U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that AKEIN SCOTT, a/k/a “Keemy," age 22; SHAWN SCOTT, a/k/a “Shizzle," age 26; and STANLEY SCOTT, a/k/a “Stizzle," age 23, all pled guilty today in the racketeering conspiracy case involving the Frenchmen/Derbigny gang, or “FnD."
AKEIN SCOTT pled guilty to eight counts of the Third Superseding Indictment and admitted guilt to the Mother’s Day shooting, which the Indictment alleged was a shooting that was committed in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy and the RICO conspiracy. Additionally, AKEIN SCOTT pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy, and four counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Assault with Dangerous Weapons.
SHAWN SCOTT pled guilty to five counts of the Third Superseding Indictment and also admitted guilt to the Mother’s Day shooting that was committed in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy and the RICO conspiracy. Additionally, SHAWN SCOTT pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy, Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Assault with Dangerous Weapons.
STANLEY SCOTT pled guilty to six counts of the Third Superseding Indictment and admitted to committing a shooting on March 22, 2012, in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy and the RICO conspiracy. STANLEY SCOTT also pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy, and two counts of Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Assault with Dangerous Weapons.
Each defendant faces at least 20 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The drug trafficking conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Further, for having committed a shooting in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, each defendant faces an additional mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence. Lastly, the firearms conspiracy and RICO conspiracy counts carry maximum sentences of 20 years and life imprisonment, respectively. U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set sentencing for January 6, 2016.
According to court documents, the FnD gang was an enterprise engaged in racketeering under federal law. AKEIN SCOTT, SHAWN SCOTT, and STANLEY SCOTT, as members of this gang, conspired to commit numerous overt acts in furtherance of the gang’s activities. These acts included the distribution of illegal narcotics, such as heroin and crack cocaine, as well as crimes of violence, including several shootings. The factual basis, signed by all three defendants, details evidence of drug dealing and shootings that occurred over the course of nearly seven years from 2006 through 2013. FnD members sold heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other illegal drugs near the intersection of Frenchmen and North Derbigny Streets in New Orleans. FnD members often sold drugs in the Frenchmen Meat Market, a convenience store located at the corner of Frenchmen and North Derbigny Streets. FnD members used intimidation, violence, and threats of violence to maintain the gang’s control over turf that extended from Elysian Fields Avenue, North Johnson Street, the I-10 Interstate Highway, St. Anthony Street, and North Claiborne Avenue.
Four other defendants previously pled guilty in the course of this prosecution. CRYSTAL SCOTT, RICHMOND SMITH, and GRALEN BENSON pled to gun and drug-related charges. The grand jury subsequently returned a superseding Indictment charging the remaining defendants with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, among other charges. Defendant JEREMIAH JACKSON pled guilty to RICO conspiracy as well as gun and drug-related charges on May 13, 2015. Defendant BRIAN BENSON pled guilty to RICO conspiracy and narcotics conspiracy on August 7, 2015.
With today’s plea, the sole remaining defendant in this case is TRAVIS SCOTT, who is alleged to be the leader of the FnD gang. TRAVIS SCOTT is scheduled for trial on Oct. 19, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle.
The Indictment is a product of an ongoing investigation into the violent acts in furtherance of the drug trafficking by the FnD gang. It represents the continued coordinated effort of the federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Multi-Agency Gang (“MAG"), including the United States Attorney’s Office, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF"), and officers of the New Orleans Police Department. Federal and local authorities also utilized tips through the Crimestoppers Program in the successful investigation of these crimes.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Ebarb, who is assigned from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, are in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
