U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced today the sentencing of Telly Hankton and three members of the Hankton Organization.
According to the court documents, members of this organization and their associates ran a violent drug ring in and around the City of New Orleans dating back to 1996. During the course of this organization’s life, its members and associates killed rival drug dealers, intimidated witnesses who dared to cooperate with law enforcement, attempted to obstruct the state criminal justice system by having associates provide false alibi testimony in state court, and killed witnesses, along with a witness’ family member, in an effort to obstruct justice. Each defendant listed below was convicted by a federal jury on June 29, 2016, following a three-week jury trial.
U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman sentenced the defendants as follows:
TELLY HANKTON, age 40, was sentenced to life imprisonment. TELLY HANKTON was convicted of:
- one count of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO);
- one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances;
- one count of conspiracy to possess firearms;
- three counts of murder in aid of racketeering (Darvin Bessie, Darnell Stewart Jesse Reed); and,
- three counts of causing death through the use of a firearm.
WALTER PORTER, age 40, was sentenced to life imprisonment. PORTER was convicted of:
- one count of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO);
- one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice;
- three counts of murder in aid of racketeering (Jesse Reed, Hasan Williams, and Darnell Stewart);
- three counts of causing death through the use of a firearm; and,
- three counts of felon in possession of a firearm;
- one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering;
- one count of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime.
ANDRE HANKTON, age 38, was sentenced to life imprisonment. ANDRE HANKTON was convicted of:
- one count of conspiracy to possess firearms;
- one count of causing death through the use of a firearm; and,
- one count of possession of a short-barreled shotgun.
KEVIN JACKSON, age 43, was sentenced to life imprisonment. JACKSON was convicted of:
- one count of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); and
- one count of murder in aid of racketeering (Jesse Reed).
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Privitera, William J. Quinlan, Jr., David Haller, and Brittany Reed were in charge of the prosecution.