Buncombe Co. Man Sentenced To More Than 11 Years On Drug Charges

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Timothy Lane Plemmons, 35, of Fairview, N.C. was sentenced to 138 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also sentenced Plemmons to five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Plemmons’ previous convictions in North Carolina, including numerous assault convictions, contributed to his sentence.

“After multiple encounters with our justice system, the Court determined that Plemmons’ drug dealing and repeated criminal conduct pose a danger to our community, and handed down a lengthy prison term.  My Office is committed to increasing public safety by identifying repeat offenders for federal prosecution, and removing them from our streets by securing lengthy prison terms,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.

According to today’s sentencing hearing and documents filed with the Court, on October 26, 2016, during a probation search at Plemmons’ residence, law enforcement discovered methamphetamine and digital scales.  An analysis of the seized methamphetamine by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined that it weighted more than 290 grams and had a purity level of over 99%.  Plemmons pleaded guilty to the drug charge on February 28, 2018.

Plemmons is currently in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence upon designation of a federal facility.  All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.    

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanks the DEA, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice for their investigation of this case. 

Assistant United States Attorney John Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.