Memphis Rapper Pooh Shiesty Freed From Federal Prison Months Early

Rapper Pooh Shiesty, whose real name is Lontrell D. Williams, in a 2021 booking photo released by the Miami-Dade Police Department. Williams was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for a gun conspiracy charge. 

Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell D. Williams, is officially free — and his return marks one of hip-hop’s most closely watched comebacks of the year.

According to federal Bureau of Prisons records, the 25-year-old artist was released from custody in early October, months ahead of his scheduled April 2026 date. His attorney, Bradford Cohen, confirmed the news on social media, writing, “@poohshiesty is ready... wait until you see his comeback. He will be bigger than ever.”

The rapper, best known for his breakout single “Back in Blood” featuring Lil Durk and his 2021 mixtape “Shiesty Season,” had been serving a 63-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2022 to one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of violent and drug-trafficking crimes. The plea deal led prosecutors to drop three other charges — including one carrying a potential life sentence — tied to a 2020 shooting in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, where two men were injured in a robbery involving designer sneakers and marijuana.

Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty came home to a bag 💰 pic.twitter.com/Bgkg7yEht5

— Kollege Kidd (@KollegeKidd) October 7, 2025

He was sentenced in April 2022 to a little over five years and three years of supervised release. The government had sought a ten-year term, but Cohen convinced the court to impose the shorter sentence, telling reporters at the time, “He took responsibility and we felt it was fair.”

Shiesty, whose name became synonymous with Memphis trap’s new wave, was just 20 when Gucci Mane signed him to The New 1017 imprint. His rise was meteoric — “Shiesty Season” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and turned the rapper’s menacing drawl into a generational sound.

Even during his incarceration, Shiesty remained culturally relevant. His comments under Cardi B’s Instagram post earlier this week — “I love you” — racked up thousands of likes and immediately went viral, reminding fans that his charisma hadn’t dimmed. 

Pooh Shiesty back home and already shining like he never left 🧊🐍💯 The whole team celebrating his return — big energy, big ice, and big Memphis vibes only 🔥#PoohShiesty #Big30 #Memphis #TrapsNTrunks #WelcomeHome pic.twitter.com/q1Fo4UIOAP

— Traps N Trunks (@trapsntrunks) October 7, 2025

A Comeback in the Making 

Shiesty’s release has sparked both optimism and reflection inside hip-hop. Fans flooded social media with clips of his homecoming, including one viral post showing him stepping out of a luxury car surrounded by family and supporters. “Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty came home to a bag 💰,” read the caption.

Cohen, his attorney, called the moment “a climb back up to elite status,” while adding that Shiesty’s journey wasn’t finished: “His story isn’t over — it’s just starting.”