Columbia, South Carolina – Jokari T. Jones, a 36-year-old Columbia man, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and misprison of a felony.
According to United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon, Jones was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior South Carolina state convictions, including unlawful carrying of a pistol (2003), assault with intent to kill and unlawful carrying of a pistol (2005), and carrying weapons on school property and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence (2012).
On July 29, 2017, Jones’ brother, Shamari Delresse Jones, a/k/a ‘Amari,’ was arrested on state charges, including felon in possession of ammunition. In an attempt to conceal the firearms from law enforcement, Jones moved them from Columbia to their mother’s residence in Heath Springs, Lancaster County.
Law enforcement recovered a number of firearms and rounds of ammunition, including a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle with an extended magazine and two 12 gauge shotguns, at the residence on July 30, 2017. Jones’ brother was a known gang member and had attended an offender notification meeting in October 2015, where he was advised by law enforcement officials that possessing firearms and ammunition would warrant federal prosecution due to his extensive prior record.
Jones faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the felon in possession of firearms and ammunition charge. He also faces a maximum of 3 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 1 year of supervised release on the misprison of a felony charge.
Jones’ brother, Shamari Delresse Jones, a/k/a ‘Amari,’ entered a guilty plea in federal court earlier this year to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and is currently awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Columbia Police Department, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state, and local initiative focused on aggressively prosecuting firearm cases to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime