Draft:Anthony Jones
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Comment: any sources that aren't the baltimore sun or fbi reports/legal documents? fix the URLs PARAKANYAA (talk) 10:25, 27 October 2024 (UTC)
Anthony Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anthony Ayeni Jones January 1, 1973 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Other names | AJ |
| Occupation | Gangster |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Conviction(s) | |
| Criminal penalty | Life sentence with no parole |
Date apprehended | April 4, 1996 |
Anthony Ayeni Jones (born c. 1973) is an American former gangster and kingpin from Baltimore, Maryland. Jones is currently serving a life sentence at the ADX Florence prison in Colorado. Jones was previously imprisoned on state charges in 1991[1] and has been incarcerated since 1996.[2]
Early life
[edit]Jones was born in 1973 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was raised in the 1700 block of E. Oliver St., a neighborhood in east Baltimore; He was subjected to regular physical abuse as a child.[3] His mother was a frequent drug user, which eventually led to Jones beginning to deal drugs at the age of eleven. On June 21st, 1991, thirteen-year-old Tezara Horsey was shot and killed in Jones bedroom as she was chatting to him. Jones 14-year-old cousin Darnell was charged in the shooting.[4] Jones was educated at Lake Clifton High School.[5]
Criminal career
[edit]Jones began his career at the age of eleven[1] dealing crack-cocaine and heroin for a gang led by Nathaniel Dawson Jr.,[4] he first caught the attention of state authorities at the age of twelve. Jones broke away from the Dawson organization and began dealing in larger quantities for himself. He built his organization up through violence and intimidation towards rival dealers.
Jones Organization
[edit]At the age of eighteen, Jones enterprise had up to ten core members and was making upwards of $70,000 per week. On October 10th 1991, Jones was arrested by state police and charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, distribution of narcotics, and firearms violations. [6] Jones signed a plea agreement on April 1st, 1992, in which he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The details of his plea agreement meant that he would not be prosecuted federally for the firearms charges. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment; he was paroled after one year.[4]
Westmoreland murder
[edit]On October 25th 1994,[7]a local drug dealer named Keith Westmoreland was shot and killed at his home in the 1200 block of N. Gay St. in East Baltimore. He was ambushed by two men wearing masks of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Following an anonymous tip, police arrested Jones at his home the day after the murder on an unrelated warrant.[8] A gunshot residue test conducted after the arrest proved that Jones had primer-residue on his hands. Jones was federally indicted for the murder in 1996. While awaiting trial, federal witness Daniel Ross[9] who was incarcerated with Jones at Charles County jail, quoted Jones as saying that he would not be identified in the murder because ‘we were wearing masks.’ Jones and his cousin Darnell were both convicted of the murder.
Control over Baltimore
[edit]By 1994, Jones’ organization had complete control of the drug-trade in East Baltimore. He maintained his status through intimidation and violence. He routinely ordered murders of rivals, including one in which the victim was set on fire.[10] He also ordered the murders of rival dealers and their mothers. At this time, Jones’ operation was making $30,000 per day selling crack and heroin.[10] Jones organization was so extensive that he had enlisted the services of corrupt Baltimore police officer Erick McCrary.[11] His organization had over 25 members and hundreds of street dealers.
Williams gang war
[edit]Jones was challenged by a rival group headed by Elway Williams in early 1996.[10] Williams' operation was garnering up to $15,000 per day in profits and was a direct competitor to Jones' gang. Jones soon ordered the murder of Williams’ entire crew and had his enforcers patrolling the streets looking for them.
Elway shooting
[edit]Jones enlisted three of Elway's bodyguards to murder him in exchange for Jones cancelling the contracts on them.[5] In February 1996, the three bodyguards, known as 'Walli,' 'Red-Dog,' and 'Keedy,' shot Williams in an alley. The attack killed Williams enforcer Derrick Rivers. Williams was shot three times and was critically injured. He was rushed to hospital.
