United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a three-day trial, James Randolph Sherman, 55, of Stockton, was found guilty today of eight counts related to his heroin and crack cocaine trafficking operation, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and DEA San Francisco Division Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced.

According to evidence presented at trial, Sherman was the head of a heroin and crack cocaine distribution operation based in Stockton. Between March 14, 2012, and July 15, 2013, the operation was investigated using a confidential source to buy heroin and crack cocaine from Sherman’s front man and co-defendant, Lindsey Mills, 61, of Stockton. During the investigation, Mills sold 226.1 grams of heroin and 451.2 grams of crack cocaine. On the day of his arrest on July 15, 2013, Mills was found in possession of 22.9 grams of crack cocaine. Through recorded conversations, phone toll records, physical surveillance and other investigative techniques, agents were able to confirm that Sherman was Mills’ heroin and crack cocaine supplier. On Dec. 3, 2015, Mills pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine based upon his partnership with Sherman. He was sentenced on May 19, 2016, to four years and nine months in prison.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County Metro Narcotics Task Force and the FBI’s Safe Streets Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt and Cameron L. Desmond are prosecuting the case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

Sherman is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr., on Dec. 12. Sherman faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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