Rapper Gucci Mane kidnapped and robbed by fellow artist, prosecutors say

Rapper Gucci Mane was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint in Dallas earlier this year, leading to the arrests of eight men, including a fellow artist signed to his label, officials say.

BBC

Prosecutors allege rapper Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Williams Jr, led the ambush under the guise of a meeting, holding Mane captive inside a recording studio and forcing him to sign papers releasing him from his contract.

Mane is an Atlanta-based artist who has collaborated with Usher, Doja Cat, Drake and other stars. He founded his label, 1017 Records, in 2007 and Williams Jr signed as an artist in 2020.

The defendants, who are yet to enter their pleas, could face life in prison if convicted.

Eight of the nine defendants were arrested on Wednesday in Dallas, Memphis and Nashville, and charged in federal court with kidnapping and armed robbery.

One suspect remains at large, and investigators are working with authorities in the state of Georgia to locate him, US Attorney Ryan Raybould told a news conference on Thursday.

The incident took place on 10 January, a federal complaint says, when Williams Jr was supposed to be under house arrest for a previous firearms conspiracy conviction.

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He was allegedly joined by eight co-defendants, including his father, Lontrell Williams Sr, all of whom are accused of participating in the crime.

A sworn statement from the FBI says Williams Jr pointed a "black AK-style pistol" at Mane and forced him to sign the papers. He also allegedly stole Mane's wedding ring, watch, earrings and cash.

The other suspects allegedly brandished pistols as well, demanding property from additional victims in the room, identified in the complaint only by initials.

One of the victims was choked and injured, and had his Rolex watch, Louis Vuitton bag, AirPods and wallet stolen from him, according to the complaint.

"Within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, a number of the defendants were on social media displaying some of the items that appeared to be the jewellery that had been robbed from the victims," Raybould said.

Prosecutors say the rapper and the other victims believed "they were going to be executed" before the defendants ordered them to leave the building and go to their cars.

Representatives for Williams Jr and Mane did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rapper Gucci Mane kidnapped and robbed by fellow artist, prosecutors say

Rapper Gucci Mane was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint in Dallas earlier this year, leading to the arrests of eight men...
Ryan Coogler to produce

The invasion is returning to a small screen near you thanks toRyan Coogler!

Entertainment Weekly Ryan CooglerCredit: Getty

The Oscar-winning filmmaker is executive producing anAnimorphsTV series currently in early development at Disney+,Entertainment Weeklyhas learned. Coogler will serve as an executive producer alongside Proximity Media partners Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler, with Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman executive producing for Scholastic. The children's book publisher is the original distributor of K. A. Applegate's 54-book youth sci-fi series, initially published between 1996 and 2001.

The TestamentsandThe Summer I Turned Prettyscribe Bayan Wolcott has been attached to write and executive produce the series for 20th Television. Proximity Media's Simone Harris, vice president and head of TV, and Dezi Gallegos, director of TV development, will also oversee the project.

The show's official logline reads, "Animorphsfollows a group of teenagers who uncover a hidden threat lurking beneath their everyday lives, all while juggling relationships, curfews, and the chaos of high school."

Cover of Animorphs: The Alien' by K.A. Applegate

The beloved book series, created by Katherine Applegate and her husband Michael Grant, followed a group of teenagers — Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias — who gain the ability to morph into any animal they touch after meeting a dying alien of the Andalite race. They learn that the Andalite has been fighting a parasitic alien race known as Yeerks, who are looking to take over the Earth in a bid to expand their empire across the galaxy.

The teens unite to use their powers within a secret resistance against the Yeerks and to save the world. Casual after-school activities.

The chapter books were first adapted for TV for a live-action series that aired on Nickelodeon for two seasons, from 1998 to 2000. The series starredX-Menactor Shawn Ashmore, Brooke Nevin, Boris Cabrera, Nadia Nascimento, and Christopher Ralph as the titular animorphs. Paulo Costanzo later joined the cast as Ax, a young Andalite stranded on Earth.

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The news of Coogler's latest comes after the filmmaker wonBest Original Screenplayat the2026 Oscarsfor his critically acclaimed vampire period piece,Sinners. Fellow collaborator Autumn Durald Arkapaw also became thefirst woman to win Best Cinematographyin Academy Awards history, while Ludwig Göransson picked up his third Oscar for Best Original Score.

And the film's leading man,Michael B. Jordan, took home the trophy for Best Actor after playing both twins Smoke and Stack.

Ryan Coogler poses with the Oscar for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) during the 98th Annual Academy AwardsCredit: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty

The series is the second project under Coogler and Proximity Media's TV overall deal with Disney. The director's other project, a reboot ofThe X Filesstarring Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel, was given thegreen light for a pilotby Hulu in February.

Original series starGillian Andersonhaspraised Coogler's vision for the new series, telling fans that the project is "different" and "special," so fans should "give it a break."

