Asheville Drug Trafficker On Federal Supervised Release For Firearms Conviction Is Sentenced To 12+ Years In Prison

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Douglas Aaron Holcomb, 48, of Asheville, was sentenced today to 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. This sentence runs consecutive to an additional 24 months in prison Holcomb was sentenced to on May 30, 2024, for violating his federal supervised release.

Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), and Sheriff Chuck Owenby of the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, join U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement.

According to filed court documents and court proceedings, in June 2023, Holcomb was placed on federal supervised release after serving a prison term for a federal firearms offense. On June 27, 2023, law enforcement in Henderson County observed Holcomb driving a vehicle with an expired license plate and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop. Over the course of the stop, a police K9 alerted to the presence of drugs. Law enforcement searched Holcomb's vehicle and located a black backpack in the middle of the back seat floor. Inside the backpack, law enforcement found a pistol brace device designed to convert a semiautomatic pistol to function with a stock as a rifle would, and a box of 28 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Law enforcement also opened the hood and searched the engine compartment of the vehicle. There, law enforcement located a plastic container and a black zippered pouch attached to the vehicle with blue painter's tape. The plastic container contained over 100 grams of methamphetamine and a 1911 style .45 caliber pistol magazine containing eight rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. The black zippered pouch contained a Sig Sauer model 1911, .45 caliber pistol loaded with one round of .45 caliber ammunition in the chamber and a magazine containing seven rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. In total, officers recovered 51 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition from Holcomb's possession.

On February 26, 2024, Holcomb pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In making today's announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, and the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office for their investigation of the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Asheville and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annabelle Chambers prosecuted the case. Ms. Chambers is a state prosecutor with the office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Ashley Welch to serve as SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Asheville. Ms. Chambers is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney's Office. The SAUSA position helps ensure the effective and vigorous prosecution of federal court cases that impact the counties within the 43rd Prosecutorial District.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.