10 reputed members of the '39'ers' street gang have been convicted of racketeering charges and 5 have been convicted of multiple murders by a federal court jury in New Orleans.
The defendants are all residents of the city and range in age from 25 to 31 years old. The government says the 10 were members of an alliance between two violent gangs that sold heroin across the city.
A jury of seven men and five women returned the verdicts on their fourth day of deliberations finding the 10 guilty on 79 of the 117 charges filed against them. The trial lasted nearly 7 weeks.
One of the men was found guilty of 5 murders, another was found guilty of 4, one was found guilty of 3 and two others were convicted of two murders. Two other defendants each were convicted of a single murder.
Prosecutors say all of the killings were committed in the years 2010 and 2011. One of the victims in December 2010 was Renetta Lowe, a rapper who performed as "Magnolia Shorty."
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jeff Sallet stated, "Today's verdict regarding the violent and ruthless 39ers gang members clearly demonstrates that our city and its citizens will not tolerate this type of activity anymore. Through dedicated partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office, the 39ers gang was brought to justice and will ultimately be held accountable for their many transgressions."