Byrd Gang Leader Sentenced to 360 Months for Rico Conspiracy, Heroin, Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy, and Firearms Possession Conspiracy

NEW ORLEANS – TIM JACKSON, a/k/a T-Maf,” “Maf,” 37 years old and of New Orleans, was sentenced on February 25, 2026, by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for a RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and firearms conspiracy. As part of a plea agreement, JACKSON was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $300.00 mandatory special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. 

After four days of a trial against him, JACKSON pled guilty to a 30-year sentence to avoid a possible life sentence if convicted.  JACKSON’s co-defendants, Terran Williams, Tyrone Bovia and Javonta Doleman, went to trial in the Spring of 2025, and all three were found guilty of various charges, including two counts of Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (Murder), for which each faces a mandatory life sentence.

JACKSON was a leader of the Byrd Gang, also known as M3RE, MagFischer, 315 and Piff Gang, which operated primarily out of the former Magnolia Housing Development, but also had ties to the Westbank.  Daily, its members distributed drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana, and always possessed a multitude of firearms. JACKSON participated in numerous drug trafficking activities and violent crimes for the Byrd Gang.

Members of the enterprise, including JACKSON, participated in acts of violence, to include, but not limited to the July 18, 2016, murder of Kent Franklin; the September 3, 2016, murder of Javon Johnigan; the October 29, 2016, shooting of rival M.A.; the November 25, 2016, shooting of Ghost Gang member, D.A.; the December 20, 2016, shooting of rival M.A.; the December 30, 2016, shooting of Ghost Gang member, D.A.; the January 31, 2017, double murder of Ghost Gang member, Wynston Jackson, and Lawrence Williams, IV; the May 3, 2017, shooting at M.I.; and the August 25, 2017, shooting of Ghost Gang member T.H., that happened in a busy shopping corridor of Magazine Street. 

In both trials, the government’s evidence regarding the existence and nature of the enterprise came from the testimony of witnesses and cooperating informants, cooperating defendants, police searches and seizures, Title III wiretaps, historical arrests of members of the enterprise, including of JACKSON, among other sources. JACKSON, led the Byrd Gang and was the principal supplier of controlled substances for the enterprise, specifically heroin, while also acting as  a gunman for the enterprise. JACKSON unlawfully and knowingly conspired  with Byrd Gang members to conduct and participate, in the operation of the enterprise through committing racketeering activities including  murders, in violation of Title 14, Louisiana Revised Statutes Sections 24 (Principals), 26 (Criminal Conspiracy), 27 (Attempt) and 30.1 (Second Degree Murder); as well as  heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana trafficking, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846. 

As part of the conspiracy, JACKSON, and each co-defendant, agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering for the benefit of the Byrd Gang. JACKSON himself participated in numerous such racketeering acts.  Specifically, between 2014 and January 2017, when JACKSON was arrested on federal charges, for which he is still serving a sentence, JACKSON regularly purchased large quantities of heroin from R.L.  During this period, JACKSON was the leader of the Byrd Gang and its most prolific drug dealer.  JACKSON provided several drug stash houses from which Byrd Gang members would distribute drugs.

During the trial, Evidence presented at trial showed numerous back-and-forth retaliatory shootings between the Byrd Gang and the Ghost Gang, some of which killed innocent bystanders,  fueled largely by social media posts, rap music, and videos.

During the investigation, dozens of firearms, most with large-capacity magazines, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, were recovered from Byrd Gang members, including from JACKSON.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera and Sarah Dawkins are in charge of the prosecution. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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