James Sullivan McNealy has been sentenced to 21 years in prison, as a Habitual Felony Offender, in each of four cases. In each case, he was adjudicated guilty of Sale/Delivery of Cocaine within 1,000 ft. of Parks. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
McNealy was sentenced after an open plea on the cases. This is not a plea agreement. Each defendant has a right to plea straight to the court for sentencing and give up their right to a jury trial.
Assistant State Attorney Scott Patterson prosecuted the cases.
In 2023, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit conducted undercover purchases of crack cocaine from the defendant. McNealy, who goes by the street name “Lil Man,” sold crack cocaine in a wooded lot near a store in Punta Gorda. The store is near a park.
The defendant would sell crack rocks out of a vial and sometimes conceal them in aluminum foil or cigarette paper. All of the drug sales were done while the defendant was under the surveillance of deputies.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director