 a trial by jury?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. The right to remain silent and not incriminate
7 yourself?
8 A. Yes.
9 Q. The right to confront witnesses against you?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. The right to assistance of counsel hired by you or to
12 Court-appointed counsel if you cannot afford an attorney at a
13 trial of your case?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. The right to the presumption of innocence?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. The right to testify on your own behalf and to present
18 other evidence?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. The right to subpoena witnesses and compel the
21 production of evidence?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. The right to have the charges against you proved
24 beyond a reasonable doubt?
25 A. Yes.

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 1 Q. The right to appeal if convicted of these charges
2 after a trial?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. Has anyone forced, threatened, or promised you
5 anything to get you to enter a guilty plea?
6 A. No.
7 Q. Is it your decision to waive these rights and enter a
8 guilty plea because you are, in fact, guilty?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. With respect to Indictment 22SC183572 where you are
11 charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer
12 Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, how do you plead?
13 A. Guilty.
14 Q. Is this guilty plea freely and voluntarily given with
15 a full knowledge of the charges against you?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. Do you understand that you have only a limited right
18 to appeal this guilty plea conviction?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Do you understand that you have four years from
21 today's date for the felony charge to file a habeas corpus
22 petition challenging the voluntariness on this plea?
23 A. Yes.
24 MS. HYLTON: Your Honor, if this case were to go to
25 trial, the State would expect to prove that the

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 1 organization YSL is an enterprise and this defendant is a
2 part of the enterprise along with his other co-defendants.
3 And together on or between the 24th day of January
4 2013 and 8th day of May 2022, they did unlawfully conspire
5 to acquire, maintain, directly and indirectly, an interest
6 in and control of United States currency and other personal
7 property through a pattern of racketeering activity and
8 also while associated with an enterprise, did unlawfully
9 conspire to conduct and participate in, directly and
10 indirectly, such enterprise through a pattern of
11 racketeering activity.
12 That the associates of the enterprise Young Slime
13 Life, also known as YSL, that they did conspire to
14 associate together with others for the common purpose of
15 illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of
16 racketeering activity and conducing and participating in
17 the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.
18 And in furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants
19 engaged in activities, in certain activities which are
20 enumerated. Some of those activities include preserving,
21 protecting, and enhancing the reputation, power, and
22 territory of the enterprise through acts of racketeering
23 activity, including murder, assaults, and threats of
24 violence.
25 Preserving, protecting, and enhancing the reputation,

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 1 power, and territory of the enterprise by the posting of
2 messages, images, videos, and songs demonstrating
3 allegiance to the enterprise and a willingness to engage in
4 violence on its behalf.
5 That maintaining armed individuals ready and willing
6 to preserve, protect, enhance the reputation, power, and
7 territory of the enterprise through the use of violence.
8 And obtaining money, weapons, and other property
9 through acts of racketeering activity, including robbery,
10 theft, and the unlawful sale and distribution of drugs.
11 The State will also prove that YSL is a criminal
12 street gang that started in the late 2012 in the Cleveland
13 Avenue area of Atlanta, Georgia.
14 That some of the founders were Jeffery Williams, also
15 known as Young Thug, also known as Slime; Walter Murphy,
16 also known as DK; and this defendant Trontavious Stephens,
17 also known as Tick and also known as Slug.
18 That YSL uses a variety of identifiers including
19 colors, clothing, tattoos and hand signs as well as verbal
20 and written identifiers.
21 And we will show this defendant had a tacit
22 understanding of the enterprise and furthered the
23 enterprise's goals with several acts.
24 Some of those acts are from January of 2013. This
25 defendant, in which he pled guilty, was accused of

