A New Orleans gang leader has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a violent criminal enterprise that trafficked drugs and committed many murders, federal officials announced.
Tim Jackson, 37, also known as “T-Maf” and “Maf,” was sentenced on February 25 by a United States District Judge for RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and gun conspiracy. He will also serve five years on supervised release.
According to the Eastern District of Louisiana Department of Justice, Jackson pleaded guilty after four days of trial and received a 30-year sentence, avoiding a possible life term if convicted.
Jackson led the Byrd Gang, also known as M3RE, MagFischer, 315, and the Piff Gang, which was based mostly in the former Magnolia Housing Development but also had ties to the Westbank. According to federal authorities, the members distributed heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana on a daily basis and kept many guns on hand.
Members of the gang, including Jackson, were involved in violent crimes such as the July 18, 2016, murder of Kent Franklin, the September 3, 2016, murder of Javon Johnigan, the Jan. 31, 2017, double murder of Wynston Jackson and Lawrence Williams IV, and the August 25, 2017, shooting on Magazine Street in a busy shopping corridor.
Between 2014 and January 2017, Jackson led the gang and provided many drug stash houses where members trafficked drugs.
Evidence revealed several back-and-forth shootings between the Byrd Gang and the Ghost Gang, some of which killed innocent bystanders, driven mostly by social media posts, rap music, and videos, according to federal prosecutors.
During the inquiry, law enforcement seized dozens of firearms, most with large-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from gang members, including Jackson.
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle thanked the FBI and the New Orleans Police Department. Elizabeth Privitera and Sarah Dawkins, both Assistant United States Attorneys, conducted the prosecution.
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