New Orleans Man Sentenced for Murder of a Federal Witness, Conspiracy to Violate the Hobbs Act, Hobbs Act Robberies, and Obstruction of Official Proceedings

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GREGORY DENSON, age 54, of New Orleans, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to an eight-count Superseding Bill of Information charging him with murder of a federal witness, Hobbs Act conspiracy, multiple Hobbs Act robberies, and obstruction of official proceedings.

According to court records, DENSON, along with eight (8) co-conspirators, was charged with numerous violations relating to their participation in a robbery and home invasion ring.  As the leader of this robbery gang, DENSON had other members of his gang break into the residences of numerous known drug dealers and, through force and intimidation, including the use of firearms, rob them of drugs and drug trafficking proceeds, including cash and other property acquired with the drug cash.  Additionally, DENSON murdered Ellery Boyd, who as a former member of DENSON’s robbery gang, became a potential government witness against DENSON.  DENSON and his co-conspirators then obstructed the investigation of this murder by disposing of Boyd’s body in the Industrial Canal. 

U.S. District Carl J. Barbier sentenced DENSON to term of 30 years and five (5) years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson, Gregory M. Kennedy, and James S. C. Baehr prosecuted this case.