NOLA Trio Get Decades for Drugs & Guns

New Orleans is a city drowning in violence, and three men are about to spend a significant portion of their lives behind bars for fueling that fire. Terran Williams, Allen Gray, and Kerry Brooks – known on the streets as ‘Funky’ and ‘Kyedi’ respectively – have been handed down hefty federal sentences after a series of incidents linking them to drug trafficking and illegal firearms.

Federal prosecutors secured convictions against the trio following a complex investigation that pieced together evidence from multiple run-ins with the law. The case, part of the broader ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ initiative, aims to choke off the flow of guns and drugs that plague communities like New Orleans. It’s a program that promises results, and these sentences are a clear message: traffic in illegal weapons and narcotics, and you will face serious consequences.

The unraveling began in August 2020 with a high-speed chase. Williams and Gray crashed a vehicle while trying to ditch police, leaving a mess of wreckage and a treasure trove of evidence – guns, drugs, and stolen IDs. This wasn’t a one-off incident. Weeks later, the FBI caught up with Williams, finding him armed with both a rifle and a pistol, along with a substantial stash of marijuana. The feds piled on the charges, adding to the growing list of offenses.

Gray and Brooks weren’t far behind. A search of a New Orleans hotel room turned up a sickening haul: large quantities of marijuana and fentanyl, stacks of cash, and handguns equipped with extended magazines – weapons designed for maximum damage. The pattern continued when the FBI hit an apartment linked to Brooks, discovering more cash, a powder-covered scale, fentanyl, and yet another illegally modified pistol. This wasn’t just about possession; it was a clear operation to distribute deadly substances.

Terran Williams, ‘Funky’ to those who knew him, received 180 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Allen Gray, ‘Kyedi,’ got the same sentence, a grim echo of his accomplice’s fate. But Kerry Brooks fared the worst, sentenced to a staggering 197 months behind bars, along with five years of supervised release. Each man also faces a $600 mandatory assessment fee – a small price to pay for the damage they inflicted.

The charges spanned multiple counts, including possession with intent to distribute marijuana and fentanyl, firearms offenses, and being a convicted felon in possession of weapons. The feds demonstrated a clear link between the defendants’ actions and the ongoing violence in New Orleans. This case isn’t just about locking up criminals; it’s about disrupting a dangerous cycle and sending a warning to others who might follow the same path.

While these sentences offer a temporary reprieve, the fight against drug and gun violence in New Orleans is far from over. ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ will continue its work, but ultimately, it will take a community-wide effort to dismantle the networks that profit from misery. These convictions, however, are a step in the right direction – a hard-won victory in a city desperately seeking peace.

The sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier send a clear message: the feds are paying attention, and they’re willing to throw the book at those who endanger the public. It remains to be seen if this will be enough to stem the tide of violence, but for now, three more criminals are off the streets, and New Orleans can breathe a little easier.

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