Federal charges filed in Mother’s Day shootings
26th March 2014 · 0 Comments
Two brothers who already face state how to get personal loan in us charges in a shooting spree that left 20 people hurt at a Mother’s Day second-line in 2013 have been indicted on federal charges — along with seven other people allegedly connected to the case, The Associated Press reported recently.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite’s office said an indictment was unsealed March 11 charging 25-year-old Shawn Scott, 20-year-old Akein Scott and seven others in a conspiracy involving violations of federal controlled substances and gun control acts. Polite said the indictment specifically charges Shawn and Akein Scott with firing their guns during the Mother’s Day neighborhood “second-line” parade on May 12.
Prosecutors say the nine people indicted are members of the Frenchmen-Derbigny gang.
Also named in the February 27 indictment are Travis Scott, 29; Stanley Scott, 22; Jeremiah Jackson, 23; Gralen Benson, 26; Brian Benson, 24; Crystal Scott, 32; and Richmond Smith, 25. All nine are named in a count alleging conspiracy to distribute substances including heroin and crack cocaine. All except Brian Benson and Crystal Scott also are named in various other firearms and drug counts connected to the alleged conspiracy.
“This indictment is another clear signal that the rules have changed — there are real consequences for violence in our city,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a statement March 11. “Since the fall of 2012, the Multi-Agency Gang Unit has led to the indictments of 83 individuals associated with eight groups.
“Through NOLA For Life, we will continue to focus on keeping our citizens safe, reclaiming our neighborhoods and offering opportunities to those who want to make better choices.”
Police said 19 people were hit by gunshots and one person was hurt in the chaos that ensued after gunfire erupted at last year’s festive neighborhood parade organized by the Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club and attended by hundreds in the city’s 7th Ward neighborhood. It was a traditional “second-line” celebration, where onlookers often fall into step behind the group hosting the event and musicians to form a second line of revelers.
The violent shooting spree grabbed national headlines and added pressure to the already undermanned New Orleans Police Department to get violent criminals off the streets.
A security video captured one person, identified by police later as Akein Scott, appearing to fire toward the parade and fleeing as members of the crowd fell or ran. Akein and Shawn Scott were arrested within days and bonds were set in excess of $17 million. Each was charged with 20 counts of attempted second-degree murder and other charges.
Convictions on a state charge of attempted second-degree murder carry penalties of up to 50 years in prison, The Associated Press reported. Polite’s news release said the maximum penalty upon conviction on the federal drug conspiracy charge in the indictment announced Tuesday is a life sentence.
Polite said the indictments resulted from an effort by state, local and federal authorities working as part of the city’s Multi-Agency Gang Unit. New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas has credited the collaboration with contributing to a drop last year in the number of murders in the city.
“Following one of the most despicable shootings in our city’s recent history, our federal, state and local law enforcement partners collaborated in an unprecedented fashion to identify the allegedly responsible individuals,” Polite said in a joint news release with city police and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Police said ATF agents were the lead agents in the case.
“The collaboration of all partners in the Multi-Agency Gang Unit has proven to be undeniably effective in getting some of the city’s most violent criminals out of our neighborhoods,” Serpas said in the news release.
While some have applauded efforts to get a handle on the city’s violent crime, others say the solutions being employed to address the problem may lead New Orleans down the path to becoming a more repressive and unconstitutional city.
“We find ourselves in a catch-22,” Ramessu Merriameh Aha, a New Orleans businessman and former Congressional candidate, told The Louisiana Weekly March 11. “The mayor and police chief want residents to tell authorities what they know about acts of crime but oftentimes residents don’t because the NOPD and the local justice system have proven many times that they can’t be trusted.”
This article originally published in the March 24, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
