NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – WALTER PORTER, 37, a/k/a “Urkel”
a/k/a “Moonie”; NAKIA HANKTON, 34; SHIRLEY HANKTON, 58, ; TELLY HANKTON, 36, a/k/a
“Third” a/k/a “Wild”; THOMAS HANKTON, 36, a/k/a “Squirt”; TROY HANKTON, 28;
GEORGE JACKSON, 38, a/k/a “Black”; DERRICK SMOTHERS, 34, a/k/a “Dump”; ANDRE
HANKTON, 35; KEVIN JACKSON, 39; NETTHANY SCHEXNAYDER, 33; SANA JOHNSON, 37; and
TERRELL SMOTHERS, 36, all of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged in a
twenty-two count superseding indictment by a Federal Grand Jury on Thursday
October 18, 2012, announced Jim Letten, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of Louisiana, Michael Anderson, FBI Special Agent in Charge for the
New Orleans Division, and Phil Durham, ATF Special Agent in Charge, along with
Jimmy Fox III, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Genny May, United States Marshal,
Eastern District of Louisiana, Leon Cannizzaro, Orleans Parish District
Attorney, and Ronal Serpas, NOPD Superintendent.
The superseding indictment was unsealed today as most of
the defendants were taken into custody by federal agents, or were already in
custody on related matters. Presently there are no defendants which are
considered to be fugitives.
According to the superseding indictment, 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 existence, its members and associates murdered rival drug
dealers, intimidated witnesses, attempted to obstruct the state criminal
justice system by having associates provide false alibi testimony in state
court, and murdered a witness’ family member in an effort to obstruct justice.
A list of the defendants and the Counts they are charged
in is attached. This sheet also outlines the maximum penalties that each count
carries.
Specifically, ANDRE HANKTON, TELLY HANKTON , KEVIN
JACKSON, WALTER PORTER, and THOMAS HANKTON are all charged in specific murders
and could potentially face the death penalty for the murders of Darnell
Stewart, Jesse Reed, Hasan Williams, and Curtis Matthews (Counts 5, 6, 8, 9,
10, 11, 15, and 16). No decision concerning this issue has been made at this
time. As in all possible capital cases, this case must be reviewed according to
a strict protocol to determine whether the Department of Justice will seek the
death penalty.
Speaking to today’s unsealed indictment, U. S. Attorney
Letten stated:
“Today, as the result of the outstanding work of the men
and women of federal enforcement and our partners in the New Orleans Police
Department and the District Attorney’s Office, yet another powerful blow has
been made against an organization whose members are alleged to have committed
murder and violence against our community. My deepest gratitude goes to the
dedicated members of our own office, together with special agents of the FBI
and ATF, along with DEA and the Marshals Service.”
“Our very special thanks go out to Orleans Parish District
Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas and their tremendous
team for their commitment, hardwork, professionalism and partnership. Without
NOPD’s investigative work, and the District Attorney’s indispensable charging
groundwork, partnership, and seamless cooperation, the full extent of this
indictment would not have been achieved.”
Mike Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s New
Orleans Field Office, added:
“This investigation is a clear reflection of the FBI’s
enhanced commitment to address localized violent street gangs, in partnership
with our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts. Accordingly,
such criminal activity will remain a top investigative priority.”
Phil Durham, Special Agent in Charge of ATF, stated:
“ATF’s primary goal is to work along side our other law
enforcement partners to reduce the number of homicides and other violent crimes
committed with firearms. This joint effort clearly illustrate our commitment of
the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to making our communities
safer.”
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is
merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.
No further information is available at this time.
