Duke Gets 24 Years for Poisoning Monroe with Fentanyl

MONROE, La. – Anderson Curtel Duke, 35, of Monroe, is headed to federal prison for 24 years after being convicted of flooding the Monroe/West Monroe area with fentanyl and heroin. U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter handed down the sentence on July 30, 2020, following a three-day trial in February. Duke will also serve a 6-year supervised release after his prison term; there is no parole in the federal system.

The case, spearheaded by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, revealed Duke as a high-volume dealer peddling not only heroin but also the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl and oxycodone. A joint investigation launched in May 2018 by the Monroe Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Metro Narcotics Unit, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office meticulously documented Duke’s operation using surveillance, undercover buys, and search warrants. The month-long investigation culminated in Duke’s arrest on June 19, 2018.

Trial testimony painted a grim picture of Duke’s disregard for human life. He knowingly sold heroin stronger than usual, sourced from Lafayette, and even admitted in a post-arrest interview that handling the drug could cause him to lose consciousness. Disturbingly, Duke confessed to performing “junkie tricks” – desperate measures to revive an overdosing customer – and acknowledged that at least five others had suffered overdoses from the same batch of his poison. The prosecution alleged Duke was responsible for a fatal overdose, but the jury acquitted him on that specific charge due to insufficient proof.

While the jury couldn’t unanimously convict Duke on four counts related to sales to undercover sources, Judge Walter considered this evidence during sentencing, finding by a preponderance of the evidence that Duke was indeed dealing. Adding to his crimes, Duke attempted to flee arrest on June 19, 2018, crashing into a police vehicle. He was found with fentanyl, heroin, and $1,000 in cash – proceeds from an earlier controlled transaction. His prior convictions for OxyContin distribution, Alprazolam possession with intent to distribute, and attempted marijuana distribution qualified him as a career offender, triggering an enhanced sentence under federal guidelines.

“This case has taken a dangerous drug dealer off the streets of Monroe and has stopped him from hurting more people,” Van Hook stated. “Fentanyl can be 50 times more potent than heroin – significantly increasing the risk for overdose – just a few grains can have deadly consequences.” He lauded the collaborative efforts of the DEA, Metro Narcotics Unit, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, as well as his prosecution team. “We will continue to work closely with all of our law enforcement partners to disrupt drug traffickers and stop them in their tracks.”

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Metro Narcotics Unit, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Earl Campbell and Brian Hurd prosecuted the case. Duke’s 24-year sentence sends a clear message: dealing death in Louisiana won’t be tolerated.

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