Daniel Lee Mullins, 37, from Buncombe County, pled guilty to multiple drug trafficking charges and was sentenced to a prison term on Tuesday, March 18. Mullins faced charges for trafficking opium/heroin and methamphetamine. He was sentenced to a minimum of 70 months and a maximum of 93 months in prison and was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine.
The charges stemmed from two separate traffic stops in which officers discovered large quantities of illegal drugs. The first occurred on January 31, 2024, when Mullins was pulled over for expired registration. A search of his vehicle revealed 29 grams of methamphetamine hidden in a magnetic container beneath the driver’s seat.
The second stop took place on June 22, 2024, when Mullins was driving 65 mph in a 45-mph zone. Officers discovered 28 grams of fentanyl pills near the emergency brake.
Mullins’ conviction marks a significant step in addressing the drug trade in Buncombe County.