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 1 aggravated assault in which on that day an officer with the
2 APD police department was working in an undercover
3 capacity. That officer was at an apartment complex in the
4 Cleveland Avenue area doing surveillance on a vehicle that
5 had been hijacked by another YSL associate.
6 While operating in that undercover capacity,
7 Mr. Stephens came out of the apartment along with that
8 other YSL associate and brandished his handgun at that
9 officer.
10 Next we have another act, your Honor, where
11 Mr. Stephens has a picture of himself on social media. He
12 has several pictures on social media. Some of those
13 captions on the video -- excuse me, on the images identify
14 YSL by using the term "slime shit" and actually tagged
15 Mr. Stephens with one of his former Instagram handles as
16 Original Slime_Slug.
17 Also in January of 2015 he is -- he has a drug
18 incident that comes from 1813 Sylvan Road in which he was
19 found with narcotics in a vehicle.
20 Also in one of the counts in our indictment, your
21 Honor, he was in a car off of Cleveland Avenue, which is in
22 the YSL stronghold. He was in that car with a co-defendant
23 on this indictment, Shannon Jackson, also known as Shannon
24 Stillwell. While in the car, officers smelled the odor of
25 marijuana.

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 1 Upon the search of the vehicle, they found marijuana
2 and a gun. At the time of finding the gun, both him as
3 well as Mr. Jackson were both convicted felons and they
4 were then charged accordingly.
5 Your Honor, as you heard within the factual
6 acknowledgment, he has also been engaged in conversations
7 with other members of this indictment. We won't go back
8 over what was said but you also heard that through the
9 factual acknowledgment in this case.
10 So, your Honor, based upon that factual synopsis and
11 Mr. Stephens' affiliation, we would ask that the Court
12 accept his plea.
13 Also, we would like to tender State's Exhibit 1-TS
14 into evidence.
15 THE COURT: 1-TF. Any objection, Ms. Gladden?
16 MS. GLADDEN: No, your Honor.
17 THE COURT: State's 1-TF is admitted.
18 MS. HYLTON: TS, your Honor. "S" as in Stephens.
19 THE COURT: CS?
20 MS. HYLTON: "T" as in Trontavious, "S" as in
21 Stephens.
22 THE COURT: Any objection, madam?
23 MS. GLADDEN: No, your Honor.
24 THE COURT: All right. It's admitted for purposes of
25 the plea.

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 1 Ms. Hylton, those facts that you elucidated for the
2 Court, those are facts the State would have proven had the
3 case gone to trial beyond a reasonable doubt as it pertains
4 to Mr. Stephens?
5 MS. HYLTON: Yes, your Honor.
6 THE COURT: Ms. Gladden, again, good evening, madam.
7 Anything you want to present on Mr. Stephens' behalf.
8 MS. GLADDEN: Just briefly, your Honor. Judge, I
9 just wanted to point out, as the Court of course can
10 ascertain by the fact that he was only charged in the RICO
11 count, he is not involved and hasn't been charged
12 separately in any criminal activity regarding this case.
13 It has been alleged against some other co-defendants.
14 He had a string of issues in 2011, '12, '13. He went
15 to prison in 2015 and has been out since the end of 2018.
16 And since then he's been a model parolee. He's passed all
17 his urine screens. He has not gotten in any more trouble.
18 In fact, they put a parole hold on him, but when they found
19 out this was mostly based on old crimes and a few posts
20 that were innocuous and some pictures, they did remove the
21 parole hold.
22 So I'm asking the Court to accept the State's
23 recommendation. And I just wanted to point out he's tried
24 to be a good citizen and do what he's supposed to do since
25 he's been out of prison, your Honor. Thank you.

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 1 THE COURT: All right. Mr. Stephens, good evening,
2 sir.
3 THE DEFENDANT: Good evening.
4 THE COURT: Did you have the opportunity to fully
5 discuss the facts and circumstances of this case with your
6 attorney Ms. Gladden to your satisfaction?
7 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor.
8 THE COURT: Did she explain to you the various
9 constitutional rights you give up by pleading guilty to
10 your satisfaction?
11 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor.
12 THE COURT: Those are the same rights my prosecutor
13 Ms. Hylton just set forth on the record a few minutes ago.
14 Do you have any questions about those rights that you wish
15 to ask me?
16 THE DEFENDANT: No, your Honor.
17 THE COURT: All right. I am holding the indictment
18 in this case. And on page 6 of the indictment, I'm going
19 to show you, is this your signature on the page of this
20 indictment above the word "defendant"?
21 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
22 THE COURT: All right. Before signing this
23 indictment, did you have the opportunity to fully discuss
24 the facts and circumstances of this indictment with your
25 attorney Ms. Gladden to your satisfaction?

