FnD Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Narcotics Charges

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JEREMIAH JACKSON, a/k/a “Rocky,” age 24, of  New Orleans, pled guilty today in the racketeering conspiracy case involving the Frenchmen/Derbingy gang, or “FnD.”

According to court documents, JACKSON pled guilty to four counts of the Third Superseding Indictment, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, 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 assault with a dangerous weapon in furtherance of a racketeering enterprise.

JACKSON faces a maximum life imprisonment for the RICO violation, a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life imprisonment on the drug conspiracy charge, and a maximum of 20 years as to each charge of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy and assault with a dangerous weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents, FnD constituted a racketeering “enterprise” under federal law.  JACKSON, as a member of this enterprise, conspired to commit numerous overt acts in furtherance of this enterprise.  These acts included the distribution of illegal narcotics, such as heroin and crack cocaine, as well as crimes of violence, including assault with firearms.  JACKSON admitted to the shooting of an individual who was sitting in his car on April 16, 2011, on the 2000 block of Prieur Street in New Orleans.  The victim was shot in the stomach by JACKSON because he resembled a rival drug dealer.  The New Orleans Police Department Crime Lab matched casings found at the scene to a gun that was found in JACKSON’s possession on July 19, 2011.

Three other defendants previously pled guilty in the course of this prosecution:  CRYSTAL SCOTT, RICHMOND SMITH, and GRALEN BENSON.  The grand jury subsequently returned a superseding indictment charging the remaining defendants with RICO conspiracy, among other charges.  JACKSON is the first defendant to have pled guilty to RICO conspiracy.

Five defendants remain in this case: TRAVIS SCOTT, STANLEY SCOTT, SHAWN SCOTT, AKEIN SCOTT, and BRIAN BENSON.  U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle scheduled those defendants for trial on July 13, 2015.

The indictment is a product of an ongoing investigation into the violent acts in furtherance of 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.

Jeremiah Jackson Factual Basis.pdf (4.47 MB)