TL/DR –
Lawrence Levon Jones, a Raleigh man and leader of a local drug organization, has been convicted on charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy, and illegal firearm possession by a federal jury. Jones was found to regularly travel to Newark and Los Angeles to collect money and buy large amounts of cocaine and marijuana which were then transported to Raleigh. Jones faces 15 years to life in prison and will be sentenced in 2024.
Raleigh Man Convicted on Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession Charges
Last week, a federal jury found Raleigh resident Lawrence Levon Jones, 43, guilty of drug trafficking, conspiracy, and illegal firearm possession. According to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael Easley, Jones is the head of a Raleigh-based drug network that sourced narcotics from Newark, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Jones already has eight felony convictions, seven for drug trafficking and one for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Large Scale Drug Operation Uncovered
CBS 17 reports that court documents and trial details reveal Jones regularly travelled to Los Angeles and Newark to collect money from his associates and purchase large quantities of cocaine and marijuana. The prosecution stated that couriers transported the drugs from these cities to the Raleigh area.
Substantial Drug Seizure
In a significant bust on July 22, 2020, law enforcement in Texas halted a courier travelling from California and confiscated 400 pounds of marijuana and three kilograms of cocaine hidden in the back of a truck disguised as lumber stacks. On the same day, agents arrested Jones at his Raleigh stash house, seizing 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, 138 grams of crack, two kilograms of marijuana, ecstasy pills laced with methamphetamine, two handguns, over $99,000 in cash, and five kilo presses.
Subsequent Raids and Seizures
Over the subsequent two days, agents executed multiple search warrants on properties used by Jones’s organization in Raleigh and California. This operation resulted in the seizure of nine more firearms valued at over $757,000, along with additional drugs. After U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III acknowledged the verdict, Jones now faces a potential 15 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for 2024.
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