BOSTON – Another street-level hustler is headed for a federal cell. Gamal Jones, 37, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty Friday to a cocktail of offenses – dealing crack and illegally packing heat. This isn’t Jones’ first rodeo with the law, and federal prosecutors aren’t playing nice.
According to court documents, Jones copped to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of distribution of a controlled substance. The guilty plea comes after a January 14, 2016, bust in Haverhill where investigators busted Jones with over 80 grams of crack cocaine. They also found a Taurus .45 caliber handgun and a full box of ammunition. It’s a dangerous combination on the streets, and the feds are sending a message.
This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment mistake. Jones already had a federal conviction in Brooklyn, New York, for – you guessed it – being a felon in possession of a firearm. Add to that prior convictions for criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a loaded firearm, and even assault in the third degree. The pattern is clear: Jones is a repeat offender with a disregard for the law and public safety.
The potential penalties are steep. The firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The drug distribution charges are even more serious, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years behind bars, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. While actual sentences often fall short of the maximum, Judge Leo T. Sorokin will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors when handing down the punishment on July 6th.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced the guilty plea. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Soivilien and John T. McNeil of Weinreb’s Criminal Division – a team dedicated to cleaning up the streets, one dealer at a time.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. Jones’ fate is sealed, but the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and illegal firearms in Massachusetts rages on. This case serves as a stark reminder: play with fire, and you’re going to get burned.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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