The "Ride or Die Gang," was a small murderous drug ring that operated in
. Authorities stated the crew violently ruled narcotics activity in the
St. Roch
Roch (lived c. 1348 – 15/16 August 1376/79 (traditionally c. 1295 – 16 August 1327, also called Rock in English, is a Catholic saint, a confessor whose death is commemorated on 16 August and 9 September in Italy; he is especially invoked a ...
neighborhood from 2007 to 2013.
Members formed their crew among the trailers parked in St. Roch Park after
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
, a group of neighborhood teens that, prosecutor allege, sold drugs in the 8th Ward and ruthlessly defended their turf. Federal investigators said the gang used an abandoned house on Mandeville Street as a base of operations to package, sell and store narcotics, as well as store firearms. The Multi-Agency Gang Unit have been tracking the gang since 2010 and reported they dealt
crack,
marijuana
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...
and
heroin
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...
in the St. Roch.
In 2013 twelve members were indicted on murder and racketeering charges. According to a 33-page indictment, members of the gang had been arrested repeatedly with crack cocaine, marijuana and heroin. The 20-count federal indictment also accused three men of murder.
References
{{Reflist
Crime in New Orleans
Gangs in Louisiana