A trial date has been officially set for Pooh Shiesty, Big30, and seven codefendants in connection with the alleged kidnapping and robbery of Gucci Mane.
On Tuesday, May 19, Senior United States District Judge David C. Godbey signed a pre-trial order scheduling the commencement of the trial for July 6. A final pretrial conference is slated for July 1, with the prosecution mandated to provide all case evidence to the defense by June 1.
This development follows a significant legal update from two weeks ago, during which Pooh Shiesty, Big30, and the rapper’s father entered pleas of not guilty. All nine defendants remain in custody and face the potential for life sentences if convicted on the charges.
The allegations stem from an incident in January, where the group is accused of luring Gucci Mane to a Dallas recording studio under the pretense of discussing business and recording music. According to investigators, the situation escalated when Pooh Shiesty allegedly brandished an automatic weapon, forcing the veteran rapper to sign a contract release form at gunpoint. The group is further accused of robbing the artist and his associates of cash, jewelry, and other personal property.
The defendants were apprehended in April following a law enforcement raid on the home of Pooh Shiesty‘s father in Tennessee.
Legal representation for the case has also seen recent shifts. Last month, lead attorney Bradford Cohen withdrew from the proceedings and has been succeeded by Dallas-based counsel Dan Cogdell and Kent Schaffer. Despite the gravity of the charges, Cohen has maintained that there are significant inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case and has expressed confidence in his client’s ability to contest the allegations.
