ENTERTAINMENT
What is rapper YFN Lucci in prison for? How long is his sentence?
Rapper YFN Lucci, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett, is in prison after pleading guilty to a gang-related charge.
Rayshawn Bennett, better known by his stage name YFN Lucci, found his career and freedom derailed by a series of serious legal charges culminating in a 20-year sentence. The rapper, best known for hits like “Everyday We Lit” and “Key to the Streets,” became entangled in a high-profile RICO, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, case that has implicated multiple members of his music collective, YFN, in connection with gang activity.
In January 2021, Lucci turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection to a shooting in Atlanta that left 28-year-old James Adams dead and another man injured. Prosecutors alleged that Lucci was the driver in the incident, though they stated he did not pull the trigger. The charges against him included felony murder, aggravated assault, racketeering, and participation in gang activity.
YFN and the connection with the gang the Bloods
The indictment painted a grim picture of YFN as more than just a music collective, alleging its deep ties to the Bloods gang and accusing its members of multiple criminal activities over several years. Prosecutors tied Lucci’s case to a broader gang rivalry involving YSL, Young Slime Life, another collective linked to rapper Young Thug.
After nearly three years in jail awaiting trial, YFN Lucci reached a plea deal. During the jury selection process, the rapper agreed to plead guilty to one count of violating Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. In return, prosecutors dropped 12 of the 13 charges against him, including the murder and racketeering charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.
Lucci was sentenced to 20 years—10 of which will be served in prison and the remaining 10 on probation. However, due to time already served since his arrest in 2021 and the possibility of parole, he could be eligible for release much sooner.
The case against YFN Lucci is part of a broader effort by the Fulton County District Attorney to combat gang-related crime in Atlanta, a campaign that has also ensnared other high-profile rappers, including Young Thug and members of his YSL crew. Both cases have generated widespread debate over the use of song lyrics as evidence in court, a controversial tactic that many argue infringes upon freedom of speech.