Rappers Pooh Shiesty, Big30 charged in music studio robbery, kidnapping of Gucci Mane

DALLAS (CN) — Memphis rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30 were among nine people indicted Thursday over the brazen robbery and kidnapping of rapper and music executive Gucci Mane at a Dallas recording studio in January.

Federal prosecutors claim Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Williams Jr., lured Gucci Mane, Gucci Mane’s security head and a third person to a Dallas music studio on Jan. 10 to talk about his record contract. Williams Jr. signed with Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records in 2020. Prosecutors say Rodney Wright Jr., aka Big30, was at the meeting.

Gucci Mane, whose legal name is Radric Davis, is referred to by his initials in the 32-page indictment.

Williams Jr. asked Davis at the meeting to sign a release that terminated his contract, prosecutors claim.

“When R.D. declined, Williams Jr. became agitated, and the pair started to argue,” prosecutors say in the indictment. “Williams Jr. then pulled what appeared to be a black AK-style pistol from the page and pointed it at R.D., demanding again that R.D. sign the contractual release paperwork. R.D. complied, signing the paperwork for Williams Jr. while Williams Sr. and Wright stood by.”

Prosecutors claim Wright Jr. then recorded Davis signing the paperwork “while being forced to say he ‘released’” Williams Jr. from their contract and that Williams Jr. then mugged Davis of his wedding ring, watch, earrings and cash.

The remaining defendants include Williams Jr.’s father, Lontrell Williams Sr., Kedarius Waters, Terrance Rodgers, Damarian Gipson, Demarcus Glover, Kordae Johnson and Darrion McDaniel.

Williams Jr.’s home in Memphis was searched by federal investigators the day before the indictment, reported CBS-affiliate WREG in Memphis.

Eight of the nine defendants were arrested in Dallas, Memphis and Nashville the day of the search.

Williams Jr.’s father advised the “release” needed to be dated, resulting in Davis being forced to write the date next to his forced signature, prosecutors claim.

The prosecutors say the remaining six defendants then produced their own AK-style pistols and demanded property from Davis’ companions, with one being pushed onto the control room couch while the other was choked from behind “to the point of nearly losing consciousness.” Their stolen items included a designer Louis Vuitton bag, expensive watches, Apple headphones and wallets.

Williams Jr.’s debut mixtape, “Shiesty Season,” was released in 2021 and reached number 12 on the Billboard**Hot 100. The mixtape featured guest appearances by both Davis and Wright Jr. Williams Jr. was sentenced to five years in federal prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to a weapons conspiracy charge relating to a Florida shooting. He was released last year.

Prosecutors say they linked Williams Jr. to the Dallas robbery through his ankle monitor, as well as defendants’ social media posts that flaunted the stolen luxury items.

Wright Jr. was featured on Williams Jr.’s 2021 single “Neighbors,” which peaked at number 51 on the Hot 100. Wright Jr.’s mixtape was released that same year and featured Williams Jr. Wright Jr. also appeared on Davis’ 2021 single “Shit Crazy.”

Ryan Raybould, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, described the three victims as thinking “they were coming into town for a business meeting.”

“Instead of discussing business in a civil manner, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives,” Raybould said. “For anyone contemplating using violence and intimidation as a business practice, I’m here to tell you that it will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas.”

Several of the defendants were determined through Greyhound bus records of trips from Dallas to Memphis the day after the robbery, Raybould added.

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