Market Data
A History of Deception: The Dark Path of Danette Colbert
More than three years before a Louisiana woman, Danette Colbert, was arrested in the death of a TV reporter in New Orleans, she had already left a trail of deception and destruction. In 2019, a man visiting New Orleans from out of state, David Butler, accused Colbert of drugging him, robbing his savings, and leaving him for dead. Butler’s harrowing experience was just one in a string of allegations against Colbert, a woman whose criminal activities span multiple states and years.
The Conviction and a Lenient Sentence
Colbert, now 48, was convicted in October of computer fraud, theft, and illegal transmission of monetary funds. During the trial, Butler shared a victim impact statement with NBC News, expressing his deep frustration with the leniency of her sentence. While the judge could have sentenced Colbert to years behind bars, she instead opted for a suspended sentence, ordering Colbert to pay restitution and remain on probation for five years. Court records show that the judge, Nandi Campbell, suspended a combined sentence that would have kept Colbert incarcerated. Butler, in his victim impact statement, argued that more decisive action could have saved the life of Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo reporter found dead in his hotel room last week.
The Impact of a Lenient Sentence
The implications of the lenient sentence became clear when Manzano was found dead in his hotel room. Butler, along with others who claimed to be victims of Colbert, reached out to the Kenner Police Department after learning of Manzano’s death. Butler, who had been monitoring Colbert online since 2021, said, "I knew she wouldn’t stop." In his statement, Butler emphasized that a more stringent sentence could have prevented Manzano’s tragic demise. A spokesperson for Judge Campbell declined to comment, referring NBC News to Butler’s victim impact statement, which was read into the record in November. The prosecutor in Butler’s case has since filed a motion to revoke Colbert’s probation.
A Pattern of Deception and Crime
Colbert’s criminal history is extensive. In Nevada, court records show she was charged in 2022 with grand larceny and administering a drug to aid in the commission of a felony. These charges were dismissed after the victims declined to testify. In Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Colbert pleaded guilty to fraud in 2019, accused of accessing a man’s device and stealing more than $1,000. Two years earlier, she had pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud in a similar case. Each of these incidents highlights a pattern of criminal behavior that spans multiple jurisdictions.
The Incident with David Butler
Butler, now 52, recounted his encounter with Colbert in 2019. He was in New Orleans renovating a property he owned. After a long day of work, Butler agreed to have a drink with Colbert and another woman at a French Quarter bar. He briefly stepped away from their table, returned to finish his drink, and quickly became disoriented. Colbert offered to help him get home. Butler said he was ushered into a black Suburban and the next thing he remembered was waking up on a mattress on the floor of his property. His phone and wallet were gone, and his credit cards had been used to charge thousands of dollars at stores like Best Buy and Walmart. Additionally, more than $80,000 from his cryptocurrency account was missing. Butler used the unique identifier associated with his stolen crypto to identify Colbert through her Facebook page, which matched the woman he had met in the French Quarter. Despite providing this information to the police, Butler has not received any of the restitution ordered by the court.
A Call for Accountability
Butler’s experience underscores the need for more robust accountability in the justice system. He expressed grave concerns about the leniency of Colbert’s sentence and its potential consequences. In a message to Judge Campbell’s office in December, Butler wrote, "The minimal fines and lack of meaningful incarceration for crimes that could have led to serious injury or loss of life are, quite frankly, an insult to public safety and the justice system. If someone dies due to her actions in the future, their blood will undeniably be on the hands of those who allowed her to escape real accountability today." Butler’s message went unanswered, leaving him and others who have been victimized by Colbert to grapple with the consequences of a system that failed to prevent further harm.
