Suncoast drug trafficker sentenced to 15 years in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender (HFO) in three drug cases

State Attorney – Amira Fox

Drug trafficker Samantha Jean James was sentenced today to 15 years in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender (HFO) in three drug cases in Charlotte County.

Assistant State Attorney Nolan Deming prosecuted the cases.

The defendant pled straight to the court. This is not a plea agreement. Defendants can give up their right to a jury trial and make a plea to the court. She was adjudicated guilty and sentenced as follows.

In the first two cases, the defendant sold a trafficking amount of methamphetamine to a confidential informant.

Case #23-001835CF

Count I: Trafficking in Methamphetamine 28 grams or more: 15 years in prison as an HFO, $100,000 fine, 6-month driver’s license suspension.

Count II: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 15 years in prison as an HFO.

Case #23-001836CF

Count I: Trafficking in methamphetamine 14 grams or more: 15 years in prison as an HFO, $50,000 fine, 6-month driver’s license suspension.

Count II: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 15 years in prison as an HFO In the third case, the defendant sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant and an undercover law enforcement officer.

Case #24-000587CF

Count I: Unlawful Use of a Communication Device: 10 years in prison as an HFO.

Count II: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell or Deliver: 15 years in prison as an HFO.

Count III: Sale or Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 15 years in prison as an HFO, 6-month driver’s license suspension.

Count IV: Possession of Paraphernalia: Credit time served of 338 days.

All of the sentences are to be concurrent.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division investigated the cases.

The defendant has a pending drug trafficking case.