News

Judge sends crooked contractor to prison

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 12, 2022

BREVARD — A 36-year-old Transylvania County man was sentenced to up 32 months in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to fraud charges including exploitation of an elder adult through a business relationship and obtaining property by false pretense, both felonies, and misdemeanor contracting without a license.

During a two-week Transylvania County Superior Court session May 2-13, numerous defendants entered guilty pleas to a variety of charges, including elder exploitation and fraud charges, drug trafficking charges, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charges, District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced.
According to court records and the sentencing hearing, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that the defendant, Travis Galloway, had contracted with an elder adult for general contracting services without having a necessary contracting license. An investigation ensued and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office charged Galloway with exploitation of an elder adult through a business relationship, obtaining property by false pretense, and misdemeanor contracting without a license. Galloway took $48,000 for contracting services from a 72-year-old victim and never completed the work, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators discovered that this was a pattern of conduct by Galloway.
Superior Court Judge William Coward, who presided over the trial calendar, sentenced Galloway to 19 months minimum to 32 months in prison.
Numerous other felony cases were handled during this trial session, including several drug trafficking cases. Drug trafficking offenses included:
Lisa Morgan, 43, of Rosman, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to sell methamphetamine. Morgan received an active prison sentence of 70 months to 93 months and a mandatory $50,000 fine.
Caryington Hunter, 22, of Pisgah Forest, pleaded guilty to numerous drug trafficking charges, including trafficking in cocaine and methamphetamine and other related drug offenses, including possession with intent to sell fentanyl. She also pleaded guilty to several possession of firearm by a convicted felon charges. Hunter received a consolidated prison sentence of a minimum of six years and eight months and up to 9½ years in prison and a mandatory $50,000 fine.
Assistant District Attorney Jason Hayes (Transylvania County Assistant District Attorney Supervisor) and Assistant District Attorney Lily Ferry prosecuted the cases and handled the sentencing hearings.