A New Orleans judge sided with the AG and found Danette Colbert to be a quadruple habitual offender after prosecutors with Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Office got involved in the case.

Colbert has five prior felony convictions involving fraud and currently has pending charges in Jefferson Parish for second-degree murder of Telemundo Kansas City reporter Adan Manzano during Super Bowl LIX weekend in New Orleans.

Last year, when the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office tried the case, the jury found Colbert guilty of theft, computer fraud, and illegal transmission of monetary funds. However, the judge handed down a 10-year sentence that was suspended.

Today, our prosecutors argued that the sentence was illegal because of her prior felonies in the past. Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Nandi F. Campbell denied our motion to correct that illegal sentence. 

However, our office also filed a habitual offender bill, and the judge found Colbert to be a habitual offender and imposed a 25-year sentence with the Department of Corrections. This is a major win for justice!

“This is a testament to the hard work and cooperation between my prosecutors in New Orleans and State Police’s Troop NOLA. I’d like to thank my New Orleans Section Chief Daniel Smart for his hard work and dedication on this case. I’d also like to thank District Attorney Jason Williams for his cooperation in this cross jurisdictional matter. The evidence was overwhelming that this woman was a serial fraudster and took advantage of multiple tourists and innocent people over many years in the French Quarter. I wish we could have saved the life of Adam Manzano. His family and co-workers remain in my thoughts and prayers. I’m hopeful and confident justice will be served in Jefferson Parish as well, where Colbert is also facing charges of second-degree murder for Manzano’s death,” said Attorney General Murrill.