Jury convicts pair in racketeering scheme linked to Super Bowl reporter's death

Key points

• Colbert and White were found guilty of racketeering, carrying a maximum sentence of 50 years.
• Colbert was additionally convicted of negligent homicide, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
• White was acquitted of the manslaughter charge.
• Prosecutors presented evidence of a multi-year scheme involving drugging and robbing multiple victims.
• Manzano was found dead in a Kenner hotel room on February 5, 2025, after visiting New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
• A third defendant, Christian Anderson, pleaded guilty to lesser charges and received a six-year sentence.

Background

Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo reporter from Kansas City, traveled to New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX. He was found dead in his hotel room in Kenner on February 5, 2025. An autopsy determined his cause of death was a combination of alcohol, Xanax, and positional asphyxia. This case is part of a broader pattern of crimes in the French Quarter involving drugging and robbing visitors.

How outlets are covering it

WPDE and WDSU reported the verdicts, noting the mixed outcome on the homicide charges. Fox8Live provided additional details on the prosecution's argument that the defendants operated a criminal enterprise, highlighting the discovery of Manzano's debit card and hotel key at Colbert's home. Defense attorneys argued that the relationship between Colbert and White did not constitute racketeering and that there was no evidence of drugs being administered to Manzano. Prosecutors emphasized the long-term nature of the scheme and the presence of multiple victims.

Why it matters

The verdict highlights the dangers of drug-facilitated crimes in tourist areas like New Orleans' French Quarter. It also underscores the legal complexities of proving intent in cases involving accidental or negligent deaths. The case has drawn attention to the need for stricter enforcement against racketeering schemes targeting visitors.

What to watch

Sentencing for Colbert and White is scheduled for September 28. Defense attorneys have indicated plans to appeal the racketeering conviction. The case may set a precedent for how similar crimes are prosecuted in the future.