"We've had a few conversations," Anderson said of Cooglerduring an appearance at Awesome Con. "He's such a cool guy, and so talented. And the pilot script is really good. I would say, have an open mind and give it a chance, because it's gonna be f---ing cool. It really is."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

Ryan Coogler to produce “Animorphs” TV series reboot for Disney+ after “Sinners” Oscar win

The invasion is returning to a small screen near you thanks toRyan Coogler! The Oscar-winning filmmaker is exe...
Travis Kelce Is Reportedly Planning a Boys' Trip to the Bahamas for His Bachelor Party

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Harper's Bazaar los angeles, california march 26 for editorial use only lr travis kelce and taylor swift attend the 2026 iheartradio music awards at dolby theatre on march 26, 2026 in los angeles, california photo by kevin mazurkevin mazurgetty images for iheartradio

Travis Kelce—or thefuture Mr. Taylor Swift—is getting ready for his bachelor party. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end will reportedly go to on a fun, relaxing trip to the Bahamas with his friends at the end of May, a source toldPage Six.

As for guests, Kelce will invite brother Jason and close friend and teammate Patrick Mahomes, among others. The main activity of the trip will allegedly be golf—as Kelce, his brother, and his pals all enjoy playing the sport.

"It'll be chill," the source said. "Just guys having a good time."

Why the Bahamas? Kelce and Swift vacationed in the Caribbean country in March 2024, when they visited Harbour Island for a romantic, private getaway.

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Shortly after, the football star discussed the trip in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "Is it the Bahamian sun or the Bahamian love that has you just glowing right now?" the interviewer asked. "You know what? It's just the lovely place down there, isn't it?" he coyly replied. "You can get it all down there. All the love in the world."

As Swifties know, the pop singer and Kelce are set to marry on June 13 in Rhode Island, where Swift owns a home, and where the couple hasspent plenty of time.

Ahead of the nuptials, Swift will also reportedly embark on "at least three or fourgirls' tripsor bachelorette-style getaways" with her star-studded friend group, perThe Sun.It's unclear where the ladies will go, but a source told the paper: "The goal is to have fun, spend weekends together, and enjoy the process while also working on the planning in beautiful locations where they can relax, celebrate, and bond."

Read all the details about the upcoming Swift-Kelce weddinghere.

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Exclusive: Justice Samuel Alito was taken to a hospital last month in previously undisclosed incident

Supreme Court JusticeSamuel Alitowas taken to a hospital after becoming ill last month at a Federalist Society dinner in Philadelphia, according to people with knowledge of the March 20 incident, which had not been previously reported.

CNN

The justice was evaluated and administered fluids for dehydration. He returned to his home in Virginia that night with his security team.

In the two weeks since the incident, Alito has attended oral arguments and appeared healthy during the usual give-and-take with lawyers at the lectern.

Alito, who turned 76 on Wednesday and has served as a justice for 20 years, has become the subject of widespread speculation from commentators across the ideological spectrum and the news media over whether he might retire. (He has refused to answer journalists' questions on the subject.)

Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe confirmed Alito's visit following CNN's exclusive report.

"On the evening of Friday, March 20, Justice Alito felt ill during an event in Philadelphia. Out of an abundance of caution, he agreed with his security detail's recommendation to see a physician before the three-hour drive home. After that examination and the administration of fluids for dehydration, he returned home that night, as previously planned," McCabe said in a statement. "Justice Alito was thoroughly checked by his own physician, and he returned to work the following Monday for oral argument."

Information regarding the health of the justices, who are the final word of the reach of the Constitution in American life, is often difficult to obtain. The Supreme Court's public information office previously declined to reveal that Chief Justice John Roberts hadfallen at a country clubnear his suburban Maryland home in June 2020, injured his head and taken by ambulance to a hospital until it was reported by the Washington Post.

If Alito were to decide to step down, the opening would offer President Donald Trump a fourth appointment to the nine-member bench. Trump named three justices with lifetime tenure in his first term.

Close friends of Alito have told CNN that he has contemplated retirement, but that no decision seems imminent.

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Alito remains one of most consistent votes favoring Trump's bold policies as they have been challenged in litigation. DuringWednesday's oral arguments over birthright citizenship, Alito expressed more receptiveness than his colleagues to Trump's attempt to end the longstanding constitutional principle that anyone born in the US is an American citizen.

Appointed by George W. Bush in January 2006, Alito has turned out to beone of the most influential justices, particularly through his 2022 decision reversing Roe v. Wade and abortion rights and his moves to retrench on voting rights cases.

On March 20, Alito became ill at a dinner held after aFederalist Society symposiumin his honor at the University of Pennsylvania law school. He was taken by his security detail to an area hospital.

The event, "An Examination of the Jurisprudence of Samuel Alito," featured several of his former law clerks, law professors and attorneys who practice before the high court. The program was closed to the news media but available through a livestream. Alito was not on the schedule, and he did not appear at the day-long symposium.

That morning, the Supreme Court was in session to hand down opinions. Alito, who was not on the bench with his eight colleagues, was scheduled to drive with his security detail to Philadelphia.

Dean Reuter, executive vice president of the Federalist Society, did not respond to CNN's questions about Alito and the organization's Philadelphia events.

The evening earlier, on March 19,Alito attendeda separate dinner in Washington, DC, celebrating Notre Dame law professor Sherif Girgis, who had received the Edwin Meese Originalism Award from the Meese Institute for the Rule of Law within the Mike Pence-founded organization of Advancing American Freedom.

Girgis, also a former Alito clerk, appeared the next day at the March 20 symposium. Girgis did not respond to email and telephone queries from CNN.

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Exclusive: Justice Samuel Alito was taken to a hospital last month in previously undisclosed incident

Supreme Court JusticeSamuel Alitowas taken to a hospital after becoming ill last month at a Federalist Society dinner in ...

 

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