A Portland man with a history of criminal activity has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison after being found guilty of possessing a significant quantity of methamphetamine. Anthony Ballard Jones, 42, received the sentence of 156 months in prison and was imposed with an additional five years of supervised release, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon.
The sentence comes as a result of Jones' violation of his federal supervision, an offense compounded by his possession of narcotics and a firearm. According to a statement by the FBI, they worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office to remove violent individuals like Anthony Jones from our communities. This crackdown on Jones' activities underscores law enforcement's ongoing efforts to curb illegal substance distribution and its associated violence in the Portland area.
In January 2022, reports began to surface through concerned citizens about Jones’ threatening behavior and possible illegal activities. The situation escalated when Jones absconded from federal supervision, leaving the U.S. Probation Office without the means to monitor him. It was not until March 23, 2022, that FBI agents took Jones into custody in Portland. They confiscated a firearm, along with various bags containing ammunition, a knife, and quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin intended for distribution from his vehicle.
Subsequently, a federal grand jury in Eugene indicted Jones on April 21, 2022, on several counts, including distribution of methamphetamine, illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Yesterday, Jones pleaded guilty to the drug possession and distribution charges. The case was diligently pursued by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, who ensured a successful prosecution.
