Alijandro “Lucifer” Jones Sentenced to Sixteen and a Half Years in Prison
OAKLAND – LAWFUEL – US Attorney News – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that Alijandro “Lucifer” Jones was sentenced today to 198 months (sixteen and a half years) in prison, eight years supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment for possessing with intent to distribute over five grams of cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”). This sentence is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office (CCCSO).
Mr. Jones pleaded guilty on October 23, 2006, to a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(iii), which prohibits the possession of cocaine base with the intent to distribute it to others. As part of the plea agreement, Mr. Jones admitted to possessing over five grams of cocaine base. The charge stemmed from Mr. Jones’ arrest on July 7, 2005, in Rodeo, California. On that date, Mr. Jones – on parole for roughly the sixth time in his life – fled from CCCSO deputies who were executing a search warrant in the area. After a short foot pursuit, the deputies apprehended Mr. Jones. When the deputies were handcuffing Mr. Jones, they saw a plastic ziplock bag with what appeared to be methamphetamine near his head. The deputies noticed that Mr. Jones had something in his mouth, his cheek was bulging, and he was chewing something. Mr. Jones refused to open his mouth and eventually began vomiting on the ground. After about fifteen minutes Mr. Jones finally spit out a sandwich bag. Inside that sandwich bag were twenty-six smaller bags containing approximately 6 grams of cocaine base, fifty-five smaller bags containing approximately 14 grams of cocaine, one package containing approximately 4 grams of Ecstasy, and one bag containing less than one gram of methamphetamine.
Mr. Jones has a long criminal history which includes convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of cocaine base for sale, felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, threatening a public officer, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs, and driving on a suspended license. Mr. Jones was subject to a mandatory minimum ten-year prison term because he possessed with intent to distribute over five grams of cocaine base and because the government filed a document alleging that Mr. Jones had previously been convicted of possession of cocaine base for sale. Mr. Jones admitted this allegation in his plea agreement.
At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the government moved to dismiss the remaining count of the indictment, which charged Mr. Jones with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a separate incident.
This prosecution is part of a larger investigation aimed at combating gang crime in North Richmond, California, which is an unincorporated area of western Contra Costa County. That larger investigation is being conducted by the FBI, CCCSO, Richmond Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Mr. Jones, 34, most recently of Rodeo, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 15, 2005. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mr. Jones is presently in custody.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge D. Lowell Jensen following a guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute over five grams of cocaine base in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(iii). Judge Jensen also sentenced the defendant to the mandatory minimum eight-year period of supervised release. During that time, Mr. Jones is subject to a number of restrictions, including that he may not return to the North Richmond area without the permission of the United States Probation Office. The defendant will begin serving the sentence immediately.
Garth Hire and James E. Keller are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Legal Technicians Katie Glynn and Margaret Glyer. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.
