A Louisiana serial fraudster dubbed the “Bourbon Street Hustler” received 25 years in prison for theft and fraud while simultaneously facing second-degree murder charges in the death of a Telemundo reporter found dead during Super Bowl weekend.
At a Glance
- Danette Colbert, known as the “Bourbon Street Hustler,” has been sentenced to 25 years for theft and fraud while facing separate second-degree murder charges
- Colbert was arrested after reporter Adan Manzano was found dead in a New Orleans hotel room with alcohol and Xanax in his system during Super Bowl weekend
- Surveillance footage showed Colbert entering the hotel with Manzano and later leaving alone multiple times before he was found unresponsive
- Colbert was caught using Manzano’s credit cards after his death, and police found Xanax at her residence
- Colbert, a repeat offender with multiple felony convictions, had previously received a suspended sentence that was revoked following this incident
Career Criminal Receives Maximum Sentence
Danette Colbert, a habitual offender with multiple felony convictions, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for theft and fraud convictions. Colbert, who was already on probation for previous crimes, had that probation revoked after being arrested in connection with the death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano. The sentencing resulted from a previous conviction for which she had initially received a suspended sentence, but Louisiana prosecutors pushed for the maximum punishment after her February arrest in the Manzano case.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office argued for the stiff sentence, citing Colbert’s criminal history and the pattern of targeting vulnerable victims. Her criminal activities had earned her the nickname “Bourbon Street Hustler” for her frequent fraud schemes in New Orleans’ French Quarter, where she would allegedly drug victims before stealing their belongings. The evidence demonstrates a long history of similar crimes, including previous arrests in Las Vegas for drugging and robbing men.
Reporter’s Mysterious Death During Super Bowl Weekend
The case that brought renewed attention to Colbert’s criminal activities involved Adan Manzano, a well-respected Kansas City-based sports reporter who had traveled to New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX. On February 5, Manzano was found unresponsive in a hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana. Toxicology reports showed alcohol and Xanax in his system, but Manzano did not have a prescription for the anti-anxiety medication, which can cause extreme drowsiness when mixed with alcohol.
“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,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Surveillance footage from the hotel showed Colbert and Manzano entering the hotel together on February 4, with Colbert later leaving alone multiple times. When Manzano was discovered dead, his cellphone and bank cards were missing. Police later arrested Colbert after she was caught using Manzano’s credit cards, and investigators found Xanax at her residence. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration notes that Xanax is often used to facilitate theft and can cause “extreme drowsiness” and “possible death” when mixed with alcohol.
Murder Charges Pending as Investigation Continues
While the 25-year sentence stems from previous convictions, Colbert now faces more serious legal trouble. She has been charged with second-degree murder for Manzano’s death, along with alleged accomplice Rickey White, who was apprehended in Florida. Prosecutors allege that Colbert drugged Manzano, leading to his death, before stealing his belongings. The murder case is proceeding separately from the theft and fraud sentence she received this week.
Manzano’s death has left a particularly tragic impact, as he had recently lost his wife in a car accident, leaving their young daughter without parents. He was a respected sports journalist who had covered multiple Super Bowls and other major sporting events throughout his career. Colbert’s attorneys have not responded to requests for comment regarding either the theft sentence or the pending murder charges, as investigators continue building their case against both Colbert and White.
