CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Antonio Lamar Stukes, 33, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 61 months for pushing fentanyl onto the streets of Charlotte. U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced the sentence today, a rare win in a city drowning in opioid abuse. Stukes will also face five years of supervised release after serving his time.
The bust, a joint effort by the FBI, ATF, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), began in October 2022 when law enforcement caught wind of Stukes’ operation. Undercover officers arranged multiple controlled buys, confirming Stukes was indeed a key player in the local fentanyl supply chain. The investigation didn’t stop with Stukes; it spiraled out to identify his supplier and several other co-conspirators, hinting at a larger network yet to be fully dismantled.
This wasn’t Stukes’ first brush with the law. Court records reveal a prior federal conviction in the Western District of North Carolina from 2014 – possession of a firearm by a felon. A lengthy criminal history clearly didn’t deter him from returning to a life of crime. The repeat offender status likely contributed to the severity of the sentence handed down.
On January 25, 2024, Stukes admitted guilt to charges of distribution of fentanyl and aiding and abetting. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rose skillfully prosecuted the case, building a solid argument that landed Stukes where he belongs: behind bars. The U.S. Attorney’s Office specifically thanked the FBI, ATF, and CMPD for their collaborative work on the investigation.
This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to bring together law enforcement at all levels and communities to combat violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on building trust with communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement.
While Stukes’ conviction represents a temporary dent in the fentanyl trade, the fight is far from over. The Grimy Times will continue to track the flow of illicit drugs into our cities and hold those responsible accountable. The opioid epidemic continues to claim lives, and every trafficker taken off the streets is a small victory in a much larger war.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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