Federal Jury Convicts 5 Members Of The Young Melph Mafia Gang

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that a federal jury has convicted LIONEL ALLEN, age 24, JAWAN FORTIA, age 24, DEDRICK KEELEN, age 23, DELWIN McLAREN, age 24 and BRYAN SCOTT, age 23, all of New Orleans, following an eight-day trial.

LIONEL ALLEN was convicted of 21 of 24 counts, specifically: Conspiracy to Violate RICO; Conspiracy to Possess Firearms; Murder in the Aid of Racketeering (three counts – murders of Vennie Smith, Deshawn Hartford and Travis Thomas); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering (six counts); Use, Carrying, and Discharge of a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence or a Drug Trafficking Crime (eight counts). LIONEL ALLEN faces life in prison.

JAWAN FORTIA was convicted of four of five counts, specifically: Conspiracy to Violate RICO; Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Possess Firearms; Murder in the Aid of Racketeering (murder of Vennie Smith); and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering (one count). JAWAN FORTIA faces life in prison.

DEDRICK KEELEN was convicted of all eight charged counts, specifically: Conspiracy to Violate RICO; Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Possess Firearms; Murder in the Aid of Racketeering (two counts - murder of Lawrence Burt and Vivian Snyder); Causing Death through the Use of a Firearm; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; and Use, Carrying, and Discharge of a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence or a Drug Trafficking Crime. DEDRICK KEELEN faces life plus ten years in prison.

DELWIN McLAREN was convicted of two charged counts, specifically: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Possess Firearms. DELWIN McLAREN faces ten years to life in prison.

BRYAN SCOTT was convicted of two charged counts, specifically: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Possess Firearms. BRYAN SCOTT faces not less than 20 years to life in prison.

U.S. Chief District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt will set sentencing for later this year.

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31-Count Superseding Indictment, Including RICO Charges, Returned by Grand Jury Against Violent YMM Gang

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that a Superseding Indictment was returned charging members of a violent New Orleans street gang known as “the Young Melph Mafia” or “YMM” with violating federal racketeering statutes and committing five homicides as well as multiple violations of federal drug and firearm laws. The defendants include: JEFFERY WILSON, age 30; LIONEL ALLEN, a/k/a “Lot,” age 21; JAWAN FORTIA, a/k/a “Tittie” and “Wine,” age 22; DEDRICK KEELEN, a/k/a “Roy,” age 22;DELWIN McLAREN, a/k/a “Poo” and “Poo Stupid,” age 22; and BRYAN SCOTT, a/k/a “Killer,” age 21.

Based upon the ongoing investigation, these defendants, most of whom grew up in and around the former Melpomene Housing Development, engaged in high volume street level drug dealing over the course of several years. During the course of this investigation, it was also determined that the defendants connected to the Young Melph Mafia routinely carried firearms to protect themselves while engaged in distributing illegal narcotics.

ALLEN, KEELEN and FORTIA are facing a mandatory life sentence if convicted of committing a murder in furtherance of racketeering activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1959. Attached is a summary of charges and penalties for all defendants.

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