The Big 30 gets court approval to leave home for studio sessions while facing federal kidnapping charges alongside Pooh Shiesty in the Gucci Mane case.
The Big 30’s federal case involving the alleged kidnapping of Gucci Mane just got a major breakthrough.
The Memphis rapper received permission from a federal judge to leave his home for approved studio recordings while awaiting trial.
He has been locked up on $100,000 bail since April and is subject to strict home detention, location monitoring and travel restrictions, which essentially prevent him from doing anything music-related.
Things are changing now.
The situation stems from allegations that Big 30 and Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty staged an armed robbery and kidnapping of Gucci Mane at a Dallas recording studio in January.
Prosecutors say Pooh Shiesty wanted to terminate his recording contract with Gucci Mane’s label, The New 1017 Records, and decided the best way to handle it was at gunpoint.
A total of nine men have been charged in the case, including Lontrell Williams Sr., Pooh Shiesty’s father.
Vinnie Shesti remains jailed without any bail. The judge looked at the evidence and basically said there was no way he could get away with it before trial.
Williams Sr. was granted a $250,000 bail but was placed on strict home confinement, which meant he could barely leave his home.
But things are different in the Big 30. His $100,000 bond was approved in April, and now he has more freedom.
A Shelby County commissioner named Miska Clay Bibbs, who actually vouched for him, told the court that Big 30 showed a true commitment to his family and community.
The defense team has been arguing that prosecutors have no physical evidence to support the charges, and the judge agreed to let Big 30 return to the studio with prior approval from Pretrial Services, Fox 13 Memphis reported.
That’s huge for an artist.
Being able to record and create music while facing federal charges is basically a lifeline.
The Big 30’s situation is in stark contrast to Pooh Shiesty’s situation. One is working in the studio, the other is still in the cell.
Trials for all nine defendants are scheduled to begin in February 2026 in Dallas federal court.
