Buncombe County -- April 29, 2026: A multi-agency operation in Buncombe County on April 16 resulted in the largest fentanyl seizure in the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office's history.
The investigation, years-long, culminated in the execution of search warrants at three residences across Buncombe County: on Roper Street in Candler and on Mardell Circle and Dartmouth Street in Asheville. The operation targeted a large-scale drug trafficking organization and involved coordination between the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Illegal Gun Reduction and Narcotics Task Force (IGRANT), Buncombe County Special Response Team, and Animal Crimes unit. Federal agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Asheville Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also participated.
As a result of the collaborative investigative efforts, the following evidence was seized:
• 6.22 lbs of Fentanyl
• 2.03 lbs of Cocaine
• 125.3 grams of Methamphetamine
• .97 lbs of Marijuana
• 30 grams of Ecstasy
• (1) Handgun
• $20,711 dollars of US Currency
• Miscellaneous items of drug paraphernalia
As a result of this investigation, the below listed individuals were charged by IGRANT Agents with the following offenses:
Henry Moreland
-Trafficking in Fentanyl Level III (Possession)
-Trafficking in Cocaine Level III (Possession)
-Trafficking in Methamphetamine Level III (Possession)
- Maintaining a Dwelling for Sell of Controlled Substance
-Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell Deliver MDMA
-Money Laundering
-Possession of Schedule II
Kissy Michele Mills
-Money Laundering
Sierra Astrid Blalock (No Booking Photo Available)
-Conspire to Traffic Fentanyl
-Conspire to Traffic Cocaine
-Conspire to Traffic Methamphetamine
Dakota Salene Gearin (No Booking Photo Available)
-Conspire to Traffic Fentanyl
-Conspire to Traffic Cocaine
-Conspire to Traffic Methamphetamine
Brian Moreland
-Maintaining a Dwelling for Sell of Controlled Substance
-Trafficking in Fentanyl
Kristy Rae Wilson
-Maintaining a Dwelling for Sell of Controlled Substance
-Trafficking in Fentanyl
BCSO District 2 Captain Chris Stockton: “For perspective, the amount of dangerous substances seized as a result of this investigation would have been converted into at least 50,000 individual dosage units to be sold and used in and around Buncombe County. When you consider that roughly 48 of the counties in North Carolina have populations of less than 50,000 people, the positive impact this investigation has on our community is staggering. We are grateful for the work of BCSO personnel and all our many partners who have dedicated resources to assist our community. Without these partnerships and collaboration, the successful outcome of this operation would not have been possible.”
Suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.