Gregory Denson, Execution-Style Murder, LA 2023

Gregory Denson, 54, of New Orleans, is headed to federal prison for 30 years after admitting to the execution-style murder of a former crew member who was poised to testify against him. The killing, along with a string of armed home invasions targeting drug dealers, formed the core of a sweeping federal case that exposed a violent robbery ring operating under Denson’s command.

Denson was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier, who imposed the 30-year term followed by five years of supervised release. The conviction stems from an eight-count Superseding Bill of Information to which Denson pleaded guilty, charging him with murder of a federal witness, conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act, multiple Hobbs Act robberies, and obstruction of official proceedings.

Court records reveal Denson led a nine-person criminal enterprise that specialized in hitting the homes of known drug traffickers. Armed and masked, his crew stormed residences, using firearms and threats to seize cash, drugs, and property purchased with drug proceeds. These weren’t random burglaries—they were intelligence-driven raids, planned and executed with military precision under Denson’s orders.

The murder charge traces back to the killing of Ellery Boyd, once part of Denson’s inner circle. After Boyd’s cooperation with law enforcement became known, Denson ordered his execution to silence him. In a brutal act of cover-up, Denson and his associates dumped Boyd’s body into the Industrial Canal, attempting to erase the evidence of their crime.

But the disposal didn’t stop the FBI and New Orleans Police Department, whose joint investigation peeled back layers of deception and linked Denson directly to the murder and robbery spree. Their work led to the dismantling of the entire operation, with multiple co-conspirators facing prosecution.

“This sentence sends a clear message: betraying justice through violence will be met with the full force of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael M. Simpson, Gregory M. Kennedy, and James S. C. Baehr handled the prosecution, crediting interagency collaboration for holding Denson accountable.