NEW ORLEANS – Tory Duncan, 29, of New Orleans, is headed to federal prison for twelve years after a high-speed flight from cops revealed a deadly stash of narcotics and an illegal handgun. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo handed down the 144-month sentence on February 28th, following Duncan’s guilty plea on Counts 4 and 5 of a superseding indictment. He’ll also face five years of supervised release after serving his time, plus a $100 court fee.
The bust went down on March 24, 2022, when New Orleans Police Department officers responded to an anonymous tip about a man openly carrying a firearm in the River Garden neighborhood. Cops spotted Duncan in the 1900 block of St. Thomas Street, and the jig was immediately up. Duncan bolted, leaping over a fence with a black semi-automatic pistol clutched in his hand, before being cornered in a nearby parking lot.
A search of Duncan turned up a Glock Model 29, 10-millimeter pistol, $2,029 in cash, and a key fob. That key fob unlocked a gray Infiniti sedan parked nearby, and that’s where things got really ugly. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered 78.66 grams of pure fentanyl, a staggering 1002 multi-colored pills laced with methamphetamine, and 35 Oxycodone pills. They also found a digital scale, razor blades, plastic baggies, and paperwork linking the operation back to Duncan.
Federal prosecutors are framing the case as a win for “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts. The Department of Justice launched a renewed push for PSN in 2021, focusing on community trust, supporting local organizations, and strategic enforcement. But for the residents of River Garden, it’s a simple story: one less dealer peddling poison on the streets.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit handled the prosecution, building a solid case that led to Duncan’s conviction and lengthy sentence. The ATF field division is handling all media inquiries.
Duncan’s case is another grim reminder of the flood of fentanyl pouring into American cities, and the lengths to which traffickers will go to profit from addiction. While a 12-year sentence won’t solve the opioid crisis, it sends a clear message: bringing these deadly drugs into our communities carries severe consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking in New Orleans and beyond.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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