Two sentenced in major Buncombe County drug trafficking cases

Two people pleaded guilty Jan. 14 in separate Buncombe County narcotics trafficking cases that prosecutors say removed sizable quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine from local distribution networks and led to multi-year state prison terms and heavy fines.

The Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office reported that law enforcement, including the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and federal probation officers, carried out a search of defendant Daniel Alfaro’s residence and camper, where investigators recovered 28 grams of methamphetamine and 50 grams of fentanyl. Alfaro pleaded guilty to trafficking in opium/heroin and trafficking in methamphetamine. A judge sentenced him to a minimum of 70 months and a maximum of 93 months in the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction and imposed a $100,000 fine.

A separate investigation into a distribution network tied to defendant Jana Edge produced larger seizures. Investigators reported recovery of 128 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of methamphetamine, numerous firearms, and large quantities of U.S. currency. Edge pleaded guilty to multiple counts including trafficking in opium/heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines, conspiracy to traffic, and attempted trafficking. She was sentenced to a minimum of 90 months and a maximum of 120 months in prison, ordered to pay a $500,000 fine and to serve 24 months of supervised probation following release.

These outcomes reflect coordinated local and federal enforcement efforts to disrupt supply chains for fentanyl and methamphetamine in Buncombe County. The quantities seized, particularly the amount of fentanyl involved, carry heightened public safety concern because of fentanyl’s potency and role in overdose fatalities nationwide. The presence of firearms and significant cash in the Edge investigation underscores risks associated with amateur and organized distribution networks operating in the county.

For local governance and public policy, the sentences and fines illustrate prosecutorial emphasis on trafficking charges that carry multi-year incarceration and substantial financial penalties. The involvement of federal probation officers alongside county deputies signals interagency cooperation that can shift investigative resources and influence where defendants are supervised post-release. These cases may inform conversations among county leaders and voters about allocation of law enforcement resources, treatment and harm reduction funding, and strategies to prevent trafficking and overdoses.

Residents should note that the court-directed prison terms will be served in the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction and that supervised probation will apply in at least one case. County officials and law enforcement say investigations into distribution networks remain active, and prosecutors may continue pursuing related cases. The sentences remove two defendants from local streets, but they also highlight ongoing enforcement and community policy questions about preventing drug-related harm and supporting recovery in Buncombe County.