NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge has postponed the trial of several alleged members of a violent New Orleans drug ring, including a man once described by police as one of the city's most dangerous criminals.
That man, alleged ringleader Telly Hankton, and 12 other defendants were indicted last year on racketeering, gun and drug charges. Their trial was scheduled to start June 10, but U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman agreed Wednesday to move the trial date to Feb. 3, 2014, to give attorneys more time to prepare.
The Justice Department hasn't decided whether to seek the death penalty against five of the defendants.
The indictment in the case includes murder charges stemming from the killings of four people. Hankton already is serving a life sentence for a murder conviction in state court.
Content enhanced with OpenCalais.