Pooh Shiesty has pleaded not guilty to federal kidnapping and extortion charges stemming from the kidnapping and robbery involving Gucci Mane.
According to a report published by TMZ on Friday (May 8) and confirmed by reporter Bryson “Boom” Paul, Pooh Shiesty pleaded not guilty to five federal counts of kidnapping and extortion during his trial in Dallas, Texas on Friday. The charges stem from an incident on January 10 when Gucci Mane and several other victims were kidnapped and robbed at a Dallas recording studio.
Vinnie’s new attorneys, Kent Schaffer and Saam Zangeneh, said in a statement: “We are awaiting the court’s scheduling order. While we have not yet seen all the evidence in the case, it is clear that this is a very meritorious case and we hope that Lontrell will be back in the studio soon.”
Schaefer replaces Vinnie’s former attorney Bradford Cohen, who withdrew from the Memphis rapper’s legal case last month. Before withdrawing the case, Cohen added that the prosecution’s evidence had many loopholes and he believed Vinnie could lose the case.
XXL has reached out to Shiesty’s attorney, Kent Schaffer, for further comment.
Pooh Shiesty, formerly known as Lontrell Williams, Jr., is currently being held in the Kaufman County Jail in Texas. He, his father Lontrell Williams, Sr., rapper Big30 and six other men were arrested and accused of luring Gucci Mane to a Dallas recording studio, robbing him and threatening him at gunpoint to sign a contract release form.
According to previous reports, Big30’s real name Rodney Wright Jr. and Vinnie’s father also pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and robbery on April 30 in the District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Both men remain in jail after their bail was revoked.
Pooh Shiesty, Big30 and others could face life in prison if found guilty.
