MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Shelby County judge sentenced Justin Johnson to 35 more years in prison for the murder of Young Dolph during a sentencing hearing Friday, Nov. 1.
Justin Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson was immediately sentenced to life in prison after the verdict for the first-degree murder charge on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Judge Jennifer Mitchell sentenced Johnson to 35 years for the conspiracy charge and 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, giving him a total of 50 years in prison on top of his life sentence, but two of the sentences will be concurrent to one another.
Prior to the sentencing, the court room listened to a statement from Dolph's family.
"To the one responsible for taking him from us just know this: You may deny your actions but the evidence speaks clearly," the statement read in part, referring to Dolph's death. "You showed yourself to be driven by jealousy and cowardice. You may have tried to take a man down for the sake of envy, but in the end have lost far more than you could ever gain. The world sees you now for what you are."
Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman said the state recommended 40 and 20 years in prison for his conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm charges, respectively. He asked for consecutive sentences to be added to his life sentence for the first-degree murder charge.
Justin Johnson's attorney Luke Evans disagreed, saying consecutive sentences are not necessary because the current life sentence does not qualify Johnson for parole until his mid to late 70s. He argued the additional sentences should be concurrent and the least amount possible.
Motion for new trial
The sentencing comes after attorneys for Justin Johnson filed a motion on Oct. 25, 2024, asking the courts to vacate his sentence and grant him a new trial.
The motion claimed that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to find Johnson guilty of first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. It also claims the court “erred by admitting gruesome photographs of the victim’s body at the crime scene” and by admitting “gruesome autopsy photographs.” The motion also claims the court made a mistake in denying Johnson’s motions to sit at counsel table.
A hearing for the motion has been set for Dec. 12, 2024.
Others accused in Young Dolph's murder
Another man accused in the murder – Cornelius Smith – is due in court in January 2025 after a Nov. 15 was reset. Smith faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder.
Smith took the stand against Justin Johnson on the first day of the trial, admitting to killing Dolph.
Smith identified both himself and Johnson in the video from Makeda’s Cookies on Airways Blvd. from Nov. 17, 2021, when Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot.
Police said two men got out of a stolen Mercedes-Benz and fired shots into Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, where Young Dolph was making a purchase.
Smith testified that before the shooting, he met with ‘Quett' (Hernandez Govan) and ‘Big Jook’ (Anthony Mims – Yo Gotti’s brother), who Smith said put out a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph. Govan paired Smith with Johnson for the shooting, he testified.
A judge set the trial date for March 10, 2025, for Hernandez Govan, accused of ordering the hit on Dolph.
Govan did not testify at Justin Johnson’s trial. The Shelby County Deputy District Attorney’s Office has not said whether Govan is expected to take a plea on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder. Govan remains out of jail on $90,000 bond.
Another suspect, Jermarcus Johnson - Justin Johnson's half-brother, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in October 2023 and faces six to 12 years in jail. He remains out of jail on $25,000 bond until he is sentenced.
Jermarcus Johnson testified against Justin at the first trial, saying he had helped out Justin by taking Justin’s phone and posting to social media for him. Jermarcus said he had no part in the plan to kill Dolph.
Prosecutors claimed the shooting was part of a rap feud between Dolph’s Paper Route EMPIRE (PRE) label and Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG – aka Cocaine Muzik Group).