Telly Hankton

Walter Porter

It's the feds' turn to try to end the reign of the man described as New Orleans' most dangerous criminal. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office unsealed a massive grand jury indictment today accusing Telly Hankton, members of his family and other associates on racketeering charges. In all 13 people were charged in connection with the alleged cocaine-dealing and violence-wielding enterprise, dating back to 1996. A total of 22 charges were listed in the indictment.

Most of the members of the Central City-based network that were charged in the indictment were rounded up by the feds, and none are considered by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten to be fugitiives, according to a statement.

According to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office, the Hankton clan murdered rival gang members, and obstructed justice through murder, witness intimidation and false testimony. Letten's office left open the possibility of seeking the death penalty for Telly Hankton, Andre Hankton, Thomas Hankton, Kevin Jackson and Walter Porter.

Gang leaders Telly Hankton, along with hit-man Walter Porter, were already in jail before today's indictment. Hankton was put away for life in the murder of Darnell Stewart, and Porter was arrested in the 2011 murder of Curtis Matthews, the brother of the prosecution's key witness in the Stewart case. Hankton was convicted of killing Stewart outside Jazz Daiquiris lounge on S. Claiborne Ave. in 2008. John Matthews, who ran the Daiquiri lounge and witnessed the crime, survived being shot more than a dozen times shortly before his testimony. Curtis Matthews, who took over the daiquiri shop, was killed shortly before the Stewart case was set to go to trial.

The five men were also connected to the murders of Jesse "Tutu" Reed and Hasan Williams, according to the indictment.

Troy Hankton, who was once a prized LSU recruit, was also among those hauled in. He is accused in the murder of Stewart, as well as racketeering, drug distrobution, perjury and conspiracy to posses firearms.

Letten credited the New Orleans Police Department and the Orleans District Attorney's office in a statement, but the case is now in control of the Department of Justice. After Curtis Matthews' murder, Mayor Mitch Landrieu emphatically told the community that local authorities would end the Hankton organization. But with Telly Hankton paying $1 million bond and crime continuing even while the leaders were in jail, the work of getting the gang's activities completely off the streets was eventually passed up the chain of justice.

Though Telly Hankton and other members of the family were already behind bars, the use of RICO, or the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, raises the stakes and represents an attempt to bring down the Hankton's entire operations rather than its leading members. 

Those indicted include Walter "Urkel" "Moonie" Porter 37 Nakia Hankton, 34, Shirley Hankton, 58, Telly "Third" "Wild" Hankton, 36, Thomas "Squirt" Hankton, George "Black" Jackson, 38, Troy Hankton, 28, Derrick "Dump" Smothers, 34, Andre Hankton, 35, Kevin Jackson, 29, Netthany Schexnayder, 33, Sana Johnson, 37, Terrell Smothers, 36.

Porter, who was the gang's alleged hit-man, was accused on 14 counts, while Telly Hankton was accused on 9 counts.