In the streets of New Orleans, a brutal act of violence claimed the life of 31-year-old Floyd Moore on April 28, 2011. The B.W. Cooper housing development became a scene of chaos as more than 100 shots were fired, ending Moore's life. Authorities believed Moore was an associate of the Calliope Housing Project gang, a connection that may have sealed his fate in the city's ongoing gang rivalries.
The investigation into the murder led to a significant federal indictment against members of
the '39ers' gang, a violent group involved in drug trafficking and numerous acts of violence. Three men, Gregory Stewart, also known as 'Rabbit,' Washington 'Big Wash' McCaskill, and Damien 'AD' Barnes, were charged in connection with Floyd Moore's death. The indictment detailed a wide-ranging criminal enterprise and painted a grim picture of the gang's activities. The weapons allegedly used in Moore's murder were specified as a Bushmaster. 223 caliber assault rifle and an AK-47 assault weapon.
The legal proceedings that followed revealed the complexities and internal dynamics of the criminal organizations operating in New Orleans. Damien Barnes, while convicted on racketeering and conspiracy charges, was ultimately found not guilty of Floyd Moore's murder. Gregory Stewart, a prolific killer by his own admission, chose a different path. He pleaded guilty to a host of charges, including his participation in several murders, and received multiple life sentences. However, his sentence was later reduced to 35 years in exchange for his cooperation with the federal government, providing testimony against other gang members.
Washington McCaskill's role in the case was particularly convoluted. He also became a cooperating witness for the government. However, the credibility of his testimony was challenged when a letter he wrote surfaced, in which he claimed the federal case was built on 'all made up lies.' Despite this, his cooperation was part of a deal to reduce his own extensive prison sentence for his role in numerous violent crimes. The trials of the 39ers gang members brought to light a period of intense violence in New Orleans and the efforts of law enforcement to dismantle these dangerous criminal enterprises.
