In a ruling last week, 55-year-old James E. Brown and his associate, 57-year-old Sammy L. Welcome Sr., were found guilty by a jury of multiple drug trafficking-related offenses. The verdicts stemmed from narcotics investigations conducted by the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), which spanned from late 2019 to early 2020.
Brown was convicted of felony conspiracy and trafficking charges related to heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Additionally, he faced charges for possessing various controlled substances, including MDMA, oxycodone, and alprazolam, as well as for using a communications device to facilitate his crimes and maintaining a location for trafficking. Welcome was found guilty on charges including the unlawful use of a communications device, and possession of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and methamphetamine.
The case followed an extensive investigation by UDEST, which included wiretaps authorized by the court for monitoring phone calls and text messages. The investigation led to the execution of multiple search warrants on January 15, 2020, where law enforcement seized a significant amount of illicit narcotics and paraphernalia from various locations linked to the defendants.
Brown and Welcome’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 30, 2024, at 10 a.m.
The case’s success was attributed to the diligent efforts of the UDEST, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Assistant State Attorney Samuel Armstrong.
