James Calvin Breeden, Drug Trafficking, North Carolina 2020

Raleigh – In a shocking turn of events, a Lumberton man has been found guilty of serious drug crimes in federal court.

James Calvin Breeden, a 33-year-old resident of Lumberton, was convicted following a one-day trial before Senior United States District Judge James Earl Britt. The jury found Breeden guilty of Possession with the Intent to Distribute 28 Grams or more of Cocaine Base (Crack) and a Quantity of Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The evidence at trial showed that Breeden, who is a convicted felon, was the passenger of a vehicle stopped by officers with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office as they were attempting to serve an outstanding warrant. When officers approached the vehicle, they observed Breeden in possession of a crown royal bag that contained approximately 80 grams of crack cocaine and 38 grams of cocaine. He also possessed a loaded handgun inside of his waistband.

Breeden faces at least ten years’ and up to life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for the June 1, 2020 term of court in Raleigh.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Chad Rhoades and Erin Blondel handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative, which emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

This case marks another victory in the fight against drug trafficking in North Carolina. The Grimy Times will continue to bring you updates on this case as more information becomes available.

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