Torrey Lane Hodsden, a 28-year-old resident of Asheville, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence comes after Hodsden pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. He was joined by Jae W. Chung, Acting 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.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, law enforcement began investigating Hodsden for drug trafficking activities in March 2023. Authorities discovered that Hodsden was already on federal probation in South Carolina at the time. On March 7, 2023, officers from the Asheville Police Department attempted to stop Hodsden’s vehicle but he fled from police. After obtaining warrants, officers conducted another traffic stop involving Hodsden in a different vehicle.
During their search, law enforcement recovered a loaded XDS .45 caliber pistol with five rounds and more than $3,694 in cash from Hodsden’s person. A subsequent search of his vehicle led to the discovery of $44,661 in cash as well as methamphetamine and marijuana inside a Gucci bag belonging to him. Later that day, authorities searched Hodsden’s Jaguar and found 18 large vacuum-sealed bags containing over a pound of marijuana, nearly 200 tablets containing cathinone, over 100 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl mixed with cocaine, and additional amounts of fentanyl and cocaine.
A warrant-based search at his residence resulted in seizures including nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine, more than three pounds of marijuana, various quantities of fentanyl (some mixed with cocaine or methamphetamine), digital scales, a blender with white residue believed to be drug-related material, ammunition, and $7,210 in cash.
Hodsden entered his guilty plea on November 19, 2024. He will remain under custody by the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to an assigned facility within the Federal Bureau of Prisons system.
In announcing the sentence imposed on Hodsden for these offenses while he was under federal supervision for previous crimes committed in South Carolina—a fact that highlights ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies—U.S. Attorney Ferguson stated: “In making today’s announcement,” U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended “the DEA and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
