Torrey Lane Hodsden, 28, of Asheville, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release for firearm and drug trafficking offenses. The announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which supervises the Charlotte District Office, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Ferguson in announcing the sentence.
Court documents and statements from the sentencing hearing indicate that law enforcement began investigating Hodsden in March 2023 for suspected drug trafficking activities in Asheville. At that time, authorities learned he was already on federal probation in South Carolina. On March 7, 2023, officers attempted a traffic stop on Hodsden but he evaded arrest. Officers later obtained warrants and stopped him while he was driving a different vehicle.
During their search, police found a loaded XDS .45 caliber pistol with five rounds and over $3,694 in cash on Hodsden’s person. A further search of his vehicle uncovered $44,661 in cash along with methamphetamine and marijuana stored inside a Gucci bag. Later that day, officers searched Hodsden’s Jaguar and discovered 18 large vacuum-sealed bags containing more than a pound of marijuana, nearly 200 tablets with cathinone mixture, over 100 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl mixed with cocaine, as well as separate quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.
A subsequent search at his residence resulted in the seizure of nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine, more than three pounds of marijuana, fentanyl mixed with other substances including cocaine and methamphetamine, digital scales, a blender with white residue consistent with drug processing activity, ammunition, and $7,210 in cash.
Hodsden pleaded guilty on November 19, 2024 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He will remain held by the U.S. Marshals Service until transferred to a federal prison facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In his statement regarding the case outcome U.S. Attorney Ferguson said: "In making today’s announcement," he commended "the DEA and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case."
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.
