ASHEVILLE, N.C. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Western), published as received.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced today that Mitchell Glenn Bell, 45, of Monticello, Kentucky, was sentenced to 226 months in prison and five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger presided over the hearing.

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Asheville Post of Duty, and Sheriff Chip Hall of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.

According to information in filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on November 7, 2018, a deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the motorcycle Bell was riding following a traffic violation. Court records show that after Bell pulled over to the side of the road and the deputy exited his vehicle to approach the motorcycle, Bell sped away. Law enforcement located the abandoned motorcycle shortly thereafter and began to search for Bell in the nearby woods. The defendant was located and placed under arrest. At that time, deputies also recovered from the woods Bell’s backpack, which contained more than five kilograms of methamphetamine, digital scales, other drug paraphernalia, ammunition, over $11,500 in cash, and multiple fake driver’s licenses.

On January 11, 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. 

In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the DEA and the Jackson County Sheriff’s office for their investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.