Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that DARIUS WILLIAMS, age 23, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced yesterday 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 WILLIAMS to 156 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

WILLIAMS 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, WILLIAMS 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.

U. S. Attorney Polite stated, “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.  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.”

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.