Heroin and cocaine trafficker with long criminal history sentenced to prison

A 35-year-old Taunton heroin and cocaine trafficker with a long history of drug dealing convictions was sentenced to serve five to seven years in state prison Monday, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

James Mitchell pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with trafficking in excess of 36 grams of cocaine and trafficking in excess of 18 grams of heroin.

On September 3, 2019 at 12:35 a.m., Rehoboth Police stopped the defendant’s vehicle on Route 44 due to his vehicle’s damaged headlights. As the officer approached the motor vehicle on foot, the defendant drove away. The officer got back in his cruise and caught up with the vehicle on Route 118, where he observed it stop in the middle of the road. He then observed the defendant switch to the passenger seat and the front seat passenger exited the car and approached the driver’s seat. The officer ordered both individuals and a third passenger to the ground. It was then determined the defendant had a suspended driver’s license and that the other two passengers were not licensed to drive.

After placing the defendant under arrest, Rehoboth Police then performed an inventory of the car, pursuant to their policy. During the inventory, police utilized a key to unlock a glove compartment where they found a fanny pack with two digital scales and $293.39 in cash. Police also located a safe in the vehicle.

Police later obtained a search warrant for the safe, and a subsequent search revealed additional narcotics in a Coca Cola Can hide, as well as $4200 in cash. The total amount of narcotics seized was approximately 108.36 grams of cocaine and 50.46 grams of heroin.​

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Friedel and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan.

“The defendant has a history of drug dealing and a significant criminal record. I am pleased he will be off the street for up to seven years to protect the public,” District Attorney Quinn said.