U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that GREGORY DENSON, 53, ESCRELITA CARMOUCHE, 49, and KYRA D. MORRIS-GRIFFITH, 35, all of New Orleans, were charged today in a thirteen-count Seventh Superseding Indictment. DENSON and CARMOUCHE were charged with Conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act, which prohibits interference with interstate commerce through violence. Defendant DENSON was also charged with various robberies and weapons offenses as well as the murder of an individual to stop that individual from providing information to law enforcement authorities about his (DENSON’S) activities. Defendant, MORRIS-GRIFFITH is charged with obstruction of a federal grand jury investigation.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the charges in the Seventh Superseding Indictment are merely charges, and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael M. Simpson and Michael E. McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.