United States Drug Enforcement Administration

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Pasqual Perez Duckett, 41, of Newberry, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old Columbia woman.

In July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with the City of Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Department, initiated an investigation into Duckett after receiving credible information about his involvement in distributing large quantities of counterfeit prescription pills, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine throughout Richland and Newberry Counties. 

The investigation revealed that Duckett had ordered approximately 125 kilograms of pill binder to be shipped to his residence, which he then used to manufacture thousands of counterfeit pills. These pills were falsely marketed as Percocet and Oxycodone but were laced with fentanyl.

On August 30, 2023, Duckett distributed a counterfeit pill to a 28-year-old woman from Columbia, who believed the pill to be Percocet. After ingesting the pill, the victim was found dead the following morning by her mother. Toxicology and autopsy reports confirmed that the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity.

After learning that the pill he distributed caused the victim’s death, Duckett took steps to distance himself from the incident, including checking out of a hotel the following day, deleting text messages from his phone, and moving his vehicle in an apparent attempt to establish an alibi. Despite this knowledge, Duckett continued to distribute fentanyl-laced pills, falsely marketed as Percocet, on at least three separate occasions after learning of the victim's death.

“Fentanyl continues to plague our communities, showing up in illicit substances and counterfeit pills,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We are fighting this evil head on with our law enforcement partners and hope this sentence brings a measure of peace and closure to our victim’s family and loved ones.”

“This sentence reflects the devastating reality of fentanyl trafficking,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “A life was lost because of this defendant’s actions, and no punishment can ever undo that harm. Today’s sentencing holds the offender accountable and sends a clear message that those who profit from distributing this deadly poison will face severe consequences.”

“I have witnessed first-hand the devastatingly harmful and lethal effects of fentanyl and opioids,” said Columbia Police Chief William H. "Skip" Holbrook.  “This sentencing is another example of law enforcement working together to arrest and prosecute opioid traffickers and distributors who have zero regard for the sanctity of life, or the harm being inflicted in our communities.”

“Those who put fentanyl on our streets should be treated as murderers; it’s no different than shooting someone,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “They know these drugs kill people and continue to do it.” 

Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Pasqual Perez Duckett to 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision and ordered restitution to the victim’s family to cover funeral costs.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.