Pooh Shiesty’s lawyer questions prosecutors’ framing of the Gucci Mane robbery case in Dallas
Pooh Shiesty’s lawyer questions prosecutors’ framing of the Gucci Mane robbery case in Dallas
Federal officials believe the Memphis rapper was the “ringleader” in the robbery and kidnapping of Gucci Mane and two other music industry heavyweights.
The Dallas lawyer for the Memphis rapper accused of organizing the theft of rap legend Gucci Mane in a Dallas recording studio earlier this year claimed the government was oversimplifying a far more nuanced case.
John Helms, who claimed to have entered the case less than a day before, described Lontrell Williams Jr., the rapper known as Pooh Shiesty, as a brilliant artist who has had “a lot of success as an entertainer.”
The words provided the strongest indication yet of how Williams, 26, may approach the case as it progresses. According to federal authorities, he was the “ringleader” of a group of eight men that kidnapped and robbed three music industry figures at gunpoint during a meeting at a Dallas recording studio on January 10.
According to court filings, one of the three industry figures, only named as R.D., signed Williams to the 1017 filings label. Radric Davis, also known as Gucci Mane, is a Grammy-nominated rapper.
Davis launched 1017 Records and signed Williams years ago. Prosecutors said Williams organized the meeting under the premise of discussing business.
Davis’ publicist has not responded to many email requests for comment since Thursday.
Williams ascended to national stardom in 2021 with the hit single “Back in Blood” and his breakthrough project Shiesty Season.
William has also collaborated with Rodney Wright Jr., a Memphis rapper known as Big30, who was arrested and suspected of participating in the crime.
Williams and Davis collaborated on numerous tunes. 1017 Records’ website still shows him as an artist.
During the studio meeting, Williams requested to speak with Davis privately and presented paperwork that would free him from their contract. When Davis refused to sign, Williams brandished an AK-style weapon and held him at gunpoint, according to court filings unsealed this week.
According to court filings, Williams removed Davis’ wedding band, watch, earrings, and cash, while another member of the gang may have used his phone to capture Davis signing the paperwork.
When they left the separate room, the other men in Williams’ entourage pulled out firearms and demanded property from the other two music industry figures.
The trio stole a variety of goods, including watches, wallets, a chain and necklace carrying the “1017” designation, a Louis Vuitton bag holding numerous other high-end watches, and a pair of Apple AirPods, according to court documents.
Helms claimed that another lawyer who had represented Williams in a previous lawsuit in Florida connected the rapper with his business. The two have already discussed his situation.
Williams’ group also comprised his father, Lontrell Williams Sr., and six other members: Kedarius Waters, Kordae Johnson, Demarcus Glover, Damarian Gipson, Darrion McDaniel, and Terrance Rodgers.
All nine individuals are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to conduct kidnapping, each of which carry sentences ranging from years to life imprisonment. It is unclear if they have attorneys. Authorities said eight of them were caught on Wednesday, while the ninth was apprehended Thursday in Atlanta.
The younger Williams may face harsher penalties: prosecutors claim he was on home detention and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the recording studio meeting.
According to court documents, he is serving the remainder of a 63-month federal sentence imposed in Florida in 2022 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess weapons in furtherance of violence and drug trafficking activities.
He was prohibited from possessing a weapon or being in the presence of anyone who did.