JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A court document filed 15 days before prosecutors announced a crackdown on Jacksonville’s “Slime” organization earlier this year points to Jermaine James as the first of the alleged gang members to be charged in the racketeering case.
James, however, was not named during the federal announcement in August, when prosecutors outlined a 16-count indictment against 13 people accused of involvement in the Jacksonville-based organization.
James’ federal charging document, which was filed July 21 in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville, was just unsealed Friday, at which point News4JAX learned about the new details involving James, who prosecutors say conspired with members of the “Slime” group in drug trafficking and other criminal activity.
The indictment against the 13 other alleged “Slime” gang members was filed on Aug. 5, and prosecutors made their announcement five days later.
Court documents show James was initially indicted in April 2025 on three drug charges. Those charges did not mention the Slime gang.
The July filing dropped two of the original charges and added a racketeering conspiracy charge, commonly called a RICO charge, alleging James participated in Slime’s affairs through a pattern of criminal activity.
The filing describes Slime as an organization active mainly in Jacksonville’s Northside and Oceanway neighborhoods.
Prosecutors allege the group made money primarily through drug trafficking and robberies, using houses to sell and store drugs and firearms. The document also alleges members used threats and violence to protect territory, intimidate rivals and enforce discipline.
The information alleges that James conspired with Slime members to distribute or possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, marijuana and methamphetamine.
Prosecutors also allege he maintained a Jacksonville house for drug distribution, supplied drugs to other members and ordered violence to collect a drug debt, resulting in the assault of a low-level dealer’s domestic partner.
The filing further alleges that James contributed money to bail another Slime member out of custody in another state.
A second count charges James with possessing drugs with intent to distribute them. It lists MDMA, marijuana, fentanyl, at least 28 grams of a mixture containing cocaine base and at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. The count’s typed date, Sept. 11, 2024, is crossed out and appears to be amended by hand to March 5, 2025.
The filing also seeks forfeiture of property prosecutors say is connected to the alleged crimes, including $7,443 seized from James on Sept. 11, 2024, and $2,136 seized March 5, 2025.
The August announcement described a broader case against alleged Slime members, including charges involving racketeering, drug trafficking, firearms, murder for hire and witness retaliation.
Prosecutors said the organization operated under several names over the years, including Pearl World, BB4L (Block Burners for Life), K4T (Killers for Telly), and finally, Slime World.
The charges against James are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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