DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Louisiana

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Anna Christman

Member of Young Melph Mafia (YMM) Neighborhood Gang Sentenced to 40 Years for Drug and Firearms Violations

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JACOBI BOYD, age 24,  of New Orleans, was sentenced today for his participation in a drug conspiracy and a conspiracy to possess and use firearms in connection with the drug trafficking activities of a local gang known as the “Young Melph Mafia” or “YMM.”  

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced BOYD to 480 months (40 years) of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.  BOYD was sentenced to 480 months as to count 1 (the drug conspiracy) and 240 months to count 2 (a conspiracy to possesses firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes), with the amounts to run concurrently.

BOYD was originally charged in a five-count Superseding Indictment with nine other YMM members, who frequented the area of the former Melpomene Housing Project. According to the factual basis filed in open court, BOYD and other YMM members participated in a wide ranging conspiracy to distribute street level quantities of crack cocaine in Central City and participated in several acts of violence against rival gangs, such as the 110ers.  The members of the YMM were associates of the members of the Allen family, who were also indicted and convicted in federal court last year.  Three members of the 110ers gang were convicted on January 29, 2015, in Orleans Parish Criminal Court for the Briana Allen shooting. He is the sixth member of the YMM to be sentenced thus far. The remaining defendants have been charged in a superseding indictment with additionally conspiring to commit RICO violations, including several murders and other acts of violence.

 “This is just another example of how serious the federal government is in helping turn the tide of violence that is occurring in New Orleans,” stated U.S. Attorney Polite.  “These local gangs have caused serious harm to the neighborhoods of this City, and the federal government will continue to work with local authorities to bring these individuals to justice.”

“Removing BOYD and other Young Melph Mafia gang members from the community has been a top priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Constance Hester.  “The success of this investigation is a direct result of the collaborative efforts between the New Orleans Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, and ATF.”  

 U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) in leading this investigation along with members of the NOPD led Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MAG UNIT).  Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. were in charge of the prosecution.

 

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New Orleans Field Division