A convicted murderer is back on the streets of Memphis after a catastrophic clerical error allowed him to walk free from jail just 38 minutes after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. Federal and local investigators now believe rapper Pooh Shiesty, currently incarcerated on separate charges, is under investigation for allegedly helping his longtime associate, Anthony “Cho Wap” Green, evade capture in the months since his stunning release.
The sequence of failures began on September 24, 2025, following Green’s conviction for the June 2020 murder of 27-year-old Octavius Atkins. Despite the grave verdict mandating a life sentence, critical paperwork revoking his bond on an unrelated theft charge never reached the Shelby County Jail’s computer system. With only the cleared theft charge visible, jail staff processed his release from the 201 Poplar facility in under an hour.
“It was a clerical error,” Green’s attorney, Brandon Hall, confirmed to Fox 13, noting the jarring efficiency of a system typically plagued by delays. By the time the mistake was discovered the next day, Green had vanished. Authorities immediately issued a new warrant for his arrest, but the 24-hour head start proved crucial.
Investigative focus has now sharpened on how Green has managed to remain a fugitive. Multiple law enforcement sources indicate the probe is examining whether Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Williams, has used his outside network to provide resources. Shiesty, a prominent figure in Memphis’s 1017 crew, is serving a five-year federal sentence for a 2021 shooting in Florida.
The assistance under scrutiny is believed to be multifaceted. Financial support is a primary concern, with investigators tracing potential money flows from Shiesty’s accounts, possibly via royalties or managed assets, through intermediaries to Green. This cash would be essential for safe houses, food, transportation, and disposable cell phones.
Furthermore, authorities are mapping Shiesty’s extensive connections in Memphis and across the South to identify possible safe harbors. The tight-knit street culture of areas like South Memphis, where Shiesty and Green have deep, pre-fame ties, emphasizes a code of loyalty that investigators suspect is being activated to shield the fugitive.
This loyalty, however, carries severe legal peril. Harboring a fugitive, especially a convicted murderer, can lead to federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. For Shiesty, proven involvement could mean years added to his existing sentence. Any individual found to have provided material aid also faces serious prosecution.
The manhunt for Anthony Green continues, with Memphis police and federal agents pursuing all leads. The failure at 201 Poplar has sparked outrage, highlighting a systemic breakdown that endangered public safety and compounded the grief of the victim’s family, who saw justice seemingly served and then violently snatched away.
This developing story underscores the potent, and often perilous, force of street loyalty when it collides with a staggering institutional failure. As the investigation presses forward, monitoring communications and financial trails, more arrests are anticipated in the relentless effort to return a convicted killer to custody.