The St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office announced that two people have been sentenced to prison in connection with a December 2024 fentanyl-related death.
The case involved the death of Dustin Banks, 26.
Paige Nicole Andrews, 28, of Lacombe, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Her co-defendant, Dustin Michael Carver, 25, of Slidell, was sentenced to 15 years on Feb. 23 for his role in the distribution of fentanyl, according to the district attorney’s office.
Under the terms of Carver’s sentence, five years are to be served without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
On Dec. 6, 2024, a DEA Fentanyl Overdose Response Team responded to an overdose in Slidell.
Inside the victim’s bedroom was a plastic bag with white powder, which was later confirmed to be a lethal mixture of fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl and heroin.
Investigators combed through Banks’ last conversations, and records showed Andrews and the victim had arranged a drug exchange on Dec. 5.
Surveillance footage from The Bluffs community captured a white Nissan SUV, driven by Carver with Andrews as the passenger, arriving at the victim’s home just minutes before the victim messaged friends stating he had obtained “dope,” according to a news release issued by the district attorney’s office.
According to the district attorney, cellphone data later retrieved from Carver’s phone included incriminating messages from Andrews expressing fear of being identified as the supplier following the news of the victim’s death.
During the sentencing hearing for Andrews, Banks’ mother gave the following statement:
“He just got out of rehab, and five days later, you came to my house and delivered fentanyl to him. I found him aspirating in bed,” she said. “You’re selling fentanyl … something you know can instantaneously kill someone. You were still selling the stuff, even after my son died. You took something precious from us. You’re selling something that’s killing people.”
Following the statement, Andrews addressed the family, saying, “I’m sorry for what happened. Dustin was very kind … and I’m sorry.”
“Fentanyl is a poison that is tearing families apart in our community,” said District Attorney Collin Sims in an issued statement. “In this case, the defendants knew the lethality of the substance they were distributing, yet they chose profit over human life. These lengthy sentences send a clear message: if you distribute these deadly drugs in St. Tammany and/or Washington Parishes and someone dies, we will hold you fully accountable under the law. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to remove these distributors from our streets.”
READ MORE:2 people sentenced to prison in connection with 2024 Slidell fentanyl overdose death
