A Buncombe County man is facing at least eight years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.
James Anthony Cole III, 53, entered guilty pleas on Oct. 26 in Buncombe County Superior Court, according to an Oct. 27 news release from Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams.
Cole will serve multiple consecutive prison sentences after his guilty pleas to the following:
- Class F trafficking in methamphetamine
- Possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine
- 2 counts of attempted Class F trafficking in methamphetamine
- 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a felon
- Felony fleeing to elude arrest
Cole received the following consecutive active sentences:
A mandatory minimum active term of 70 months (5 years, 10 months) to a maximum of 93 months (7 years, 9 months), along with a $50,000 fine, for Class F trafficking in methamphetamine
* An active term of 21 (1 year, 9 months) to 35 months (2 years, 11 months) for attempted trafficking in methamphetamine.
* An active term of 10 to 21 months (1 year, 9 months) for possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine.
The convictions originate from multiple law enforcement efforts by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the release said. According to court records, on June 11, 2025, deputies stopped a vehicle driven by Cole pursuant to outstanding arrest warrants. A search of the vehicle yielded 47 grams of methamphetamine and a Taurus 9mm handgun.
On Jan. 16, 2026, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Cole’s vehicle for an unsafe movement. After Cole admitted to the presence of illegal narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and seized 30 grams of methamphetamine and a Taurus PT 24/7 handgun, court records showed.
Cole’s total active term for the consecutive counts will equal a minimum of 101 months (8 years, 5 months) to a maximum of 149 months (12 years, 5 months) in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.