Federal prosecutors have announced charges against nine people — including rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30 — in connection with the alleged kidnapping and armed robbery of Gucci Mane (real name Radric Delantic Davis) and other music industry professionals at a Dallas recording studio in January 2026.
Eight of the nine suspects were arrested Wednesday, April 1, following a Department of Justice press conference in which U.S. Attorney Ryan Rabel outlined the details of the alleged crime at length. The ninth suspect, Terrence Rodgers, remains at large, though federal agents stated they expect to locate and take him into custody in the near future.
What allegedly happened at the Dallas studio
According to a federal complaint unsealed after the arrests, three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas for what they believed was a routine business meeting. Pooh Shiesty — real name Lontrell Williams Jr. — had arranged the meeting, presenting it as an opportunity to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims.
Once the three men were inside the studio, Pooh Shiesty and eight co-conspirators — several of whom had traveled from Memphis specifically for the incident — allegedly carried out a coordinated armed takeover. Pooh Shiesty reportedly produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a contract release at gunpoint. The remaining suspects displayed additional firearms and robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash and other valuables.
One victim was choked to the point of near unconsciousness during the incident. Big30 — real name Rodney Lamont Wright Jr. — allegedly barricaded the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from leaving.
Among those arrested alongside the two rappers was Pooh Shiesty‘s father, Lontrell Williams Sr., who allegedly helped plan and coordinate the attack.
The evidence federal investigators gathered
Prosecutors detailed a substantial body of evidence connecting the suspects to the alleged crime. Electronic monitoring data placed Pooh Shiesty at the studio location, a direct violation of his home detention conditions. Cell phone records and license plate reader data corroborated the coordinated travel of multiple defendants from Memphis to Dallas ahead of the incident.
Rental car records showed that Pooh Shiesty’s father rented a vehicle used by the group. Surveillance footage from the studio, a nearby store and a hotel where several suspects stayed after the incident further supported the case. Fingerprint evidence recovered from the crime scene matched at least two of the defendants.
In what prosecutors described as particularly damaging, several suspects posted what appeared to be stolen jewelry and other items on social media in the days immediately following the robbery.
Pooh Shiesty’s legal history makes this worse
The circumstances of Pooh Shiesty’s alleged involvement carry significant additional legal weight. He was on home detention at the time of the incident, having been released from federal prison last October after serving approximately three years for conspiring to possess firearms in connection with crimes of violence and drug trafficking. The terms of that detention explicitly required that he not commit another federal offense or possess a firearm.
Prosecutors confirmed that committing a federal offense while on home confinement will be treated as an aggravating factor at sentencing. The charges carry potential penalties ranging from no prison time to life imprisonment, depending on individual criminal history and the specifics of each person’s role.
Pooh Shiesty first rose to prominence with his 2020 breakout track “Back in Blood” and was subsequently signed to Gucci Mane‘s 1017 Records label, making the alleged incident especially notable given the professional relationship between the parties involved. Big30 is known widely for his collaborations with Pooh Shiesty, including their 2021 track “Neighbors.”
Source: Just Jared