The U.S. federal drug conspiracy case involving dancehall entertainer Flippa Moggela has entered a new phase after co-defendant James McBride became the first of the four accused to plead guilty. McBride admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, while Flippa Moggela, whose given name is Andrew Davis, remains before the courts and is scheduled to return on August 10.
According to court documents, the 53-year-old McBride pleaded guilty during a hearing on July 22. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years. Under the agreement, he also accepted a possible supervised release term of up to four years, a fine of up to US$5 million, and the forfeiture of 17 cellular phones along with any proceeds or property connected to the drug conspiracy. Although the plea agreement outlines a potential sentence of up to eight years, the final decision will rest with the judge when McBride is sentenced on December 1, 2026.
McBride is a long-time associate of Flippa Moggela and was previously convicted alongside the entertainer in the federal drug case that led to Flippa’s imprisonment in 2014. McBride received a 16-year prison sentence in that case after previously serving a nine-year sentence following a 2006 drug distribution conviction. Federal prosecutors allege that Flippa Moggela, McBride, Damion Jones and Clifford Brown conspired to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl following an investigation that reportedly spanned from August 2025 to May 2026.
The development follows weeks of plea negotiations involving all four defendants. Earlier this month, Flippa Moggela’s case was delayed after the court granted additional time for prosecutors and his newly retained attorney, Jason Javie, to review evidence and continue negotiations. While McBride has now reached an agreement with prosecutors, there has been no change in Flippa Moggela’s case. He remains due back in court on August 10, while Jones and Brown are scheduled to return on September 9, as attention continues to focus on whether any further plea agreements will emerge.
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