Unsealed Documents Reveal Three More Guilty Pleas in Jacksonville Slime Gang RICO Case

Federal court documents unsealed in Jacksonville reveal that three men connected to the local “Slime” gang entered guilty pleas weeks before prosecutors announced a sweeping August indictment against 13 other defendants.

WJXT reported that Jermaine James, Marquise Felton, and Derrick Jerome Brown faced racketeering conspiracy charges in July court filings that remained confidential until recently.

The disclosures shed light on how federal authorities assembled their 16-count racketeering case against the organization.

Attorney and former federal prosecutor Curtis Fallgatter discussed the proceedings in an interview with WJXT.

“If there’s a criminal organization designed to sell drugs, use guns, do murders, do robberies, that’s an organization that the RICO statute allows the federal authorities to prosecute,” Fallgatter told WJXT.

Earlier guilty pleas

Federal charging documents show James’ charging document was filed July 21 in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville, with Felton’s and Brown’s charging documents filed the following day. The indictment targeting 13 other alleged members was filed on August 5, followed by a public announcement five days later.

Court records show James pleaded guilty on July 28 to racketeering conspiracy and a drug charge. Brown pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy on July 29, and Felton followed on July 30.

“You found the court documents, which show that they actually waived indictment, which means they’re cooperating,” Fallgatter told WJXT.

Fallgatter said that while the filings confirm the pleas, they do not independently establish formal cooperation agreements. He added that insider testimony often proves valuable alongside surveillance, wiretaps, and covert recordings in racketeering prosecutions.

Alleged activities

Court records indicate James faced an initial federal drug indictment in April 2025 that did not reference the Slime organization. A July filing dropped two of those charges and added racketeering conspiracy.

Prosecutors allege James maintained a Jacksonville drug house, supplied drugs to members, ordered violence to collect drug debts, and bailed another alleged member out of custody in another state.

Felton’s July charging document alleges he maintained two drug houses and participated in attempts to kill two people. News4JAX previously reported his arrest alongside Terrance Williams and Devonne Rivers after a 2024 shooting.

Prosecutors accuse Brown of distributing drugs, maintaining a house used to store drugs and firearms, and helping assault a lower-level drug dealer over money. The filings describe the Slime organization operating primarily in Jacksonville’s Northside and Oceanway neighborhoods under alternative names including Pearl World, BB4L, K4T, and Slime World.