ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Torrey Lane Hodsden, 28, is headed for a long stretch behind bars. The Asheville resident was sentenced yesterday to 300 months – 25 years – in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a drug trafficking operation and illegal firearm possession. The sentence was handed down by U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina.
The bust began in March 2023 when law enforcement caught wind of Hodsden’s drug dealings in the Asheville area. It quickly became clear this wasn’t a small-time operation. Adding to the complexity, authorities discovered Hodsden was already on federal probation in South Carolina – a clear disregard for the law. The initial attempt to pull Hodsden over on March 7th turned into a chase, but officers eventually cornered him in another vehicle.
A search turned up more than just a driver’s license. A loaded XDS .45 caliber pistol, packed with five rounds, was found on Hodsden, alongside $3,694 in cash. But the real treasure trove was in his Gucci bag: $44,661 in cash, methamphetamine, and marijuana. It didn’t stop there. A subsequent search of Hodsden’s Jaguar revealed 18 vacuum-sealed bags containing over a pound of marijuana, nearly 200 tablets laced with cathinone, over 100 grams of methamphetamine, a dangerous mix of fentanyl and cocaine, and additional amounts of both fentanyl and cocaine.
The investigation didn’t end with the vehicles. A search warrant executed at Hodsden’s residence unearthed nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine, over three pounds of marijuana, more fentanyl, fentanyl-laced cocaine and methamphetamine, digital scales, a blender coated in residue – a telltale sign of drug production – ammunition, and another $7,210 in cash. The scale of the operation was substantial, clearly indicating a well-established network.
On November 19, 2024, Hodsden pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He’s now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, awaiting transfer to a designated federal facility. This wasn’t just about drugs; it was about a repeat offender willing to arm himself while peddling poison in the community.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson praised the collaborative effort of the DEA, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the Atlanta Field Division, and the Asheville Police Department, under Chief Michael Lamb. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, successfully prosecuted the case. This conviction sends a clear message: bringing dangerous drugs and firearms into our communities will be met with the full force of federal law.
Related Federal Cases
- Spartanburg’s ‘Home Front’ Initiative Nets Three Gun Indictments · North Carolina
- Spartanburg Crack Dealer Faces Decade in Federal Prison · North Carolina
- Greenville Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession · North Carolina
- Gun Traffickers from South Carolina Sentenced to Federal Prison · North Carolina
- Gun Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison in South Carolina · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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