Prosecutors say a video shows rapper Pooh Shiesty pressing for his release from fellow rapper Gucci Mane’s record label while an armed man blocks a door during an alleged robbery at a Texas music studio in January. The video, submitted as evidence in federal court in Dallas, depicts one of the most extraordinary moments of what authorities describe as a coordinated armed kidnapping and extortion scheme.
According to prosecutors, Pooh Shiesty, whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr., orchestrated a meeting with Gucci Mane and two associates at the Dallas recording studio under the pretense of discussing his recording contract. Once the three men arrived, prosecutors say Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators executed what federal authorities describe as an armed takeover. The video evidence, prosecutors say, captures the label owner being forced to declare that Pooh Shiesty was “dropped” from his label after being coerced at gunpoint.
Prosecutors allege that just before the video was recorded, Pooh Shiesty produced a printed contractual release for the record label owner to sign. The man initially refused but signed after Pooh Shiesty allegedly pointed an AK-style pistol at his head. According to the allegations, rapper BIG30, whose legal name is Rodney Wright, recorded the video on his cellphone while another defendant blocked the door holding a firearm resembling an AK-47 style rifle.
The alleged incident occurred on January 10 at a Dallas music studio. Gucci Mane, whose legal name is Radric Delantic Davis, and his associates traveled to the city under what they believed were legitimate business circumstances to discuss Pooh Shiesty’s recording contract with Mane’s 1017 Records. The victims have been referred to only by their initials in court documents. The record label owner is identified as R.D., and Mane’s legal name is provided as Radric Delantic Davis.
According to prosecutors, Pooh Shiesty robbed the record label owner of approximately $450,000 worth of items including his wedding band, a watch, a pair of earrings, and cash. When the group left the room, other defendants allegedly produced firearms and robbed the remaining victims of additional property. One victim was choked to near unconsciousness during the robbery.
Federal prosecutors say they have strong evidence against the defendants. They cite cooperation from all five victims and witnesses in the case, cellphone location data, and surveillance video placing the defendants at the scene. Beyond the video of the forced contract signing, investigators say they recovered fingerprint evidence at the crime scene matching at least two defendants. They also claim electronic evidence places Pooh Shiesty at the location, in violation of his home detention conditions resulting from a previous firearms conspiracy conviction in Florida.
Pooh Shiesty, whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr., was one of nine individuals charged with kidnapping and extortion in connection with the incident. Others named in the indictment include his father, Lontrell Williams Sr., and rapper Rodney Wright Jr., who performs under the name Big30. Court documents reveal that Williams Sr. allegedly helped plan and execute the kidnapping, citing car rental records showing he rented a vehicle used in the alleged crime.
Prosecutors revealed additional details about the planning of the alleged robbery. They say that hours before the confrontation at the Dallas studio, Pooh Shiesty’s father printed contract release forms at a Staples location. Prosecutors also claim that defendants posted stolen goods on social media within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, displaying what appeared to be Rolex watches and jewelry taken during the robbery.
At the time of the alleged confrontation, Pooh Shiesty was on home confinement for his prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of Florida and was required to wear an electronic monitoring device. Court documents indicate prosecutors allege that a supervisor with Volunteers of America, the organization managing his home confinement, may have been involved in helping facilitate his travel to Dallas by entering fake day passes on the day of the alleged robbery.
Pooh Shiesty has remained in federal custody since his arrest. A federal judge in Dallas denied his request for release, ruling that prosecutors had established probable cause supporting the kidnapping allegations and designating him a flight risk. His trial was originally scheduled to begin July 6, 2026, but has since been postponed to February 2027 following his attorney’s request for additional time to review over 96 gigabytes of discovery material containing approximately 14,000 pages of documents.
Defense attorneys have disputed the charges, arguing that investigators lack key physical evidence tied to the alleged robbery and contract dispute. Attorneys for Pooh Shiesty did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the video evidence. If convicted on all charges, he could face life imprisonment.