Lexington Man Convicted of Armed Drug Trafficking and Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Lexington man, Tevye Tyshear Shelton Jones, 26, was found guilty on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm. He was found guilty following a two-day trial.

According to the evidence at trial, on November 30, 2023, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that was registered to someone with a suspended driver's license. The vehicle briefly stopped before accelerating through a red light and eventually colliding with a light pole. After the collision, the vehicle's occupants began kicking the vehicle's windshield to exit, and two people exited the vehicle and fled. Jones was the third occupant of the vehicle; and as he was attempting to exit the vehicle, a loaded gun fell onto the ground. He attempted to pick the gun up but was apprehended.

A search of Jones' person revealed four cell phones, $350 in cash, and a fanny pack with a loaded, extended firearm magazine, and 57.8 grams of fentanyl (of which at least 32.642 grams also contained methamphetamine and cocaine. A search of the vehicle revealed a stolen pistol; and when the two occupants that originally fled were apprehended, a third firearm was recovered. Jones possessed the controlled substances with intent to distribute them and he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

Evidence further showed that Jones had prior felony convictions, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. Jones had prior convictions for robbery in the second degree, from Fayette Circuit Court in June 2017, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, from the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky in February 2020.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Kathy Witt, Fayette County Sheriff's Office, jointly announced the jury's verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Fayette County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Baker and Todd Bradbury are representing the United States in the case.

Jones is scheduled to appear for sentencing on February 27, 2025. He faces up to life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety - one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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