Murphy Woman Arrested on Multiple Charges

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office

Press Release

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith announces conclusion to drug trafficking case.

On October 16, 2025 Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office concluded a two-month investigation into the distribution of fentanyl into Cherokee County by Ashli Shawnai Roberts of Murphy, NC.

The investigation came to an end after law enforcement received information that Roberts was on her way back to Murphy from Atlanta with a large quantity of fentanyl. Investigators contacted our partners to the south with Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and requested their assistance. As a result, Roberts was located and a vehicle stop was conducted in Blue Ridge, GA.

During the vehicle stop, a trafficking amount of fentanyl was located in the vehicle that Roberts later admitted to possessing. Roberts also admitted to being responsible for the sale of ounces of fentanyl in Cherokee County that investigators were able to tie to multiple overdose incidents as well as other law violations within Cherokee County.

We express our appreciation to Fannin County Sheriff’s Office for their continued support and the teamwork that it takes to combat the drug problems within our communities.

Roberts is currently being held in the Fannin County Detention Center without a bond for drug trafficking charges.