Jamal Marqui McDaniel, 46, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for methamphetamine trafficking and firearms offenses. The announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Asheville Police Department (APD). These agencies began their inquiry after receiving information about McDaniel’s illegal activities in Asheville. Throughout the investigation, McDaniel sold methamphetamine, firearms, and ammunition multiple times to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Court records indicate that he distributed nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine and illegally sold eight firearms.
McDaniel pleaded guilty on February 21, 2025, to charges including distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He is currently held by the U.S. Marshals Service until placement by the federal Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson expressed gratitude towards the ATF, DEA, APD, and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for their roles in investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess from Asheville led the prosecution efforts.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations through resources from various Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
