What was supposed to be a business meeting at a Dallas recording studio turned into something far darker. Federal prosecutors charged rapper Pooh Shiesty and eight co-defendants on Thursday with robbing three music industry professionals at gunpoint and kidnapping them — all allegedly stemming from a contract dispute with Gucci Mane’s record label, 1017 Records.

How a Business Meeting Became a Violent Ambush

According to an FBI affidavit attached to the criminal complaint, three men flew to Dallas on January 10 believing they were headed to a legitimate business meeting at a music studio. What prosecutors allege happened next was anything but ordinary. Pooh Shiesty — whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr — reportedly arranged the meeting under the pretext of discussing the terms of his contract with 1017 Records.

Once all three men were inside the studio, Williams Jr and eight co-conspirators — several of whom had traveled from Memphis, Tennessee — allegedly launched what US Attorney Ryan Raybould described as a “coordinated, armed takeover.”

“The victims in this case came to Dallas to conduct legitimate business and they were met with firearms and violence.”

— Ryan Raybould, US Attorney, Northern District of Texas

What Allegedly Happened Inside That Recording Room

The affidavit lays out a disturbing sequence of events. Pooh Shiesty asked to speak privately with the owner of 1017 Records — a man whose initials are listed as RD in court documents, and who is described as being closely associated with Gucci Mane, whose legal name is Radric Delantic Davis. The meeting also included Pooh Shiesty’s father, Lontrell Williams Sr, and fellow rapper Big30, whose legal name is Rodney Wright — both named as defendants.

Once inside the private room, Pooh Shiesty allegedly produced contract termination paperwork and demanded the label owner sign it. When the man refused, Shiesty reportedly pulled what appeared to be an AK-style pistol and forced him to sign under duress. He then allegedly took the man’s wedding ring, watch, earrings, and cash before they left the room.

Outside, the other defendants allegedly produced firearms and demanded property from the two remaining victims. One of them, referred to as MM in court documents, was reportedly choked to the point of near-unconsciousness. Rapper Big30 is alleged to have physically blocked the studio door with his body to prevent anyone from leaving.

How Investigators Caught Up With Them

Prosecutors had an unusual advantage in building their case. At the time of the alleged incident, Pooh Shiesty was already on home confinement stemming from a prior firearms conspiracy conviction in Florida — and was required to wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet. Investigators were able to use GPS data from that device, combined with surveillance footage, cellphone records, and social media posts to reconstruct the events of January 10.

Eight of the nine defendants were arrested on Wednesday. The FBI’s Memphis field office executed warrants at a property in the Cordova suburb of Memphis — a home that property records show is owned by Pooh Shiesty. Raybould identified Pooh Shiesty as the ringleader of the alleged scheme.

Who Is Pooh Shiesty — and What Is 1017 Records?

Pooh Shiesty rose to national prominence in 2020 and 2021 with a string of high-profile collaborations and a debut mixtape that generated significant industry buzz. His career was interrupted by a federal firearms case in Florida that resulted in a conviction and subsequent home confinement.

1017 Records is the label founded by Gucci Mane, one of the most influential figures in the history of trap music. Gucci Mane — alongside fellow Atlanta artists T.I. and Jeezy — is widely credited with shaping the sound that would define a generation of hip-hop. Over the course of his career, he has helped launch major acts and earned Grammy recognition. His personal story is one of significant turbulence, including multiple legal run-ins, a federal prison sentence completed in 2016, and a public journey toward sobriety and mental health awareness documented in his 2017 memoir.

Publicists for Gucci Mane did not respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the defendants had not returned comment requests as of Thursday.

What Comes Next

The charges — which include armed robbery, kidnapping, and related federal offences — carry serious potential consequences for all nine defendants. The case will proceed in the Northern District of Texas. Given that Pooh Shiesty was already under court supervision at the time of the alleged incident, prosecutors are likely to argue strongly against bail. The involvement of an electronic monitoring device in building the case also sets an unusual precedent for how digital surveillance data can be used in music industry-related prosecutions.

For 1017 Records and Gucci Mane, the fallout from these allegations — regardless of how the legal proceedings unfold — will be felt across the label’s roster and reputation for some time to come.