Charmaine Vapreece Fair, a 32-year-old resident of Asheville, has been sentenced to 66 months in prison for her role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving fentanyl and methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to her prison term, Fair will serve five years of supervised release.
Court documents indicate that between 2021 and 2023, Fair participated in a network distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine across Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. The operation was led by Zachery Micah Rice, Fair’s boyfriend and primary supplier. Rice sourced drugs from Atlanta before bringing them back to Western North Carolina for further distribution.
During one trip from Atlanta, law enforcement stopped Rice’s vehicle and seized over 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, a .40 caliber pistol modified to fully automatic capability, and more than $32,000 in cash. Further searches at two stash houses—including Fair’s apartment—and a storage unit used by Rice resulted in the recovery of kilogram quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, several firearms with high-capacity magazines, ammunition, digital scales, drug paraphernalia linked to distribution activities, and over $27,000.
Fair admitted during questioning that she collected money for Rice and delivered drugs to specific individuals on his behalf. She confirmed distributing prepackaged drugs to customers who paid her cash; she then deposited the proceeds.
Fair pleaded guilty on June 9, 2025 to conspiracy charges related to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. She is expected to report to federal authorities once assigned a facility.
Rice received a sentence exceeding 28 years last May. His supplier was identified as Les Corey Peak—a Georgia inmate—who was sentenced in November to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson expressed appreciation for the investigative efforts of multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Bureau of Indian Affairs; various county sheriff’s offices from North Carolina and South Carolina; local police departments; state investigative bureaus; and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess prosecuted the case.
The prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration networks as well as eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated federal resources such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
