According to officials, rapper Gucci Mane was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint in Texas earlier this year, which led to the arrests of eight men. One of the alleged men included a fellow music artist signed to his label. Pooh Shiesty, who was born Lontrell Williams Jr, allegedly spearheaded the ambush under the guise of a meeting, prosecutors have said. They also alleged that Mane was held captive inside a recording studio and forced to sign papers releasing him from his music contract.

Mane, who has won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video and worked alongside Usher, Drake and Doja Cat, founded his label 1017 Records in 2007. The defendants could face life in prison if convicted - but they are yet to enter their pleas.

Eight men were arrested on Wednesday in Nashville, Dallas and Memphis and charged in federal court with armed robbery and kidnapping.

However, one of the suspects remains at large, US Attorney Ryan Raybudd said at a news briefing on Thursday, sharing how investigators are working with authorities to locate him.

According to a federal complaint, the incident took place on January 10 when Williams Jr was meant to be under house arrest for a firearms conspiracy conviction.

A statement from the FBI says he pointed a "black AK-style pistol" at Mane and made him sign the papers. Williams Jr also allegedly stole the rapper’s wedding ring and cash.

According to the BBC’s report, one victim was injured and choked, and their Rolex watch was robbed alongside their Louis Vuitton bag and AirPods.

Raybould said: "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.”

Prosecutors also said Mane and the victims thought "they were going to be executed" before the defendants made them get into their cars.