Pooh Shiesty has entered a not guilty plea regarding federal charges of kidnapping and extortion linked to an incident involving Gucci Mane.

As reported by TMZ on May 8, and confirmed by journalist Bryson “Boom” Paul, the rapper faces five federal counts related to a January 10 case in Dallas, Texas.

Allegedly, Gucci Mane and others were kidnapped and robbed at a local recording studio. During his arraignment in Dallas, Pooh Shiesty maintained his innocence.

In a statement, the rapper’s new legal representatives, Kent Schaffer and Saam Zangeneh, expressed optimism about the case’s outcome.

“We are awaiting a scheduling order from the court. Although we have not seen all of the evidence in the case it is apparent that it’s a highly defensible case and we’re hoping to have Lontrell back in the recording studio very soon,” they stated.

Schaffer recently replaced the rapper’s former attorney, Bradford Cohen, who stepped down from the case last month. Before exiting, Cohen highlighted flaws in the prosecution’s evidence and voiced confidence in Pooh’s chances of prevailing in court.

If Pooh Shiesty, Big30, and other alleged accomplices are convicted, they could face life imprisonment.