In the spring of 2012, the life of 23-year-old Vennie Smith, known to many as 'Funk,' was tragically cut short on the streets of New Orleans. On the evening of April 22nd, Smith was the victim of a fatal drive-by shooting that occurred on Martin Luther King Boulevard. His death was not a random act of violence but rather a targeted attack rooted in a turbulent conflict between rival gangs.
Vennie entered into eternal rest the following day, on April 23, 2012.
The investigation into the murder of the young man, a father to one son, quickly uncovered a complex web of gang-related activities. Federal investigators identified the perpetrators as members of the notorious 'Young Melph Mafia' a gang that held control over a section of Central City near the former Melpomene Housing Development. The motive behind the shooting was determined to be part of an ongoing and violent feud with a rival gang known as the 110ers. The U.S. Attorney's Office revealed that the YMM was involved in a wide-ranging conspiracy that included drug distribution and numerous acts of violence.
In August 2014, a significant breakthrough in the case occurred when eleven members of the Young Melph Mafia were charged in a superseding indictment that included gun and drug conspiracies. As the legal process unfolded, federal RICO and murder charges were added against several of the defendants. The trial, which took place in June of 2017, lasted seven days and brought to light the extent of the gang's criminal enterprise.
Ultimately, Jawan Fortia, also known as 'Tittie' and 'Wine,' was convicted for his direct participation in the murder of Vennie Smith. Evidence presented at trial proved his involvement in the drive-by shooting. In October 2017, at the age of 24, Fortia was sentenced to life in prison for a litany of crimes, including racketeering, drug and firearms conspiracies, and the murder of Vennie Smith. Another member of the Young Melph Mafia, Lionel Allen, was also convicted in connection with Smith's death, as well as other violent crimes, and received a sentence of life plus 35 years. While some members of the gang pleaded guilty to various conspiracy charges and received lengthy prison sentences, the convictions of Fortia and Allen brought a measure of justice for the senseless killing of Vennie Smith.
