John Allen Wise, age 45, hailing from Cashiers, N.C., has been sentenced to 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine and illegal possession of firearms. This announcement was made by Dena J. King, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Joining U.S. Attorney King in this announcement were Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), responsible for overseeing the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff Doug Farmer of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court documents, Wise was under court-ordered supervised release after serving a federal drug conviction sentence. On August 5, 2022, law enforcement from the U.S. Probation Office and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrived at Wise’s residence to arrest him on a supervised release violation warrant and conduct a planned search. During the encounter, Wise was found with a small bag containing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on his front porch. A further search of the residence yielded fentanyl, cocaine, and additional methamphetamine, along with digital scales and items indicative of drug distribution. Additionally, a loaded semiautomatic pistol and multiple rounds of ammunition were seized. Wise, being a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
On April 24, 2023, Wise pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Currently in federal custody, Wise will be transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
U.S. Attorney King expressed gratitude to the DEA and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
