Eric Joseph Gaines, 39, last week admitted to: 

• Trafficking in opiates (fentanyl) by transporting 14-28 grams.

• Possession of firearm by felon.

• Felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances. 

Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bradley B. Letts ordered Gaines to serve a minimum prison sentence of 120 months up to a maximum prison sentence of 175 months.

The origins of the plea begin Sept. 28, 2022, with a traffic stop along I-40 near Canton, Welch said. 

Haywood County Deputy Hayden Green with the Criminal Suppression Unit was observing traffic along I-40. 

In his report, Green noted that, as the main route taken to and from Asheville, the interstate is a “known source location” for illegal narcotics brought into and traveling through Haywood County. 

Sgt. Jordan Reagan notified Green that an older-model black BMW was travelling west in his direction.

The car appeared to have no tag. Officers later learned that there was a temporary license plate on the car; however, an illegal tag cover’s plastic surface obscured the plate. The tag on the car had expired and, additionally, was registered to a different car, a Hyundai.

Green stopped the BMW near Exit 31 West.

In plain view officers could see a set of scales. A search uncovered a large amount of drugs, a gun in a fast-food bag and a substantial amount of cash.

Assistant district attorneys Jeff Jones and Kate Robinette prosecuted the case.