Date: 11-22-2019

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:18-cr-00141-MR-WCM

Judge: Martin Reidinger

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Buncombe County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Thomas Michael Kent and Jonathan D. Letzring

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: Ashville, NC - The United States of America charged Frank Michael Lucas with drug trafficking.

Frank Michael Lucas, 33, of Sylva, N.C. was sentenced to 160 months in prison on drug trafficking charges. Judge Reidinger also ordered Lucas to serve five years under court supervision and to pay a $10,000 fine.

According to information contained in filed court documents and yesterday’s sentencing hearing, on June 28, 2018, deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office were responding to a domestic call at the defendant’s camper located in Sylva. While there, law enforcement observed a firearm inside the camper. Lucas, who was at the time on probation for a state conviction, was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Subsequently, a North Carolina probation officer conducted a warrantless search and recovered from inside the camper several grams of methamphetamine, which Lucas possessed with the intent to distribute, four firearms, one of which was loaded, ammunition, and $7,468 in cash. Court records also show that on October 11, 2018, Lucas was also found to be in possession of a kilogram of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others, and on October 25, 2018, Lucas possessed an additional firearm. In May 2019, Lucas pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

Lucas is currently in custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the DEA, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Sylva Police Department and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of this case.

Charge:

21:841(a)(1) CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE

Outcome: 11/25/2019 26 JUDGMENT as to Frank Michael Lucas (1): Counts 1, 2, 3, 5, Dismissed on motion of the United States. Defendant sentenced on Count 4 to 160 months imprisonment, to be served consecutive to any undischarged term of imprisonment either heretofore or hereafter imposed by any state or federal court; 5 years supervised release; $100 assessment; and a $10,000 fine. Signed by District Judge Martin Reidinger on 11/25/2019. (khm) (Entered: 11/25/2019)
11/25/2019 27 STATEMENT OF REASONS (Sealed - Attorney) re: 26 Judgment, (available to: USA, Frank Michael Lucas). Signed by District Judge Martin Reidinger on 11/25/2019. (khm) (Entered: 11/25/2019)

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Defendant's Experts:

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