ATF

Sample Block

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Eastern District of Louisiana

www.justice.gov/usao/lae

For Immediate Release

October 19, 2012

Jim Letten, United States Attorney

Contact: Anna Christman
(504) 680-3171

INDICTMENT UNSEALED CHARGING THIRTEEN MEMBERS OF THE HANKTON ORGANIZATION WITH COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES IN AID OF RACKETEERING AND OTHER SERIOUS FEDERAL CRIMES

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

  1. ANDRE HANKTON: Counts 3, 5, 6 and 7
  2. NAKIA HANKTON: Counts 1, 2 and 3
  3. SHIRLEY HANKTON: Counts 1, 2, 21 and 22
  4. TELLY HANKTON: Counts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13 and 21
  5. THOMAS HANKTON: Counts 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18 and 21
  6. TROY HANKTON: Counts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
  7. GEORGE JACKSON: Counts 1, 2 and 3
  8. KEVIN JACKSON: Counts 3, 8 and 9
  9. SANA JOHNSON: Counts 17 and 18
  10. WALTER PORTER: Counts 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 20
  11. NETTHANY SCHEXNAYDER: Counts 17 and 18
  12. DERRICK SMOTHERS: Counts 1, 2 and 3
  13. 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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