Charlotte, NC – Rashad Jamal Blanchard, a 47-year-old man affiliated with the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle 46 kilograms of methamphetamine through Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Blanchard was arrested on February 1, 2023, during an enforcement action by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Queen City Regional Border Security Task Force. After arriving in Charlotte from Los Angeles, Blanchard checked four pieces of luggage, three of which contained multiple vacuum-sealed packages of methamphetamine wrapped in comforters. In total, 34.6 kilograms of meth were found in these suitcases.
A fourth suitcase, removed from the airport’s baggage claim area by another individual, was later recovered and found to contain an additional 11.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, bringing the total to 46 kilograms.
Blanchard has an extensive criminal history across four states—North Carolina, California, Florida, and Virginia—spanning crimes such as carjacking and bank robbery. At the time of his arrest, Blanchard was on probation for a prior bank robbery conviction and was out on bond in California for charges related to drug possession and a shooting incident.
In addition to his 20-year prison sentence, Blanchard will serve five years of supervised release after his incarceration. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of HSI and local law enforcement in tackling the smuggling of illegal drugs through major transportation hubs like Charlotte Douglas International Airport.a