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 1 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
2 THE COURT: Yes?
3 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
4 THE COURT: Do you need more time to discuss it with
5 her?
6 THE DEFENDANT: No.
7 THE COURT: I just want to -- but before you signed
8 it you had an opportunity to talk with her?
9 THE DEFENDANT: Yeah.
10 THE COURT: And you don't want to talk to her about
11 the indictment any more?
12 THE DEFENDANT: No.
13 THE COURT: Okay. All right. I'll note the
14 indictment has been signed and the plea has been entered.
15 Mr. Stephens, based upon the responses that you have
16 given during the Court's inquiry I find that your guilty
17 plea is freely and voluntarily entered, I find a factual
18 basis for your plea. I'm going to accept your plea as
19 tendered and as negotiated.
20 To Count 1, conspiracy to violate the Racketeer
21 Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the Court will
22 sentence you to ten years to serve two years. I'll commute
23 that to the time you already served with a balance of eight
24 years on probation subject to the special conditions that
25 have already been set forth on the record.

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 1 I'll go through those with you right now, but is that
2 your understanding as to the base sentence?
3 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
4 THE COURT: So you shall abide by each and every
5 condition of the negotiated agreement. That is the one
6 that you signed and Ms. Gladden signed along with the
7 State's counsel. Do you remember that one?
8 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
9 THE COURT: That's State's TS-1 as it pertains to
10 you.
11 You shall testify truthfully about all matters
12 relating to this case upon which you are questioned in any
13 trial or judicial proceedings stemming from the facts
14 alleged in the indictment. You agree to do that, right?
15 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
16 THE COURT: Okay. In accordance with testifying
17 truthfully about the statements contained within the
18 defendant's factual acknowledgments -- which was already
19 read into the record -- are true, you shall testify about
20 those statements in any matters related to the case when
21 you are asked to do so.
22 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
23 THE COURT: You will possess no guns unless your
24 right to do so is restored; is that right?
25 THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

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 1 THE COURT: You shall submit to random screens as
2 required by the Department of Community Supervision and any
3 agency designated by this Court; is that right?
4 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
5 THE COURT: You shall commit no criminal acts.
6 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
7 THE COURT: And also you will be subject to a curfew
8 from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. unless you are otherwise
9 working, in school, or an emergency situation arises.
10 How old are you, sir?
11 THE DEFENDANT: 29.
12 THE COURT: 29?
13 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
14 THE COURT: Do you have any children?
15 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
16 THE COURT: How many children do you have?
17 THE DEFENDANT: Three.
18 THE COURT: How old are they?
19 THE DEFENDANT: Eleven and two seven-year-olds.
20 THE COURT: So let's say, for example, your
21 seven-year-old gets sick or your -- is it twelve-year-old
22 or ten-year-old?
23 THE DEFENDANT: Eleven.
24 THE COURT: Eleven-year-old gets sick and it's 2:00
25 in the morning and you need to take them to a doc-in-a box

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 1 or the emergency room. That wouldn't violate your
2 probation. Or if you need to pick up your mother at the
3 airport, at Hartsfield very early in the morning, that
4 wouldn't violate your probation; okay?
5 THE DEFENDANT: Right.
6 THE COURT: But if you are out someplace where you
7 are not supposed to be, like a strip club, past this
8 particular point in time at 10:00 in the evening, you'll
9 have some problems. You'll be coming back to see me. You
10 should be at home anyway.
11 It's a statistical probability that it's less likely
12 that crime will find you or you will be involved in
13 criminality if you are at home between the hours of 11:00
14 and 4:00 in the morning, okay. Unfortunately, those are
15 the times that we have a lot of things that go on within
16 our city. It's not a guarantee but it will lessen your
17 being involved in that for your family's sake and your
18 sake; okay?
19 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
20 THE COURT: All right. And you can't have any
21 contact with anybody else in the indictment until these
22 proceedings are over.
23 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
24 THE COURT: What I mean by that is until the
25 appellate procedure in this particular case is over, if

