Christopher Wayne Jones II, Fentanyl Trafficking, Louisiana 2022

A Lake Charles man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation in the Lake Charles and Lafayette areas. Christopher Wayne Jones II, 29, was sentenced to 175 months (14 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, on November 4, 2020, an officer with the Lake Charles Police Department observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Jones, fled at a high rate of speed. After a short chase, Jones lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole.

Jones exited the vehicle holding a red backpack and fled the scene on foot. Officers gave chase and Jones was apprehended shortly thereafter and placed under arrest. A search of the red backpack revealed approximately 554 pills weighing approximately 282 grams, which were later determined to contain a mixture of acetaminophen and fentanyl.

In addition to the narcotics found in Jones' backpack, officers also found a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in the front seat of his vehicle. Jones pleaded guilty to the charge on December 12, 2022.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Lake Charles Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.

Jones' sentence is a result of his involvement in a narcotics trafficking operation that spanned multiple counties in Louisiana. His sentence is a reminder of the harsh penalties for those involved in the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit substances.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/four-defendants-convicted-trafficking-fentanyl-methamphetamine-and-cocaine-receive