Henry County Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession of Meth and Gun
Jackson, TN – Donald Blaine Ashby, 39, has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in Court, on July 26, 2018, the Paris, Tennessee, Police Department stopped a vehicle of which Ashby was located in the backseat and recovered 51.6 grams of actual methamphetamine. The defendant was subsequently charged with various state law violations and released on bail.
On September 12, 2018, the Benton County Sheriff's Department received a call regarding an unconscious person in a vehicle near Highway 70 West in Camden, Tennessee. When officers arrived, they observed United States currency all over the floorboard of the vehicle, along with the defendant asleep behind the wheel. Officers were able to wake the defendant and ultimately searched the vehicle, finding 274.09 grams of actual methamphetamine and a .25 caliber pistol.
Because of his prior felony convictions, including possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and felon in possession of a weapon, Ashby is prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition.
On August 18, 2020, U.S. Chief District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Ashby to 180 months in federal prison followed by five years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Ashby is a dangerous recidivist drug offender who was destroying the community by his sale of highly potent and poisonous drugs, and his prior felony convictions have finally caught up with him. Thanks to the great
investigative work by our federal and local law enforcement partners, he has been held accountable and his removal from the community will make citizens safer."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Paris, Tennessee Police Department; the Benton County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary L. Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###
