Big30 is fighting back against prosecutors who want to keep him in jail ahead of his federal kidnapping case tied to the alleged robbery involving Pooh Shiesty and Gucci Mane.
In a court filing submitted on Apr. 24, Big30’s attorneys requested that a Texas federal judge allow the rapper to be free on bond with certain conditions — something prosecutors argued against earlier this month.
The rapper, real name Rodney Wright, Jr., was granted a $100,000 bond by a judge when he was arrested in Tennessee last month, but the order was stayed and prosecutors quickly appealed.
In the new filing, Big30’s lawyers argued that he’s being unfairly characterized as a “central” participant in the incident, in which Pooh Shiesty, Big30, and six other men (including Pooh Shiesty’s father) are accused of holding Gucci and his security team at gunpoint, forcing Gucci to sign paperwork letting Pooh Shiesty out of his record deal, and robbing Gucci of his wedding ring, watch, earrings, and cash.
Big30’s lawyers argued that it is “unclear” whether he was armed during the incident. They also said that the behavior that is not in dispute — including Big30 retrieving Pooh Shiesty’s bag and filming Gucci signing the paperwork —doesn’t show that he orchestrated the situation or escalated it.
“Mr. Wright is not charged with being Pooh Shiesty’s equal in this alleged enterprise; he is charged as a participant,” the filing states.
The attorneys also argued against the government’s claims that Big30 is either dangerous or likely to flee. They say that he doesn’t have any prior felony convictions, has lived in Memphis for the entirety of his life, has four kids there, and has a record deal worth seven figures on the table — meaning that he has every reason to stay.
Prosecutors had previously argued that this same record deal gave Big30 reason to flee, something the rapper’s lawyers hit back at in their filing.
“The government argues the deal might fall apart, eliminating Mr. Wright's incentive to remain. But the deal has not fallen apart,” they wrote. “His professional obligations provide a continuous and independent financial incentive to comply with conditions of release and to appear for court.”
Big30’s lawyers noted that the Tennessee judge’s previously approved release conditions included home detention, travel restrictions, and GPS monitoring.
Pooh Shiesty’s father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is in a similar situation: initially granted a $250,000 bond, he is now incarcerated while the government appeals that decision to the same Texas judge hearing Big30’s case.
In his argument, Williams said that the government couldn’t provide “clear and convincing evidence” proving that he should remain behind bars. He argued that the government needs to show that he is an actual danger to the community.
Pooh Shiesty, his father, Big30, and the others could face up to life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors alleged that the group lured Gucci and the other alleged victims to a studio for what they believed to be a business meeting before carrying out the robbery.
