United States Attorney Trent Shores announced that a jury found Darowe Junior Jones, 39, of Tulsa, guilty on Wednesday of multiple crimes, including conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 100 grams of heroin.
Law enforcement previously identified Jones as a “Top Ten" suspect of Operation Alpha, a Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative targeting Northern Oklahoma’s most dangerous criminals. Jones was targeted by law enforcement and arrested on April 17, 2018, on an outstanding felony arrest warrant. Dannie Dill, a co-conspirator and “Top Ten" suspect, was also arrested two days later. Dill pleaded guilty on September 5, 2018 to participating in the methamphetamine and heroin distribution conspiracy, as well as other charges.
“The prosecution of Darowe Jones began with his arrest as part of Operation: Alpha. TPD had identified Jones as a “top ten alpha criminal" in Tulsa. He was a high volume drug dealer who peddled heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, ecstasy, and Xanax. Even after his arrest, Jones orchestrated his narcotics business from jail by directing accomplices to hide evidence, including drugs and money," stated U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Late yesterday, a jury held Jones accountable for his crimes by returning verdicts of guilty on all counts. I thank the jury for their service."
During Jones’ trial this week, prosecutors presented evidence showing that Jones conspired with his partners to receive drugs through the mail at various addresses in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, which he later distributed in the Tulsa area. The evidence further showed that Jones sent $97,000 in cash over a two-year period to his out-of-state sources of supply to purchase a wide array of narcotics. Prosecutors called Jones a “one-stop-shop" for drugs, including methamphetamine, black-tar heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, and Xanax.
Through the investigations, agents found that Jones had sent numerous text messages to his co-conspirators discussing “swerves," a term for a drug deal. Once arrested, Jones called his coconspirators from jail, discussing their drug distribution activities in thinly veiled terms. In one of these calls, Jones orchestrated an attempt by his coconspirators to remove $15,000 in drug proceeds from a hiding place in Jones’ residence so investigators could not find it. Jones later coordinated the distribution of the funds.
Ultimately, the jury found Jones guilty of 15 total charges. U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan presided over the trial and will sentence Jones on Jan. 28, 2019. Jones faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine for the drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute heroin charges; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for the possession with intent to distribute marijuana charges; and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for the maintaining a drug involved premises charge. In addition, Jones faces a mandatory minimum consecutive penalty of five years in prison and a maximum consecutive penalty of life in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Jones faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the felon-in-possession of firearms and ammunition charge.
Jones’ arrest and conviction were the result of a coordinated effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshal Service, the Tulsa Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas E. Duncombe, Dennis A. Fries, and Joel-lyn A. McCormick.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