This indictment is the culmination of a long federal grand
jury investigation that was conducted with the assistance of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the
Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshal’s Service, the New
Orleans Police Department, the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office, and the
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
DEFENDANTS AND COUNTS
ANDRE HANKTON:
Counts 3, 5, 6 and 7
NAKIA HANKTON:
Counts 1, 2 and 3
SHIRLEY HANKTON:
Counts 1, 2, 21 and 22
TELLY HANKTON:
Counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13 and 21
THOMAS HANKTON:
Counts 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18 and 21
TROY HANKTON: Counts
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
GEORGE JACKSON:
Counts 1, 2 and 3
KEVIN JACKSON:
Counts 3, 8 and 9
SANA JOHNSON:
Counts 17 and 18
WALTER PORTER:
Counts 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 20
NETTHANY
SCHEXNAYDER: Counts 17 and 18
DERRICK
SMOTHERS: Counts 1, 2 and 3
TERRELL
SMOTHERS:Counts 1, 2 and 3
COUNT 1: CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE RICO
Nakia Hankton
Shirley Hankton
Telly Hankton
Thomas Hankton
Troy Hankton
George Jackson
Walter Porter
Derrick Smothers
Terrell Smothers
Maximum Penalties:
imprisonment for
any term of years or for life
$250,000 fine
Not more than 5
years supervised release
COUNT 2: CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
Nakia Hankton
Shirley Hankton
Telly Hankton
Thomas Hankton
Troy Hankton
George Jackson
Derrick Smothers
Terrell Smothers
Maximum Penalties:
10 years to life
imprisonment
$10,000,000 fine
At least 5 years
supervised release
With a prior felony drug offense:
20 years to life
imprisonment
$20,000,000
At least 10
years supervised release
COUNT 3: CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS FIREARM
Andre Hankton
Nakia Hankton
Telly Hankton
Thomas Hankton
Troy Hankton
George Jackson
Kevin Jackson
Walter Porter
Derrick Smothers
Terrell Smothers
Maximum Penalites:
0 to 20 years
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
3 years
supervised release
COUNT 4: CONSPIRACY TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE
Walter Porter
Maximum Penalities:
0 to 20 years
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
3 years
supervised release
COUNT 5: MURDER IN AID OF RACKETEERING (Darnell Stewart)
Andre Hankton
Telly Hankton
COUNT 8: MURDER IN AID OF RACKETEERING (Jesse Reed)
Telly Hankton
Kevin Jackson
Walter Porter
COUNT 10: MURDER IN AID OF RACKETEERING (Hasan Williams)
Walter
Porter/li>
Thomas Hankton
COUNT 15: MURDER IN AID OF RACKETEERING (Curtis Matthews)
Walter Porter
Maximum Penalties for Countrs 5, 8, 10 and 15:
Death or life
imprisonment
COUNT 6: CAUSING DEATH THROUGH USE OF A FIREARM (Darnell
Stewart)
Andre Hankton
Telly Hankton
COUNT 9: CAUSING DEATH THROUGH USE OF A FIREARM (Jesse
Reed)
Telly Hankton
Kevin Jackson
Walter Porter
COUNT 11: CAUSING DEATH THROUGH USE OF A FIREARM (Hasan
Williams)
Walter Porter
Thomas Hankton
COUNT 16: CAUSING DEATH THROUGH USE OF A FIREARM (Curtis
Matthews)
Walter Porter
Maximum Penalties for Counts 6, 9, 11 and 16
Death or
imprisonment for any term of years or for life
$250,000 fine
5 years
supervised release
COUNT 7: POSSESSION OF A SHORT-BARRELED SHOTGUN
Andre Hankton
Maximum Penalties:
0 to 10 years
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
3 years
supervised release
COUNT 12, 19 and 20: FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
Walter Porter
Maximum Penalties:
0 to 10 years
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
3 years
supervised release
COUNT 13: ASSAULT WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON IN AID OF
RACKETEERING (John Matthews)
Walter Porter
Telly Hankton
Thomas Hankton
Maximum Penalties:
0 to 20 years
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
3 years
supervised release
COUNT 14: USE AND CARRYING OF A FIREARMS DURING AND IN
RELATION TO A CRIME OF VIOLENCE AND DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME (John Matthews)
Walter Porter
Telly Hankton
Thomas Hankton
Maximum Penalties:
10 years to life
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
Up 5 years
supervised release
COUNT 17: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MISPRISON OF A FELONY
Sana Johnson
Netthany
Schexnayder
Thomas Hankton
Maximum Penalties:
15 years
imprisonment
$250,000 fine
3 years
supervised release
COUNT 21: MONEY LAUNDERING CONSPIRACY
Shirley Hankton
Thomsa Hankton
Telly Hankton
Maximum Penalties:
20 years
imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $500,000
COUNT 22: PERJURY
Shirley Hankton
Maximum Penalties:
5 years imprisonment
and/or a fine
3 years
supervised release
Notice of Rico Fortfeiture
Nakia Hankton,
Shirley Hankton, Telly Hankton, Thomas Hankton, Troy Hankton, George Jackson,
Walter Porter, Derrick Smothers, Terrell Smothers
Notice of Drug Fofeiture
Nakia Hankton,
Shirley Hankton, Telly Hankton, Thomas Hankton, Troy Hankton, George Jackson,
Derrick Smothers, Terrell Smothers
Notice of Gun Forfeiture
Andre Hankton,
Nakia Hankton, Telly Hankton, Thomas Hankton, Troy Hankton, George Jackson, Kevin
Jackson, Walter Porter, Derrick Smothers, Terrell Smothers
Notice of Money Laundering Forfeiture
Shirley Hankton,
Thomas Hankton, Telly Hankton
Notice of Special Findings for Counts 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11,
15 and 16 alleging statutory and aggravating factors under Title 18, United
States Code, Sections 3591 and 3592, permitting the consideration of death as a
penalty.
Andre Hankton
Telly Hankton
Thomas Hankton
Kevin Jackson
Walter Porter
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