The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that rapper Gucci Mane was kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint inside a Dallas recording studio on January 10, 2026. Nine people have been federally charged in the case, including rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30.
Gucci Mane is currently scheduled to perform at halftime of the Birmingham Stallions home opener against the Orlando Storm on Saturday, April 18 at 4 p.m. ET at Protective Stadium. Neither the UFL nor the Stallions have issued a statement on the status of the halftime performance following the DOJ announcement.
What the DOJ Says Happened
Federal prosecutors say Gucci Mane, whose real name is Radric Davis, flew to Dallas on January 10 for a meeting to discuss a recording contract dispute involving Pooh Shiesty. Pooh Shiesty, whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr., is signed to Davis' label, 1017 Records.
Prosecutors allege that Williams Jr. and eight other individuals carried out an armed takeover inside the studio. Williams Jr. allegedly took Davis into a recording room, pulled an AK-style pistol, and forced him to sign paperwork releasing Williams Jr. from his recording contract.
The remaining suspects drew firearms and robbed the other victims in the studio. Prosecutors say the group stole Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and a Louis Vuitton bag. One victim was choked from behind to the point of near unconsciousness during the robbery.
Eight of the nine suspects were arrested this week in Dallas, Memphis, and Nashville. Williams Jr.'s father, Lontrell Williams Sr., was also arrested and is accused of helping plan the attack. All nine defendants face charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Each faces up to life in federal prison if convicted.
Williams Jr. had been released from prison in October 2025 after serving three years of a 63-month sentence on gun charges. He was on home detention at the time of the January incident.
Within hours of the robbery, several suspects posted stolen items on social media, according to the DOJ.
Gucci Mane Responds on Social Media
Hours after the DOJ announcement on Thursday, Gucci Mane went live on social media and addressed the case directly.
Davis acknowledged the January incident and stated he will not cooperate with federal prosecutors in the case against Pooh Shiesty and the other defendants. He also directed comments at Pooh Shiesty and other members of 1017 Records.
Davis did not address his scheduled halftime performance at the Birmingham Stallions home opener during the live video.
The UFL Connection
The Birmingham Stallions announced Gucci Mane as the halftime performer for their home opener on March 18, 2026 — more than two months after the January 10 incident in Dallas.
Stallions Head Coach AJ McCarron said at the time of the announcement: "Everyone knows Gucci Mane! What a bonus to our home opener in Birmingham!"
The UFL built its 2026 halftime entertainment lineup around performers at each team's home opener. The full schedule includes Nelly with St. Lunatics at the Louisville Kings opener, DJ Khaled at the Dallas Renegades opener, Ludacris at the Houston Gamblers opener, and Gucci Mane at the Birmingham date.
As of Thursday afternoon, the UFL schedule still lists Orlando Storm at Birmingham Stallions for Saturday, April 18 at 4 p.m. ET on FOX. Gucci Mane remains listed on the Ticketmaster event page for the game.
What Remains Unknown
It is unclear whether the UFL or the Stallions were aware of the January 10 incident when they booked Gucci Mane on March 18. Davis is a victim in the federal case, not a suspect.
Davis' public statements on Thursday — including his refusal to cooperate with federal investigators and his comments directed at Pooh Shiesty — add a layer to the situation for the UFL.
The league has not addressed whether the halftime show will proceed as planned, whether a replacement act is being considered, or whether Gucci Mane's team has communicated any change in his availability. At this point, since it happened in January it seems like nothing is going to change on the UFL's end.
The game itself — Birmingham's first home contest of the 2026 season.
Who Is Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis, known as Gucci Mane, was born in Bessemer, Alabama and moved to Atlanta as a child. He is 46 years old.
Davis is credited as a pioneer of trap music and helped bring the subgenre to mainstream audiences in the 2000s. His catalog includes hits such as "Icy," "Lemonade," and "Wasted." He holds more Top 10 albums on Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart than any other hip-hop artist in history.
Davis founded 1017 Records, the label at the center of the federal case. Pooh Shiesty signed to 1017 Records in 2021. The two rappers collaborated on multiple tracks before Williams Jr. was indicted on separate charges in Florida in 2020.
Davis has his own history with the federal system. He previously served time in federal prison on firearms charges before rebuilding his career and brand.
This is a developing story.