St. Charles Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AMARYD DOWNING, age 37, of Hahnville, La. pled guilty on March 5, 2024 to three (3) counts of distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl,in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, on May 8, May 11, and May 22, 2023,  St. Charles Parish detectives conducted an investigation during which they made controlled purchases of gram quantities of drugs from DOWNING in the Hahnville area. The drugs from each purchase tested positive for fentanyl and heroin. After making the controlled purchases, detectives arrested DOWNING.

If convicted, DOWNING faces a maximum term of twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000.00 fine, at least three (3) years of supervised release and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.

This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.