ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A 38-year-old man will serve a minimum of five years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of fentanyl trafficking, according to the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office.
Rashied Olajuwon Richardson was sentenced to 70 to 93 months in prison and fined $500,000 following his plea in a drug case that began on April 2, 2024.
Richardson was pulled over by Asheville police for expired vehicle registration, and during the traffic stop, officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle. The search uncovered 18 grams of fentanyl, along with marijuana, plastic baggies, digital scales, and other drug-related items.
Richardson faced multiple charges, including:
Trafficking in opium or heroin by possession
Trafficking in opium or heroin by transport
Felony possession of Schedule II controlled substances
Maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances
Expired registration and inspection
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Richardson was held without bond under North Carolina’s Pretrial Integrity Act until his sentencing on June 11, 2025.
