A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for narcotics and firearms offenses.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, Shawn Money Jones, 33, of Lancaster, was found guilty of possessing various illegal narcotics with the intent to distribute them as well as illegally possessing a firearm while a convicted felon. As a result, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr. sentenced Jones to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal weapons out of the hands of people who are not permitted to possess them, and to cutting off the supply of deadly narcotics flowing into our communities,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero said in the release. "Shawn Money Jones presented a danger to the community in Lancaster, and for his crimes he will now spend 15 years in prison.”
The accused entered a guilty plea to three counts in August 2022, including two counts of drug distribution with intent and one count of felon in possession of a handgun, the release reported. The accusations in this case were the result of a lengthy investigation that resulted in a search of the defendant's home.
Methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and a drug with a measurable level of oxycodone were all discovered and taken into custody by local and federal authorities during the search, according to the release. Aside from three semi-automatic weapons, including an assault rifle and a ghost gun with no identifiable make, model or serial number, investigators also found thousands of dollars in cash.
“Like other drug traffickers, Shawn Jones had no regard for the harm he caused in his community," Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division Jacqueline Maguire said in the release. "Getting illegal narcotics off the street and illegal guns out of criminals’ hands is a step toward making Lancaster safer. The FBI and our partners will continue to work on behalf of all the good, law-abiding folks there."
