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The Shocking True Story Of Danette Colbert: Inside The 'Bourbon Street Hustler's' 25-Year Sentence

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The name Danette Colbert is now synonymous with a shocking and tragic criminal case that gripped Louisiana and the national news. As of December 19, 2025, the most current and definitive information surrounding the Slidell, Louisiana resident revolves around her conviction and subsequent sentencing connected to a high-profile death in New Orleans. The case brought to light a disturbing pattern of criminal activity, with law enforcement and prosecutors painting a picture of a "serial fraudster" with a long history of preying on men in the French Quarter.

This article dives deep into the facts of the case, the extensive criminal background that earned her the moniker "Bourbon Street Hustler," and the legal proceedings that led to a significant 25-year prison term under Louisiana's tough habitual offender law. The details reveal a coordinated scheme of drugging and robbing that culminated in the death of a visiting journalist.

Danette Colbert: A Timeline of Crime and Legal Profile

The public record on Danette Colbert, a 48-year-old Louisiana resident, is not one of civic achievement but of a lengthy and escalating criminal history. Her profile, as presented by the Louisiana Attorney General's office, is that of a "career criminal" whose actions spanned years and multiple jurisdictions. The most prominent details of her legal profile are:

  • Full Name: Danette Colbert
  • Age (at time of sentencing): 48
  • Residence: Slidell, Louisiana
  • Known Aliases/Monikers: "Bourbon Street Hustler," "Serial Fraudster"
  • Primary Criminal Activity: Drugging and robbing men, credit card theft, and fraud.
  • Key Victim: Adan Manzano, 27, a Telemundo journalist from Kansas City.
  • Primary Charges (Manzano Case): Theft, credit card fraud, and later charged with second-degree murder.
  • Other Convictions: Multiple prior convictions for theft and fraud, and a conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) related to the sentencing.
  • Recent Sentence: 25 years in state prison under Louisiana's Habitual Offender Law.

The Tragic Case of Adan Manzano and the Super Bowl Connection

The case that brought Danette Colbert national attention involved the death of 27-year-old Adan Manzano, a talented anchor and reporter for Telemundo in Kansas City, who was in New Orleans to cover the events leading up to the Super Bowl LIX. The timeline of events is chilling and highlights the predatory nature of Colbert’s operation.

Manzano was found dead in his New Orleans hotel room in February. An investigation quickly focused on Colbert after hotel security video footage showed her entering his room with him on the morning of February 5. Crucially, she was later seen on video surveillance attempting to use Manzano's credit cards at multiple stores in the New Orleans area, including a local Walmart, shortly after his death.

Authorities initially arrested Colbert on charges of theft and using the credit card of the deceased journalist. However, the charges were later escalated. The investigation, which included evidence from text messages between Colbert and an alleged accomplice, Rickey White, suggested a coordinated "drug-and-rob" scheme. This led to Colbert being charged with second-degree murder, a significant escalation based on the premise that Manzano's death occurred during the commission of a felony (the drugging and robbery).

The motive, according to prosecutors, was purely financial: to incapacitate the victim and take their money and valuables. The tragic death of Adan Manzano became the most severe consequence of Colbert’s long-running criminal enterprise.

The 'Bourbon Street Hustler' and a History of Predatory Crimes

The moniker "Bourbon Street Hustler" was given to Danette Colbert due to her alleged long-standing pattern of targeting men, often tourists or visitors, in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The Louisiana Attorney General, Liz Murrill, publicly stated that Colbert was a "career criminal" with a documented history of "drugging and robbing men."

This history of predatory behavior was a key factor in the severity of her final sentence. Prior to the Adan Manzano case, Colbert had already been convicted of multiple felonies, including theft and fraud charges in an unrelated case. In a controversial move, a New Orleans state court judge had given her a suspended sentence for those prior convictions, a decision that drew criticism after the details of the Manzano case emerged.

The authorities believe that the Manzano case was not an isolated incident but the culmination of a systematic operation. The evidence suggested a well-coordinated plan to use drugs to incapacitate victims, making the subsequent theft and fraud easier to execute. This pattern of behavior established her as a major entity in the New Orleans criminal underworld, specializing in a specific, dangerous form of street crime.

The 25-Year Sentence and Louisiana's Habitual Offender Law

The most recent and significant update in the Danette Colbert case is her sentencing. In a separate, but tactically important, legal move, Colbert was convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and other multiple felonies that were unrelated to the theft and murder charges in the Manzano case.

On Thursday, May 15, the legal system delivered a harsh sentence. Danette Colbert was sentenced to 25 years in state prison. This severe penalty was handed down under the provisions of the Louisiana Habitual Offender Law, also known as the "three-strikes law." This law allows for significantly increased prison terms for individuals with a history of prior felony convictions, effectively labeling her as a habitual offender.

The use of the Habitual Offender Law by the Louisiana Attorney General's office was a clear signal of the state's intent to remove a repeat, violent offender from the streets for an extended period. The 25-year sentence ensures that the "Bourbon Street Hustler" will be incarcerated for decades, providing a definitive legal closure to a case that involved a shocking betrayal of trust and the tragic death of a young, promising journalist.

Key Entities and Topical Authority in the Case

The Danette Colbert case involves several key entities and legal concepts that define its topical authority:

  • Legal Framework: Louisiana Habitual Offender Law, Second-Degree Murder Charge, Felony Theft, Credit Card Fraud.
  • Key Locations: New Orleans, French Quarter, Slidell (Colbert's residence), Kansas City (Adan Manzano's base).
  • Individuals: Danette Colbert, Adan Manzano (Victim), Rickey White (Alleged Accomplice), Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
  • Criminal Modus Operandi: Drugging and Robbing, Serial Fraud, Predatory Crime.

The final sentencing brings a measure of justice for the victim, Adan Manzano, and serves as a stark warning about the dangers of predatory criminal elements operating in tourist-heavy areas like the New Orleans French Quarter. The extensive criminal background of Danette Colbert, the "serial fraudster," ultimately led to the maximum penalty under state law, concluding a dark chapter in Louisiana's criminal justice history.

danette colbert louisiana
danette colbert louisiana

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