A federal grand jury in Asheville, North Carolina, has issued several indictments against multiple individuals on charges related to firearms and drug offenses. The indictments include allegations of unlawful firearm possession, straw purchasing of firearms, and trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. This announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
"Protecting our communities from drugs and guns is one of the Justice Department’s core missions," stated U.S. Attorney Ferguson. "Through Operation Take Back America, we are stepping up our efforts to remove illegal firearms from our communities, eliminate drugs in our neighborhoods, and make sure our streets are safer for everyone."
Bryan Austin Herron, a 23-year-old resident of Marshall, N.C., was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm on August 5, 2024, knowing he had prior felony convictions, including an attempt to traffic methamphetamine.
John Quentin London, aged 39 from Hendersonville, N.C., faces charges for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and unlawful possession of two firearms. Jason Mills, aged 46 and also from Hendersonville, is charged with multiple counts of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine between January and February 2024 in Henderson and Buncombe Counties.
Christopher O’Brien Moore, 30, from Shelby, N.C., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on June 6, 2024, despite having been previously convicted of a federal racketeering conspiracy and multiple state felonies.
Dontavis Raheem Pressley, 36, also from Shelby, N.C., is charged with unlawful firearm possession on August 13, 2024, as a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Tia Marche Ray, 33, from Asheville, is charged with five counts of straw purchasing firearms, allegedly acquiring six firearms from multiple dealers in Buncombe County while making false statements about being the actual buyer.
As emphasized in the announcement, "The charges in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
U.S. Attorney Ferguson expressed gratitude to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and various local sheriff’s offices and the Asheville Police Department for their investigative work leading to these charges.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, which utilizes resources from the Department of Justice, including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to tackle illegal activity and violent crime nationwide.
