"Operation Uptown Funk" Seizes Fentanyl, Cocaine, Guns & 30 Pounds of Meth

Henderson County -- Operation Uptown Funk, a year-long investigation against a local Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), has been completed by the Henderson County Drug Interdiction and Criminal Enforcement (DICE) unit with support from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.  

Detectives discovered Tyrone Featherstone, a resident of Hendersonville, age 44, and Andre Whiteside, a resident of Hendersonville, age 51, to be the primary suppliers of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other harmful drugs in the area during the course of the investigation. 

Through an investigation, detectives built a case against a drug network, performed surveillance, and looked into other overdoses.  More than 20 firearms—many of which were illegally possessed—as well as trafficking-level amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine were seized.

Ten search warrants in Henderson, Buncombe, and Greenville (SC) counties on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025.  Methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine were among the restricted substances that detectives were able to identify at trafficking levels.

Over 30 people associated with the DTO  have been charged with a variety of crimes, including conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms violations.

According to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office:

Detectives were able to locate trafficking levels of various controlled substances, namely methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. 
In total, over 30 individuals associated with the DTO have been charged with a range of offenses related to drug trafficking, firearms violations, and conspiracy. 
From Henderson County: 
• Tyrone Featherstone- Trafficking opium or heroin, Trafficking cocaine, Felony possession Sch1 CS, DWLR Not Impaired Rev, Possess Marijuana up to ½ oz, continuing criminal enterprise, Conspire Trafficking Methamphetamine x2, Conspire to trafficking cocaine, Conspire traffic opium/heroin x2
• Andre Whiteside- Continuing criminal enterprise, Conspire to trafficking cocaine, Trafficking cocaine, Manufacture Cocaine, Maintain place controlled substance, Possess drug paraphernalia
• Stephanie Brown- Continuing criminal enterprise
• Nakita Allen- Conspire traffic opium/heroin, Continuing criminal enterprise
• Desmond Whiteside- Continuing criminal enterprise, Posses stolen firearm, Poss Marijuana ½ oz to 1 ½ oz
• Clarence Summey- Continuing criminal enterprise, conspire to trafficking cocaine
• Tyrale Graham- PWIMSD SCH II CS, PWIMSD SCH IV CS, Felony possess SCH VI Controlled substance
• Amber Jackson- Conspire Traffic Opium/Heroin, Felony Possession Sch II CS, Maintain Veh/dwell/place
• Chrishe Landrum-Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspire to trafficking Cocaine
• Danielle Jeffrey- Conspire to trafficking Cocaine
• Shawnda Logan- Conspire to trafficking Cocaine
• Larry Featherstone- PWISD Marij, Maintn Veh/Dwell/Place
• Justin Webber- Felony Possession Sch II CS
• Takerra Featherstone- PWISD Marij, Maintn Veh/Dwell CS
• Katina Braswell- Felony Poss of Cocaine
• Benjamin Tweed- Conspire/Traffic Opium/Heroin
• Gerale Graham- Conspire traffic Opium/Heroin
• Tyranna Featherstone- Conspire to trafficking Meth
• Miguel Espinoza- Collado-Continuing criminal enterprise 
• Shineka Greene- Continuing criminal enterprise
Operation Uptown Funk has resulted in the seizure of the following items:
- $177,437.00 worth of United States currency
- More than 7.5lbs of suspected crack/cocaine
- More than 8lbs of suspected methamphetamine
- More than a pound of suspected fentanyl
- More than 14lbs of marijuana
- 20 firearms seized 
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with Operation Uptown Funk:
- Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
- Asheville Police Department
- Hendersonville Police Department
- Haywood County Sheriff’s Office
- Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Greenville County (SC) Sheriff’s Office 
- Spartanburg County (SC) Sheriff’s Office

The Featherstone/Whiteside DTO layed a significant role in the local distribution of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, contributing to overdoses and violence across Henderson County and surrounding areas. The takedown marks a major victory in ongoing efforts to combat the drug crisis and hold drug traffickers accountable.
Sheriff Lowell Griffin and the DICE Unit remain committed to protecting the public and aggressively targeting those who endanger the community through drug trafficking and violence. To preserve the integrity of the investigation the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will not be releasing any further details of the investigation pending adjudication in court. 
- Greenville County (SC) Sheriff’s Office 
- Spartanburg County (SC) Sheriff’s Office

Editor's Note: A  criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

WNCTimes

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