Jury Finds Wilkes-Barre Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

SCRANTON -The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on December 10, 2024, a federal jury found Michael Jones, Jr, age 44, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, guilty on all 10 counts of an indictment charging conspiracy to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a stolen firearm; and maintaining a drug involved premises. The guilty verdicts were returned following a six-and-one-half day trial before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on April 27, 2021, Jones was traveling from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre when he was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police. Law enforcement found drugs hidden inside a stereo speaker in the trunk of Jones' car which led to the search of Jones' stash house. Law enforcement seized additional amounts of drugs, packaging materials, a stolen firearm, and $20,000 in cash at Jones' stash house.

During the trial, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office presented testimony of 22 witnesses, including a DNA expert.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Todd Hinkley are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney's Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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