A Pascagoula man plead guilty to one count of Possession of Marijuana, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone), and one count of Trafficking a Controlled Substance (Oxymorphone).
During the execution of a search warrant in November of 2015, law enforcement found controlled substances in 32-year-old James Edward Black Jr’s. home, vehicle, and on his person. The investigation revealed that the Defendant had been selling marijuana and prescription pills. The South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case.
Black was sentenced as follows:
Possession of Marijuana (346 grams): maximum penalty of 8 years in MDOC
Possession of Oxycodone (7 dosage units): maximum penalty of 3 years in MDOC
Possession of Oxycodone (5 dosage units): maximum penalty of 3 years in MDOC
Trafficking of Oxymorphone (81 dosage units): 25 years in the custody of MDOC, 15 years to serve – day-for-day, the remainder suspended, 5 years on Post Release Supervision.
He was also ordered to pay all costs of court, fines, and lab fees. All counts will run concurrently.
“I am proud of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, who has made significant strides in cleaning up our streets and keeping our children safe,” said District Attorney Tony Lawrence. “All too often, crimes in our community have some correlation to drugs. This defendant dealt opioids, causing many to suffer from addiction and I hope that this fifteen-year, day-for-day, sentence serves as a deterrent to others.”
