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Polk County Sheriff’s Office apprehended suspect in 2019

ASHEVILLE—An Asheville man who was apprehended last year in Polk County was sentenced on Thursday to more than 9 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Shannon Dale Henson, 46, of Asheville to 112 months in prison during a federal hearing in Asheville Thursday.

Henson was also ordered to serve 4 years under court supervision upon completing his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney for the western District of North Carolina Murray said that Henson was found with large amounts of methamphetamine on 2 occasions last year.

One of those stops was conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer J.J. Sauve said Friday morning that a member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team stopped the vehicle on July 21 along U.S. 74, where Henson was driving the vehicle. Sauve said a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of approximately 6 ounces of methamphetamine. Another stop of Henson in another county officers found 3 ounces of methamphetamine last summer.

“The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division began a joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations at that time leading to the successful federal prosecution this week,” Sauve said.

“Working with our state and federal partners in the region was a top priority when I took office,” Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright said. “Our Special Operations Division, especially the members of our Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team work with surrounding agencies every day to go after the sources of illegal drug distribution in Polk County and the region. I’d like to thank the investigators with Homeland Security, the North Carolina Highway Patrol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for taking these types of offenses seriously and helping us to rid our streets of another drug trafficker.”

U.S. Attorney Murray thanked several departments in making Thursday’s announcement about Henson’s sentencing, including the Hendersonville Office of Homeland Security Investigations; the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Henson has multiple prior convictions, according to Murray, including assault and drug related charges. Henson pleaded guilty to the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charge on Dec. 20, 2019.

Henson is currently in federal custody until a designation of a federal facility is determined. All federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.