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 1 any. Do you understand that?
2 THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
3 THE COURT: Okay. Do you have any questions about my
4 sentence?
5 THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.
6 THE COURT: Ms. Gladden or Ms. Hylton, any
7 clarifications on the Court's entry of sentence or the
8 defendant's entry of plea?
9 MS. HYLTON: Nothing from the State, your Honor.
10 MS. GLADDEN: Nothing from the defense, your Honor.
11 THE COURT: Then that will be the sentence of the
12 Court. Mr. Stephens, good luck to you; okay?
13 THE DEFENDANT: Thank you.
14 THE COURT: Thank you, sir. We're in recess on the
15 matter.
16 (The proceedings concluded.)
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

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 OFFICE OF THE FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
ATLANTA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
136 PRYOR STREET SW, 3RD FLOOR
_ ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
Fani FH TELEPHONE 404-612-4639
District Attorney

December 20, 2022

Trontavious Stephens (DOB:04/26/1993)
Delivered in Person

RE: State of Georgia v. TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS AKA TICK AKA SLUG

Fulton County Indictment Number 22SC183572
Plea Agreement

1. CURRENT CHARGES:

a. Count 1: Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

2. NEGOTIATED SENTENCE:

Count 1: 10 years to serve 2 years commuted to time served, with the balance of 8 years on

probation subject to the special conditions listed herein.

3. SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SENTENCE:

a. Defendant shall abide in full by each and all of the terms of this negotiated agreement.

Defendant’s failure to abide by any term of this agreement shall constitute a violation of

the agreement.

b. Defendant shall testify truthfully about all matters relating to this case, upon which he is

questioned, at any trial or judicial proceeding stemming from the facts alleged in this

indictment.
2 STATE'S —
2 EXHIBIT
1 of 5 i | mr ces
PLEA AGREEMENT z nomena
State of Georgia v. TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS AKA “TICK”, Indictment No. 228C183572 -30-
 c. In accordance with testifying truthfully about all matters related to this case, Defendant

acknowledges that each and all of the statements contained within the “Defendant’s Factual

Acknowledgements” portion of this agreement are true; and Defendant shall testify about

those statements and any matters related to this case when asked to do so.

d. Defendant shall possess no guns unless his right to do so is restored.

e. Defendant shall submit to random drug screens by the Department of Community

Supervision and any agency designated by this Court.

f. Defendant shall commit no criminal acts.

g. Defendant relinquishes any Fifth Amendment right related to any statement contained

within “Defendant’s Factual Acknowledgements” contained within this Plea Agreement,

and shall make no attempt at trial to assert a Fifth Amendment privilege when questioned

on these matters.

DEFENDANT’S FACTUAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

4S 1. Young Slime Life AKA YSL is an organization made up of three or

more members or associates who share common identifiers that include but are not

limited to colors, hand signals, and terminology; who have committed crimes

intended to increase the notoriety, street credibility, and reputation of YSL.

|. §$ 2. Defendant is one of the founding members of Young Slime Life.

“hs
i) 3. Defendant committed Aggravated Assault as alleged in Act 1, by

brandishing a gun at an undercover police officer, that was surveilling a vehicle that

was hi-jacked from a woman.

2 of 5
PLEA AGREEMENT
State of Georgia v. TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS AKA “TICK”, Indictment No. 22SC183572 -31-
 / \ 4, In October of 2014, Defendant was arrested with a red bandana, and

Defendant was observed with a “YSL” tattoo and a “Cleveland Ave ROC Crew”

tattoo amongst other tattoos.

Lz 5. | When asked by law enforcement about Defendant’s YSL and ROC

Crew tattoos, Defendant truthfully advised law enforcement that Defendant is a

member of a gang called “ROC” Crew, but that the group is no longer going by that

name and now goes by YSL, which originally stood for Young Slime Life.

i 2 6. Defendant advised law enforcement that “YSL” originally stood for

“Young Slime Life” but the group began calling itself “Young Successful

-Lifestyle” after Jeffrey Williams AKA Young Thug signed a record deal.

‘7 7. The statements Defendant made to police, about ROC Crew and

YSL, as reflected in section 3 and section 4 above, are true and accurate.

/ <. 8. Defendant has been accused of and arrested for robbing women.

z 9. Defendant is the person referred to as “Tick” in the song by Young

Thug entitled “Eww,” in the verse “she gettin’ robbed by Tick.

