Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that KWAME FLEMING, age 26, of New Orleans, was indicted today for charges of committing murder through use of a firearm, conspiracy to commit carjackings, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, brandishing and discharging firearms during crimes of violence, and other offenses.

According to the Indictment, FLEMING and others known to the Grand Jury conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. In furtherance of that conspiracy, FLEMING and others murdered Jacquez Young in Gretna, Louisiana, on June 1, 2015.

FLEMING is also charged with conspiring to commit carjackings, and for brandishing firearms during those carjackings. The Indictment outlines four separate carjackings or attempted carjackings that FLEMING or his co-conspirators committed. First, on May 31, 2015, FLEMING’s co-conspirators carjacked a 2015 white Dodge Ram in New Orleans. The next day, on June 1, 2015, FLEMING and his co-conspirators attempted to carjack a 2013 gold Ford F-250 in New Orleans, but were unsuccessful. Shortly after that, on the same day, FLEMING and his co-conspirators successfully carjacked a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze in New Orleans. On June 4, 2015, FLEMING and his co-conspirators carjacked a 2004 GMC Yukon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which they drove back to New Orleans. FLEMING is also charged separately for his participation in three of the carjackings or attempted carjackings.

FLEMING is also charged with committing a Hobbs Act robbery on June 4, 2015, and for discharging a firearm during that robbery. According to the Indictment, FLEMING and his co-conspirators, while in the New Orleans area, arranged to steal a quantity of marijuana and synthetic marijuana from a person through the use of actual and threatened violence, which later occurred in Mississippi.

If convicted of murder through use of a firearm, FLEMING faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. If convicted of carjacking or attempted carjacking, FLEMING faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment on each count. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, FLEMING faces a minimum of 7 years to a maximum of life imprisonment on each count. If convicted of Hobbs Act robbery, FLEMING faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. If convicted of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, he faces a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment. If convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, FLEMING faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment. If convicted of conspiracy to commit carjackings, he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment. If convicted of conspiracy to use firearms during drug trafficking and crimes of violence, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Zachary Police Department, and the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office for investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih and Trial Attorney Joseph K. Wheatley from the Department of Justice are in charge of the prosecution.

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