News

Coke dealer sent to prison

By Bill Moss, Published: January 23, 2018

A Tryon man was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to cocaine trafficking.

Superior Court Judge Jeff Hunt sentenced Reggie Jamont Hannon to 99 months on Dec. 12 after he pleaded guilty in Polk County Superior Court to charges of trafficking in cocaine, sale and delivery of cocaine, and possession with the intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance. Hunt ordered active prison sentences of 35-51 months, 15-27 months and 10-21 months respectively, and ordered consecutive sentences in each case. Hannon will be eligible for parole after serving five years.

Hannon’s arrest resulted from a joint investigation of illegal narcotic activity by the Polk County Sheriff, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the SBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Spartanburg County Sheriff.  The investigation took place from December 2016 through February 2017.  On four separate occasions, Hannon communicated with, and sold illegal drugs to an undercover ALE agent, authorities said. The drug sales were observed by law enforcement surveillance teams. 

On Feb. 1, a fifth undercover drug sale by Hannon to the ALE agent was arranged. Hannon and a co-defendant were stopped in a vehicle by members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and illegal drugs were discovered hidden in Hannon’s pants. Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody at that time. 

“Hannon has an extensive misdemeanor criminal history and has always been involved in the periphery of drug investigations,”  District Attorney Greg Newman.  “I appreciate the teamwork used in obtaining the evidence in this case.  The problem with drug dealers is that they do not know, or care, who ends up using the illegal substance.  It could be kids or addicts who steal in order to support their habit.  This activity weakens a community, so it is gratifying to my office to successfully prosecute someone like Hannon.”

In other Superior Court dispositions, Judge Marvin Pope sentenced the following individuals in Henderson County during the Jan. 2 term:

• Richard Collins, 14 Fairfax Avenue, Asheville, 45 days county jail for Misdemeanor Larceny;
• Ramel Harper, 99 Captain Circle, Hendersonville, 27 months prison for Attempted Trafficking in Opium;
• David Heatherly, 2929 Terry’s Gap Road, Hendersonville, 48 months prison for Possession of Methamphetamine and being an Habitual Felon;
• Ellen Hoppes, 142 McDaniel Street, Forest City, 45 days county jail for Misdemeanor Larceny by Trick;
• Daniel Landreth, 558 Vineyard Loop, Pisgah Forest, 51 months prison for  Conspiracy to Commit Breaking and Entering, Larceny of a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon;
• James Pierce, 115 Green Hill Farms Drive, Mills River, 46 months prison for multiple counts of Larceny from a Merchant;
• Saylor Shope, 143 Gilliam Mountain Road, Hendersonville, 42 months prison for Larceny of a Motor Vehicle;
• Michael Snyder, 33 Darity Drive, Fletcher, 23 months prison for Larceny of a Store Security Device;
• Eric Taylor, 410 Corbly Drive, Hendersonville, 120 days county jail for Misdemeanor Possession of Stolen Goods;