ST. LOUIS – A Velda City, Missouri, man appeared in federal court on Monday and pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said James C. Taylor, 32, held someone captive during a drug deal gone wrong.

On Jan. 16, 2019, officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a “shots fired” call. According to witnesses, Taylor was cheated out of $300 in a drug deal and demanded money from the cousin of the purported dealer.

Taylor received $600 but wanted more money. He held the dealer’s cousin captive while he tried to get another person to bring extra cash. Taylor disputed the witnesses’ accounts but acknowledged the U.S. Attorney’s Office could prove the kidnapping incident.

While investigating the matter, police officers found a stolen .40-caliber HS Produkt XD-40 pistol hidden in a couch, a digital scale and two bags of fentanyl.

In a separate incident that happened on Nov. 7, 2020, Taylor admitted being involved in a situation with St. Louis police.

Officers received calls about a man in a gold Buick LeSabre on Enright Avenue pointing an AR-style firearm at people.

Officers arrived and found Taylor in the driver’s seat. When told to exit the car and put his hands on the vehicle, Taylor dropped his phone and ran. He was arrested after a short pursuit. A black AM-15 pistol with a large-capacity magazine was found on the back floor of the LeSabre, along with a baggy containing marijuana.

Taylor pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. As part of the plea, both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Taylor’s lawyer have agreed to recommend a prison sentence of 12 years.