Norfolk Dealer Stuffed With Drugs & Guns

⏱ 3 min read

James Sweat, 40, of Norfolk, is staring down a long stretch behind bars after federal agents raided his home on December 18, 2025, and found a one-stop shop for poison and firepower. Sweat ran a full-blown drug operation out of his residence, peddling fentanyl and crack while illegally armed – a particularly dangerous mix, given his already lengthy rap sheet.

ATF agents, backed by Chesapeake and Norfolk PD, found enough to equip a small militia: a shotgun, a handgun, six magazines, including a massive 100-round drum, and nine different types of ammunition. Alongside the hardware, they seized three complete drug-making kits, 14.3 grams of crack cocaine, and fentanyl already bagged up for street sales.

This wasn’t a first offense. Sweat was already barred from owning firearms or ammo thanks to prior convictions for abduction, two counts of robbery, and two separate firearm felonies. He’s a repeat offender with a taste for both hard drugs and hard time.

A federal jury didn’t waste time, finding Sweat guilty. He’s looking at a minimum of five years, but that could easily balloon to life in prison when Judge hands down the sentence on July 14th.

The case is part of the Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America” – a broad-stroke attempt to hit drug cartels and violent criminals. For Sweat, it looks like ‘taking back’ means taking away his freedom.