The Brief
- Christian Eppinger, the last defendant in the high-profile YSL RICO case, entered a non-negotiated Alford plea Monday, receiving a 75-year sentence with 40 years to serve in prison, ending the first major YSL trial.
- Eppinger faced serious charges, including the 2022 shooting of an Atlanta police officer and gang-related crimes, and previously rejected a plea offer that would have sentenced him to life in prison.
- The YSL trial, Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial, ignited debate over the use of rap lyrics as evidence and the application of the state’s RICO law, concluding with a mix of acquittals, plea deals, and convictions.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – The last defendant in the massive YSL RICO case, Christian Eppinger, appeared in a Fulton County courtroom on Monday morning to enter a non-negotiated Alford plea. Until his appearance, it was unknown if he would enter a plea or if jury selection would begin today.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who took over the YSL case from the original judge, sentenced Eppinger, who was facing multiple charges, to 75 years with 40 years to serve in prison, followed by probation. Some sentences will run concurrently, but others are required by law to be served consecutively.
What we know:
Over the past two weeks, two of the final three defendants in the sprawling case accepted plea agreements, leaving Eppinger, 25, as the last man standing out of the original 28 defendants charged under Georgia’s racketeering statute. His case has drawn significant attention, not only for its ties to the YSL investigation but also because of the serious violent charges he faces.…