The rapper Pooh Shiesty (real name Lontrell Williams Jr.), who hails from Memphis, is yet to be granted bail even as his lawyers have suggested a security bond worth $700,000 that would involve round-the-clock surveillance. Godbey’s decision will guarantee that he will be kept in prison until his hearing is scheduled for February 22, 2027.
Judge Godbey rejected the defense proposal on July 21, 2026, siding with prosecutors who argued that no set of conditions could adequately address the risks.
“There is no condition or combination of conditions that would protect the public,”
the judge stated, describing Pooh Shiesty as “a dangerous person.” The prosecution stressed that Shiesty is still a flight risk as well as a threat to the public and to any witnesses who might have been around because this crime occurred while he was on federal supervised release for another conviction.
From court documents, it is alleged that Pooh Shiesty and eight co-defendants, which include his father Lontrell Williams Sr. and fellow Memphis rapper Big30 (Rodney Wright Jr.), tricked Gucci Mane (Radric Davis) and his associates into going to a recording studio in Dallas on January 10, 2026. It is further alleged that they detained Gucci Mane under threat of being shot with a gun. They allegedly tricked him into thinking that they wanted to discuss his contractual agreement with 1017 Records. Accusations against Shiesty include that he had a pistol similar to AK, forced Gucci Mane to leave the label, recorded it, and took away expensive belongings valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars from the victims.
The prosecution relies on surveillance camera videos, cell phone videos, text messages, and victim statements as evidence. Shiesty has pleaded not guilty to the crimes charged, which include kidnapping and robbery.
The timeline of pretrial proceedings shows repeated setbacks for the defense. Bond was first denied in April 2026. The trial, originally set for July 2026, was postponed to February 22, 2027 due to the case’s complexity. In late June and again on July 21, Judge Godbey turned down further release requests. Though some of the co-defendants such as Big30 and Shiesty’s father have been able to gain bail with stringent restrictions such as house arrest and monitoring, Shiesty still remains in custody.
Kent Schaffer, defense lawyer, said that he was disappointed in the ruling but the team will prepare for trial. Some of the defendants were granted bonds of about $100,000 and $250,000 with monitoring.
As this case moves towards trial, there will be more pretrial motions, possible disputes about evidence and witnesses as well as more filings. This case involving high profile federal hearings in Dallas is expected to have substantial testimonies. This case may help influence the debate about artist and label disputes within the hip-hop community.