} \_ 10. On February 4, 2021, Defendant participated in a group chat with

fellow YSL founder Jeffery Williams AKA Young Thug and YSL associate

Wunnie Lee AKA SlimeLife Shawty, wherein Jeffery Williams stated “YSL rule

the world kid... Yall just start bringing me the money, man y’all ...stop playing

with me.”

St. On May 13, 2021, Defendant participated in a group chat with

fellow YSL founder Jeffrey Williams AKA Young Thug and YSL associates

Martinez Arnold, Miles Farley, Quantavious Grier, Antonio Sumlin and Wunnie

3 of 5
PLEA AGREEMENT
State of Georgia v. TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS AKA “TICK”, Indictment No. 22SC183572 -32-
 Lee, where in Jeffrey Williams asked “Ya’ll aint beat em up or shot em yet?” then

states “Ya’ll...getting soft.”

7 12. The gas station at 151 Cleveland Avenue is a location where YSL

associates sell drugs.

fp 13. The gas station at 221 Cleveland Avenue is a location where YSL

associates sell drugs.

/ S 14. Defendant cannot truthfully assert that anyone charged in this

indictment is not guilty of the crimes as alleged in this indictment; and Defendant

will make no attempt at trial, prior to trial, or after trial, to exonerate or exculpate

anyone charged in this indictment, of the crimes alleged in this indictment.

Defendant will not claim that anyone on this indictment is not guilty of the crimes

as charged in this indictment.

5. DEFENDANT’S SENTENCING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

= 1. Lunderstand that if] violate this plea agreement the District Attorney

can and will use this statement during any judicial proceeding.

? S 2. I understand that if I violate any portion of this plea agreement

before, during, or after the initial trial of this case, I am subject to having the entirety

of my sentence revoked to prison.

_
3. Tunderstand that any violation of this plea agreement may result in

my entire sentence being revoked and the District Attorney will recommend that I

serve up to the maximum sentence allowed by law in the Georgia Department of

Corrections (prison).

4 of 5
PLEA AGREEMENT
State of Georgia v. TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS AKA “TICK”, Indictment No. 22SC183572 -33-
 # C 4. [understand fully that if prior to the conclusion of the initial trial of

this case I fail or refuse to testify to any fact that I now acknowledge in this Plea

Agreement, such failure or refusal constitutes a violation of this Plea Agreement

and I may be subject to being sentenced to serve the remainder of my sentence in

confinement at the Georgia Department of Corrections. .

0 5. No promises, agreements, or conditions have been made other than

those set forth in this document, and none will be entered into unless memorialized

in writing and signed by all parties.

I, Trontavious Stephens, have read and carefully reviewed this agreement. I have reviewed and

corrected where necessary for accuracy each statement contained in Defendant’s Factual

Acknowledgements, and I acknowledge the truth and accuracy of each and every statement listed therein.

I fully understand this agreement and I have had an opportunity to discuss this agreement and each of its

provisions with my attorney, Ms. Kristi Gladden. No promises other than those contained in this document

have been made to me in furtherance of this agreement. I freely, knowingly and voluntarily enter into this

agreement, without force, threat, or coercion.

Trontavious Stephens, Dat

Defendgnt 5 We
Kristi Gladden, Esq: Date
Attorney for Trontayious Stephens
Bar Number: te x at)

Lf)
‘Adriane L. Love Date
~ Deputy District Attorney
Fulton County District Attorney’s Office
Atlanta Judicial Circuit

5 of 5
PLEA AGREEMENT
State of Georgia v. TRONTAVIOUS STEPHENS AKA “TICK”, Indictment No. 22SC183572 -34-
 C-E-R-T-I-F-I-C-A-T-E

STATE OF GEORGIA:
COUNTY OF FULTON:

I hereby certify that the foregoing transcript was

taken down, as stated in the caption, and the colloquies,
questions and answers were reduced to typewriting under my
direction; that the foregoing pages represent a true and correct
record of the evidence given.

I further certify that in accordance with OCGA

9-11-28(a) I am not a relative, employee, attorney, or counsel
of any party, nor am I financially interested in the action.

This the 2nd day of May 2023.

KRISTINA WEAVER, RPR, CCR-B-1785

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