ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A judge sentenced a man from from Waynesville, North Carolina to 27 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
Brandon Alan Purvis was sentenced on Thursday, December 14th. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon on May 17th.
Police started an investigation in October of 2021 after learning that Purvis was acquiring and redistributing methamphetamine in and around Haywood County.
On November 2nd, 2021, police conducting a stakeout observed Purvis leave his residence and later attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation. Purvis refused to stop, leading to a high-speed pursuit. During the chase, Purvis threw a backpack through his passenger-side window over a bridge and into a river.
Pursuing officers later stopped and arrested Purvis.
Police found narcotics, an air power rifle and $9,000 in cash in Purvis’ vehicle. Law enforcement also discovered 1.7 kilograms – nearly 3.8 pounds – of methamphetamine in the backpack Purvis tossed.
A search warrant was later conducted on Purvis’ residence where police found a loaded firearm and more than $17,000 in cash.
Purvis will have five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
