NEW ORLEANS, LA – Jerome Jones, 34, of New Orleans, is headed to federal prison for a substantial stretch after pleading guilty to a slew of drug and weapons charges, the Department of Justice announced Monday. Jones received a 165-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, a penalty reflecting the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to the city.
The case originated with a New Orleans Police Department investigation into a January 2022 attempted murder in the French Quarter. Jones and a co-defendant quickly became persons of interest. A February 2022 raid on a residence they shared uncovered a significant drug operation. Detectives seized over 40 grams of fentanyl, more than 100 grams of heroin, and an unspecified amount of cocaine, along with drug distribution paraphernalia. Crucially, the search also turned up clothing linking the pair to the earlier attempted murder.
But the drugs weren’t all. A subsequent search revealed a frightening arsenal: a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber pistol (serial number MVF683) equipped with a 50-round drum magazine, and a Romarm/Cugir Model Mini Draco, 7.62×39 caliber pistol (serial number PE-2617-2018RO), complete with multiple banana clips. Investigators also found over 140 additional grams of heroin. Jones evaded capture for eight months, finally being apprehended at the same residence in October 2022.
Jones pled guilty to four counts in a superseding indictment. Count Three charged him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and (b)(1)(C)). Count Five mirrored this charge, focusing on heroin (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)). Count Six, a particularly damning charge, accused him of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)). Finally, Count Seven charged him with being a felon in possession of firearms (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)).
Judge Brown’s sentencing broke down as follows: 105 months on each of Counts Three, Five, and Seven, to run concurrently. Adding to that, 60 months on Count Six, to run consecutively, bringing the total to 165 months – nearly 14 years. Jones will also face four years of supervised release after his prison term and is required to pay a $400 special assessment fee ($100 per count). The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department.
This case is being touted as a success under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel, led the prosecution. While PSN initiatives often promise safer streets, the sheer volume of cases like Jones’ suggests a relentless battle against the flow of drugs and guns in New Orleans, and a long road ahead for the city’s residents.
Related Federal Cases
- Austin, Cocaine and Gun Trafficking, Marrero LA, 2023 · Louisiana
- Laquentin Brown, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Illinois
- Santos Gavarrete-Nataren, Gun Smuggling, New Orleans LA, 2023 · Alabama
- Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, Texas Drug Trafficking, Beaumont TX, 2023 · Louisiana
- Michael John Pereira, Possession of a Firearm in a Drug Trafficking… · Louisiana
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
