A New Orleans resident, Craig James, age 38, was indicted on January 29, 2026 for distributing fentanyl. The indictment states that on July 14, 2025, James distributed at least forty grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance.
If found guilty, James could receive a prison sentence ranging from five to forty years. He may also be fined up to $5 million and would face at least four years of supervised release. There is also a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
United States Attorney David I. Courcelle emphasized the legal process by stating, “the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Briana N. Williams from the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.