Kidnapping plot
[edit]Following the shooting, Williams was being treated at John Hopkins Hospital. Jones ordered a further attempt on Elway’s life by hiring one of his enforcers to inject him with a syringe carrying drano,[12] although this order was not carried out. Jones instead ordered police officer Erick McCrary to arrest Williams and deliver him directly to Jones.[13] McCrary was arrested before the abduction could be carried out. He plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.[13] He was sentenced to five years in federal prison.[14]
Arrest and indictments
[edit]Jones was arrested in February 1996 on the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was released on bail. On April 4th 1996, Elway Williams was arrested on charges of conspiracy to traffic narcotics and distribution of narcotics; that same day, Jones was federally indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.[15] Jones surrendered that day.[4] He later pleaded guilty to the firearms charge and was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, which he began serving at FCI Allenwood Low. A memorandum dated October 10th, 1996, stated that Jones is ‘very violent, and will be indicted for homicide.’[15]
Henry murder
[edit]In May 1996, while serving a sentence at Allenwood for firearms violations, Jones became aware that a superseding indictment against him was being prepared. Jones ordered the murder of drug dealer Octavian Henry. On May 13th, 1996, Henry was shot in the head multiple times in an alley off of E. Oliver St in East Baltimore, he was killed in the attack.[16] Henry had been providing information to prosecutors against Jones and his co-conspirators.
Carter shooting
[edit]In January 1997, Jones ordered the murder of Angelo Carter,[17] who was co-operating with federal authorities against Jones and his organization. Carter was shot multiple times but survived.[17] Jones received additional charges against him, all of which he was convicted at trial.
Jones murder
[edit]On February 21st, 1997, he ordered the murder of his stepbrother John Jones. He was murdered in his own home later that week. In the two weeks leading up to his murder, he had been co-operating with authorities and had given a statement against Anthony.[10][15] Jones used coded slang when ordering the murder from a prison phone.
’Yergy, I mean the nergy got thergy fergy ergy.’ – Jones, transcript of audio from prison phone.
Prosecutors argued that the phrase was an order spoken in pig latin that called for the death of John Jones. [17] The phone call was used as evidence at trial and Jones was convicted of his murder.
Trial and imprisonment
[edit]On May 27th, 1998, Anthony Jones was found guilty on all counts, including murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, retaliating against federal witnesses and conspiracy to distribute narcotics.[10] The jury voted against the death penalty. On August 25th, 1998, Jones was sentenced to life with no possibility of parole. He was placed under a no-human-contact order, had both his telephone and mail privileges revoked for ten years,[18] and was only permitted visits with his mother.[15]
In 2014, the restrictions placed on Jones were eased slightly, he is allowed limited contact with prisoners as well as heavily monitored phone calls with his mother and children, he is still kept in isolation for 23 hours each day. He is currently housed at ADX Florence in Colorado. [15]
In popular culture
[edit]Jones and his organization served as a partial basis for the fictional character Marlo Stanfield and his eponymous Stanfield Organization on the television series The Wire.
References
[edit]- ^ a b www.baltimoresun.com/1991/10/27/risky-business-major-drug-dealers-are-getting-younger/
- ^ https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/archive/special/9908/callsp51.html
- ^ https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/06/05/prosecutor-says-jones-must-die-to-stop-killing/
- ^ a b c d Shatzkin, Kate; Hermann, Peter (May 19, 1996). "Suspect symbolizes police frustrations Repeated arrests on array of charges don't yield convictions".
- ^ a b "Killer tells of 'wicked' lifestyle Member of drug gang testifies in Jones trial". October 31, 1997.
- ^ "United States of America v. Anthony Ayeni Jones - Lombardo Legal". yumpu.com.
- ^ https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/11/05/witnesses-describe-masked-intruders-one-suspect-believed-to-be-alleged-kingpin/
- ^ https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/Unpublished/984624.U.pdf
- ^ https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/Unpublished/984624.U.pdf
- ^ a b c d e "Drug lord Jones is guilty of murder Feared dealer plotted deaths of informants, rivals and witnesses; Federal death penalty case". May 28, 1998.
- ^ "Climbing the ladder in drug world Federal probe offers glimpse into evolving role of young people". February 27, 1997.
- ^ https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/06/11/on-e-oliver-st-drug-lord-is-seen-in-a-different-light-convicted-murderer-anthony-jones-still-respected-by-neighbors/
- ^ a b "Accused drug lord's murder trial opens Prosecutors say Jones ruled by fear, ordered deaths of his rivals". April 17, 1998.
- ^ "Ex-police officer gets 5 years in murder plot Defendant's evidence helped convict notorious drug dealer". May 30, 1998.
- ^ a b c d e "United States v. Jones, Criminal No. WMN-96-0458 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com.
- ^ https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/05/23/witness-in-drug-probe-was-slain-he-testified-about-gang-retaliation-suspected-in-february-shooting/
- ^ a b c Smith, Van (June 4, 2014). "Wergy tergy! Judge gives Baltimore drug lord Anthony Ayeni Jones a small sip of sympathy".
- ^ https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/08/22/jones-could-lose-mail-phone-convicted-drug-lord-has-ordered-hits-from-prison-prosecutors-say/