DEA Investigation Leads to Long Prison Sentences for Fentanyl Distributors in Overdose Death
NEW ORLEANS – Following a rigorous multi-agency investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Fentanyl Overdose Response Team (FORT), two individuals have been sentenced to significant prison terms for their roles in the distribution of a lethal fentanyl mixture that claimed the life of 26-year-old Dustin Banks.
On April 13, 2026, Paige Nicole Andrews, 28, of Lacombe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter. The Honorable Judge John A. Keller sentenced Andrews to 35 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Her co-defendant, Dustin Michael Carver, 25, of Slidell, was previously sentenced on February 23, 2026, to 15 years at hard labor for the distribution of fentanyl.
"Fentanyl is a poison that is tearing families apart in our community," said District Attorney Collin Sims. "These lengthy sentences send a clear message: if you distribute these deadly drugs and someone dies, we will hold you fully accountable under the law."
The Investigation
The case originated on December 6, 2024, when the DEA FORT responded to a suspected overdose in Slidell. Investigators recovered a white powder from the scene that laboratory analysis confirmed was a deadly cocktail of:
- Fentanyl
- Para-fluorofentanyl
- Heroin
Through the use of digital forensics and surveillance analysis, DEA agents and the Slidell Police Department tracked the victim’s final communications. The investigation revealed that Andrews and the victim arranged a narcotics transaction on December 5. Surveillance footage and cell phone data confirmed that Carver drove Andrews to the victim’s residence to deliver the lethal substance.
Incriminating messages recovered from Carver’s phone showed Andrews expressing fear of being identified as the supplier immediately following the victim’s death.
A Threat to National Security
Under the current designation of fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction, the DEA has intensified its "Fentanyl Free America" mission, treating every fatal poisoning as a major crime scene and a threat to national security.
“The 35-year sentence handed down is a testament to the relentless work of the DEA FORT and our partners,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “We treat every dealer of this poison as a threat to our national security. We will continue to follow the digital and physical evidence until those who profit from fentanyl are behind bars.”
The prosecution was handled by Assistant District Attorney Iain Dover. The DEA remains committed to working alongside the Slidell Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office to dismantle the networks distributing these deadly substances in Louisiana.
