Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced To More Than 11 Years In Prison

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Christopher DeShawn Nelson, 42, of Asheville, was sentenced to 141 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release today for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement.

According to court documents and court proceedings, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Nelson after learning he was trafficking drugs and guns in and around Hillcrest Apartments in Asheville. Beginning in late June 2022, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant (CI) to conduct drug and gun purchases from Nelson. For example, on July 19, 2022, the CI communicated with Nelson about purchasing a 9mm firearm and methamphetamine. The same day, the CI traveled to Hillcrest Apartments where he purchased a firearm and methamphetamine from Nelson in exchange for $1,130. Court records show that from June 28 to August 18, 2022, Nelson sold the CI more than 88 grams of methamphetamine and three firearms.

On August 25, 2023, Nelson pleaded guilty to distributing five grams or more of actual methamphetamine. At today's sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger ordered Nelson to begin serving the federal sentence after the defendant completes the 30-month state sentence he is currently serving for a drug conviction.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF, the DEA, and the Asheville Police Department.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.