PATERSON, NJ – Jessie Mayfield, 59, of Paterson, New Jersey, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to a double-barreled federal offense: trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing a firearm. Mayfield pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin, laying bare a case that highlights the deadly intersection of drug dealing and gun violence plaguing the Garden State.
According to court documents, on August 24, 2021, authorities found Mayfield in possession of a quantity of fentanyl clearly packaged for street-level distribution. Alongside the deadly opioid, law enforcement recovered a Ruger .22 caliber pistol and a box of 95 .22 long rifle cartridges. The discovery suggests Mayfield wasn’t just moving drugs, he was armed and prepared to protect his illicit operation.
Mayfield’s criminal history complicates matters. He’s a previously convicted felon, making the possession of any firearm and ammunition illegal. The charges against him are significant: one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (specifically fentanyl), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The penalties Mayfield faces are severe. The narcotics charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The firearm charge adds another 10 years. But the most damning aspect is the mandatory minimum of five years for possessing the gun during the drug crime – a sentence that will run consecutively to any other punishment handed down. He could ultimately face life in prison. A $250,000 fine also looms.
The bust was the result of a collaborative effort between multiple agencies. The New Jersey State Parole Board, under Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr., played a crucial role, alongside the Paterson Police Department, led by Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora. Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Newark Field Division, under Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan R. Miller, spearheaded the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dong Joo Lee and Benjamin Levin are prosecuting the case. Sentencing is currently scheduled for March 28, 2023. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the outcome, highlighting the ongoing struggle against fentanyl trafficking and the violence it breeds in communities like Paterson.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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