NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA — James E. Brown, 55, and Sammy L. Welcome Sr., 57, were recently convicted on multiple drug trafficking charges after a lengthy investigation. The verdicts came in late 2024 in the courtroom of Honorable Judge Willard Pope.
Brown faced a series of serious charges, including Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking in Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine. Additionally, he was convicted of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, MDMA, and Oxycodone with intent to distribute, as well as other related charges.
Welcome was found guilty of Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device, possession of Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Cannabis, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The investigation into Brown and Welcome began in late 2019 and culminated in January 2020 with the execution of multiple search warrants. These warrants followed the interception of phone calls and text messages via a wiretap, which revealed the extent of their narcotics trafficking operation. The search led to the seizure of various illicit substances, resulting in their arrests.
Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson praised the hard work of the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) and their partners, stating that the case’s successful prosecution removed dangerous traffickers from the community.
The case was prosecuted with the assistance of UDEST, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and Assistant State Attorney Samuel Armstrong.
