Three Louisiana men face life sentences for gang-related violence that left two dead in 2017
New Orleans, Louisiana – Three members of the Byrd Gang have been found guilty of murder and other charges following a two-week jury trial in New Orleans federal court, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson.
Terran Williams (known as “Funky”), Tyrone Bovia (known as “Sixx”), and Javonta Doleman (known as “Dutt”) were convicted on April 21, 2025, on multiple charges including RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, and Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (VCAR) murder.
The convictions stem from a January 31, 2017, shooting that claimed the lives of Lawrence Williams IV and Wynston Jackson following an Edna Karr High School basketball game. Jackson was identified as a member of the rival Ghost Gang, while Williams was an associate.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Byrd Gang member Briyan Love spotted Jackson at the basketball game and alerted Terran Williams. In response, Williams, Bovia, and Doleman drove to the school armed with two rifles and a handgun.
When the victims left the game and sat in a car parked in front of the school, the three defendants approached and fired multiple rounds. Jackson attempted to return fire with a 9mm handgun but was killed at the scene. Lawrence Williams, also shot during the attack, later died at the hospital.
The Byrd Gang primarily operated out of the former Magnolia Housing Development but had connections to the Westbank area of New Orleans. According to prosecutors, the group’s daily activities included distributing heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana, while members routinely carried firearms.
Bovia received additional convictions for his involvement in a May 2017 shooting at the Bernmas Apartments, where investigators say another Ghost Gang member was the intended target. During this incident, Byrd Gang member Terrence Augustine was killed by return fire. Another gang member, James Alexander, previously pleaded guilty to participating in this shooting.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing a pattern of retaliatory violence between the Byrd Gang and Ghost Gang, much of which was reportedly fueled by social media posts, rap music, and videos. The ongoing conflict has resulted in numerous casualties, including innocent bystanders caught in crossfire.
During the investigation, authorities recovered dozens of firearms—many with large-capacity magazines—and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from Byrd Gang members, including the three defendants.
All three men face mandatory life sentences for the VCAR murders. United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2025.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Gang Task Force and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera, David Haller, and Sarah Dawkins prosecuted the case.
RICO, which stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a federal law designed to combat organized crime by allowing prosecution and civil penalties for racketeering activity performed as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise.