Jury Convicts 'Bourbon Street Hustler' in Death of Telemundo Reporter

Key points

• Danette Colbert, 49, and Rickey White, 35, were found guilty of racketeering by a Louisiana jury on September 17, 2026.
• Colbert was additionally convicted of negligent homicide, carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years, while White was acquitted of the manslaughter charge.
• Adan Manzano, 27, a Telemundo reporter from Kansas City, died on February 5, 2025, in a hotel room in Kenner after ingesting alcohol and Xanax.
• Prosecutors argued that Colbert and White operated a criminal enterprise that drugged victims to steal their identities and credit cards.
• Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for September 28, 2026, with Colbert’s attorney planning to appeal the conviction.

Background

Adan Manzano was in New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX, which featured the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. He died just one year after his wife was killed in a car accident, leaving behind a toddler daughter. Previous coverage noted that Manzano was found face down in his hotel room, unable to breathe, with his phone and credit card missing. The case gained national attention due to the high-profile nature of the victim and the alleged systematic exploitation of visitors in the French Quarter.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post emphasized the 'Bourbon Street Hustler' nickname and the severity of the racketeering charge, noting the 50-year maximum sentence. WDSU highlighted the defense’s argument that the relationship between Colbert and White was not a criminal enterprise but rather a personal arrangement, and noted that the jury asked four questions regarding legal definitions during deliberation. Fox8Live focused on the prosecution’s presentation of 80 victim IDs and the testimony of Christian Anderson, who pleaded guilty to lesser charges in exchange for testifying against the pair. All sources agreed on the core verdicts but differed in emphasis regarding the defense’s strategy and the jury’s deliberation process.

Why it matters

The conviction underscores the legal consequences of organized crime targeting vulnerable individuals in tourist-heavy areas like New Orleans. It also highlights the complexities of prosecuting cases involving drug-facilitated robbery and the challenges in distinguishing between manslaughter and negligent homicide in such scenarios. The case may influence future prosecutions of similar schemes in the region.

What to watch

Colbert and White will be sentenced on September 28, 2026. Colbert’s attorney, Stavros Panagoulopoulos, has indicated plans to appeal the conviction, particularly the racketeering charge. The case may set a precedent for how such crimes are prosecuted in Louisiana.