Former Memphis Police Officer Found Guilty of Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine

MEMPHIS, TN—Lowell Duke was found guilty Tuesday in federal court of conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III. Duke, age 37, was charged along with William Hardwig and Edward Lance in a two-count indictment alleging a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of cocaine and over five grams of crack cocaine. Duke was found guilty after a four day trial before United States District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays.

The investigation began in August 2008. During the trial, witnesses told the jury that Duke provided funding to Hardwig for the purchase of narcotics; allowed Hardwig to use his personal vehicle, which at one time had a Fraternal Order of Police license plate, to make narcotics deliveries; and, on occasion, transported Hardwig and others in his Memphis Police Department squad car to make drug deliveries. Duke is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2011. He is facing up to 40 years in prison.

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tarnished Badge Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard on behalf of the government.