Loaded gun. Stacked cash. A house full of drug evidence. Jessie Mayfield, 59, of Paterson, New Jersey, is staring down federal time after parole officers caught him armed to the teeth in a drug operation at his home, authorities announced today.
Mayfield, a previously convicted felon, faces three federal counts: being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges stem from an August 24, 2021, parole check that quickly turned into a criminal investigation.
On that day, state parole officers arrived for a routine visit and found thousands in cash—loose bills in various denominations—spread across Mayfield’s bed. A quick glance at his phone revealed text messages referencing drug deals. A warrant was secured. The search that followed uncovered 115 wax-folds of a powdery substance suspected to be narcotics, empty plastic vials, a digital scale, and a notebook detailing dates and times of suspected drug transactions.
But the most damning evidence came from under the bed: a loaded Ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a box of 95 Winchester .22 caliber long rifle cartridges. For a convicted felon, simply touching a firearm is a federal crime. Carrying it while dealing drugs? That triggers a mandatory five-year prison sentence—on top of any other time.
Each count carries brutal penalties. The drug charge alone could bring 20 years and a $1 million fine. Felon-in-possession carries up to 10 years. But the firearm charge in furtherance of drug trafficking? That’s a minimum five-year consecutive sentence—no parole, no leniency—with a potential life behind bars. Each gun count also risks a $250,000 fine.
The case was built by the New Jersey State Parole Board, Paterson Police Department, and ATF agents under Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews. Federal prosecutor Dong Joo Lee is handling the case. Mayfield has not yet entered a plea. The complaint is pending. He is presumed innocent—until the courts say otherwise.
RELATED: Jessie Mayfield Cops Gun, Drugs in Paterson Raid
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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