Sheff G, the Brooklyn drill rapper born Michael Williams, is urged to prison following his guilty plea in a vast gang violence case on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy. The 25-year-old rapper, a prominent player in New York’s drill scene, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Wednesday, closing out a deal in which he will spend five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Williams was one of 32 suspected members of the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways street gangs indicted in a sprawling 140-count indictment. Prosecutors said he drew on his music career to help finance and promote violent gang activity, including coordinating shootings and obtaining illegal firearms.
The office of the Brooklyn District Attorney initially sought a 20-year sentence, noting that Williams had planned several acts of violence. Instead, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun signed off on a plea deal drastically reducing his prison time.
The case is rooted in an October 2020 mass shooting that killed one person and injured five others. Williams is accused of being directly involved in planning and carrying out the attack, according to the prosecutors. After the shooting, he allegedly partied at a fancy Manhattan steakhouse with fellow rapper Sleepy Hollow and other gang members.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez was blunt about Williams’ crimes and said in a statement, “Notoriety could not insulate this defendant from justice. He exploited his renown to finance and orchestrate violence, terrifying our streets.” He also doubled down on the city’s zero-tolerance policy on crimes related to gangs, saying, “Brooklyn will not tolerate gangs that threaten our communities.”
Sheff G isn’t the only rapper swept up in the indictment. His frequent collaborator Sleepy Hollow is among 14 defendants whose cases remain open. Prosecutors claim that Sleepy Hollow was part of a broader conspiracy, but his charges have not yet been fully spelled out. Meanwhile, 17 other co-defendants have accepted plea deals, further tightening the case’s imprint on Brooklyn’s gang landscape.
This is a significant turning point in Sheff G’s career. Once a rising star of New York’s drill movement, he now confronts years out of the studio and away from the stage. His sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 13, 2025, when the court will formally decide on his release and probation terms.
While drill music is often scrutinized for its associations with street violence, this case reignites debate over whether authorities are unfairly cracking down on artists or holding them responsible for their actions. Whatever the case, Sheff G’s legal fight is a stark reminder of how thin the line can be between success and self-destruction in music.
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