On a tragic Sunday evening in New Orleans, Vivian Carter-Synder, a 56-year-old African American woman, was fatally shot on December 16, 2012. Her death was not an isolated incident but rather a component of a violent crime spree orchestrated by a notorious street gang.
The investigation into her murder revealed that she was a victim of the violent activities of the 'Young Melph Mafia,' also known as the 'Mid-City Killers.' This gang was involved in a range of criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking and numerous acts of violence aimed at rival gangs and innocent bystanders alike. Carter-Synder was tragically caught in this web of violence, her life cut short in a senseless act.
A significant breakthrough in the case came with a sweeping federal indictment against multiple members of the gang under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. This led to the trial of several key figures, including Dedrick Keelen, Lionel Allen, Jawan Fortia, Delwin McLaren, and Bryan Scott. The trial, which concluded in June 2017, brought to light the extensive criminal activities of the gang.
Following an eight-day trial, a federal jury convicted the five men on a multitude of charges. Specifically, Dedrick Keelen was found guilty of the murder of Vivian Carter-Synder, as well as the murder of another individual, Lawrence Burt, which occurred on the same day. For his crimes, Keelen was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional ten years. His co-defendants also received lengthy sentences for their roles in the gang's various crimes, with Lionel Allen and Jawan Fortia also receiving life sentences for their involvement in other murders and racketeering activities.
