The YSL RICO trial is currently undergoing evidentiary hearings, reviewing various recordings of prosecution witness Woody Copeland.
During a jailhouse call between Woody and Jeffrey “Young Thug” Williams in 2015, Copeland asks Williams for a referral to an attorney. Copeland was being detained for an alleged probation violation due to not completing community service, and was asking Williams for assistance with obtaining legal representation. During the call, Williams appears to have been willing to help Copeland, but the call is cut off before the two can make definite arrangements.
Lawyers for the prosecution and defense are currently fighting over which part of the jailhouse call to play before the jury, with the prosecution wishing to play the entire call unredacted. But as attorney Brian Steel points out, there are at least two issues with this.
The first issue is that, when discussing the matter of helping Copeland obtain legal counsel, Williams apparently says “I know Brian, just hit him.” Steel objects to having his name played before the jury, as this could give a negative impression to the jury and prejudice the jury against him.
Perhaps more importantly, a second matter is Steel’s contention that
Copeland’s jailhouse request for help with legal counsel should not come in as evidence in the RICO case at all. Steel points out that he never represented Woody Copeland and has never assisted him in a legal capacity.
Prosecutors argue that the conversation represents Williams, who prosecutors say is the leader of a criminal organization, offering to pay for legal counsel for Copeland, a subordinate.
The conversation prompted Steel to lament that offering to help someone with legal counsel for a community service probation violation, can now be considered part of a RICO conspiracy.
After hearing both sides, Judge Glanville ruled that he would allow the recording to be played, presumably after removing any reference to Steel.
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