An Orange, Texas resident has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose case. Lawrence Duguett Hardin, Jr., aged 39, received a 20-year sentence in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on April 1, 2025, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The case, which unfolded in the Eastern District of Texas, involved an overdose incident on August 17, 2023, in Humble, Texas. Law enforcement discovered that the victim died from the toxic effects of fentanyl. Investigations traced the source of the fentanyl to Hardin, prompting a search of his Orange residence where approximately 365.2 grams of a fentanyl-containing substance were found.
In light of rising concerns about fentanyl and counterfeit medication, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert highlighting the increase in lethal and fake prescription pills. This alert aligns with the DEA's One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign, designed to educate the public about the dangers of counterfeit pills. The campaign stresses the importance of taking only medications prescribed by healthcare professionals and obtained from licensed pharmacists.
The overdose case was an extensive investigation involving multiple agencies. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, supported by the FBI, the Orange Police Department, Houston Police Department, West Orange Police Department, Bridge City Police Department, Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4, Jefferson County Crime Laboratory, and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and Rachel Grove prosecuted the case.
For more resources on the DEA's public safety initiatives, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.