Punta Gorda, FL – A Charlotte County woman with a long criminal history has been sentenced to 15 years in prison as a Habitual Felony Offender (HFO) in connection with multiple drug trafficking cases.
Samantha Jean James, 29, was adjudicated guilty after pleading straight to the court—meaning she waived her right to a jury trial and entered the plea directly to the judge without a negotiated agreement.
Assistant State Attorney Nolan Deming prosecuted the cases, which were investigated by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division.
Case Details
- Case #23-001835CF
• Trafficking in Methamphetamine (28 grams or more): 15 years in prison as HFO, $100,000 fine, 6-month license suspension
• Sale/Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 15 years in prison as HFO - Case #23-001836CF
• Trafficking in Methamphetamine (14 grams or more): 15 years in prison as HFO, $50,000 fine, 6-month license suspension
• Sale/Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 15 years in prison as HFO - Case #24-000587CF
• Unlawful Use of a Communication Device: 10 years in prison as HFO
• Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell/Deliver: 15 years in prison as HFO
• Sale/Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 15 years in prison as HFO, 6-month license suspension
• Possession of Paraphernalia: Credit for 338 days served
All sentences will run concurrently, with the longest term being 15 years.
James has been arrested multiple times in Charlotte County dating back to 2016. Her most recent arrest occurred on March 24, 2025, on the trafficking charges that led to these convictions.
She also has a pending drug trafficking case that has not yet gone to trial.
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