Anthony Ayeni Jones
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Anthony Jones | |
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| Born | Anthony Ayeni Jones March 1, 1973 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Other names | AJ |
| Occupation | Gangster |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Conviction(s) |
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| Criminal penalty | Life sentence with no parole |
Date apprehended | April 4, 1996 |
Anthony Ayeni Jones (born March 1, 1973) is an American former gangster and kingpin from Baltimore, Maryland. Jones is currently serving a life sentence at the ADX Florence prison in Colorado. Jones was previously imprisoned on state charges in 1991[1]and has been incarcerated since 1996.
Early life
Jones was born in 1973 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was abandoned by his biological parents and was subjected to regular physical abuse by his foster family as a child.[2][3]His foster mother was a frequent drug user, which eventually led to Jones beginning to deal drugs at the age of eleven.[4] He was educated at Lake Clifton High School.[5]
Criminal career
Jones began his career at the age of eleven[1] dealing crack-cocaine and heroin for a gang led by Nathaniel Dawson Jr.,[6] he first caught the attention of state authorities at the age of twelve. Jones broke away from the Dawson organization and began dealing in larger quantities for himself. He built his organization up through violence and intimidation towards rival dealers.
Jones Organization
By the age of fifteen, Jones and his friends had taken over the drug trade in their neighbourhood, they sold drugs on street corners and at their high school. At eighteen, Jones enterprise had up to ten core members and was making upwards of $70,000 per week. Jones was operating independently from the Dawson gang and surrounded himself with multiple enforcers and family members.
Snake murder
In 1989, Jones and an associate murdered an unidentified drug addict known as Snake. He was shot dead in an alley after he fell out of favor with Jones and his gang.[7] The murder was witnessed by drug dealer Daniel Ross, who would later testify against Jones in his trial in 1996.[8]
Horsey shooting
On June 21st, 1991, thirteen-year-old Tezara Horsey was shot and killed in Jones bedroom as she was talking to him. Jones 14-year-old cousin Darnell was charged in the shooting. He claimed he did not think the pistol was loaded when he pointed it at Horsey.[9][6]Darnell Jones was tried as a juvenile and later convicted of manslaughter.
Prison and release
On October 10th 1991, Jones was arrested by state police and charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, distribution of narcotics, and firearms violations.[10] Jones signed a plea agreement on April 1st, 1992, in which he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The details of his plea agreement meant that he would not be prosecuted federally for the firearms charges. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment; he was paroled after one year.[6]
Control over Baltimore
By 1994, Jones’ organization had complete control of the drug-trade in East Baltimore. He maintained his status through intimidation and violence. He routinely ordered murders of rivals, including one in which the victim was set on fire.[11]He also ordered the murders of rival dealers and their mothers. At this time, Jones’ operation was making $30,000 per day selling crack and heroin.[11] Jones organization was so extensive that he had enlisted the services of corrupt Baltimore police officer Erick McCrary.[12]His organization had over 25 members and hundreds of street dealers.
July double murders
In July 1994, two men named Darnell Solomon and Sean Brown[7] were murdered in east Baltimore. During Jones trial in 1997, witnesses testified that his organization was responsible. Despite being accused of the murders, Jones was not formally charged with the killings.
Westmoreland murder
On October 25th 1994,[13]a local drug dealer named Keith Westmoreland was shot and killed at his home in the 1200 block of N. Gay St. in East Baltimore. He was ambushed by two men wearing masks of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Following an anonymous tip, police arrested Jones at his home the day after the murder on an unrelated warrant.[14] A gunshot residue test conducted after the arrest proved that Jones had primer-residue on his hands. Jones was federally indicted for the murder in 1996. While awaiting trial, federal witness Daniel Ross[14] who was incarcerated with Jones at Charles County jail, quoted Jones as saying that he would not be identified in the murder because ‘we were wearing masks.’ Jones and his cousin Darnell were both convicted of the murder.
Eastside gang war
Rush Organization feud
In early 1995, Jones was challenged by a rival group called the Rush Organization, headed by Elway Williams.[4][11] Williams' operation was garnering up to $15,000 per day in profits and was a direct competitor to Jones' gang. Jones soon ordered the murder of Williams’ entire crew and had his enforcers patrolling the streets looking for them.
Green murder
In 1995, rival gangster Anthony Green was murdered. Green was Elway Williams right-hand man and enforcer in the Rush Organization. Jones and associate DeShane Carter were named as the shooters.[7] On October 3, 1995, Jones was shot in the arm in a failed murder attempt.[4] The shooting was a retaliation strike for the hit. Two days later on October 5, Deshane Carter was murdered.
Rivers murder
Jones enlisted three of Elway's bodyguards to murder him in exchange for Jones cancelling the contracts on them.[5] In February 1996, the three bodyguards, known as 'Walli,' 'Red-Dog,' and 'Keedy,' shot Williams in an alley. Williams was shot three times and was critically injured, he was rushed to hospital. The attack killed Williams enforcer Derrick Rivers. Jones was found guilty of Rivers murder at trial.
Kidnapping plot
Following the Rivers shooting, Williams was being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Jones ordered a further attempt on Elway’s life by hiring one of his enforcers to inject him with a syringe carrying drano,[15]although this order was not carried out. Jones instead ordered police officer Erick McCrary to arrest Williams and deliver him directly to Jones.[16]McCrary was arrested before the abduction could be carried out. He plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering,[16] he was sentenced to five years in federal prison.[17]
Arrest and indictments
Jones was arrested in February 1996 on the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was released on bail. On April 3rd 1996, Elway Williams was arrested on charges of conspiracy to traffic narcotics and distribution of narcotics; that same day, Jones was federally indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, he surrendered immediately.[18][19][6] He later pleaded guilty to the firearms charge and was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, which he began serving at FCI Allenwood Low. A memorandum dated October 10th, 1996, stated that Jones is ‘very violent, and will be indicted for homicide.’[19]
Further crimes
Henry murder
In May 1996, while serving a sentence at Allenwood for firearms violations, Jones became aware that a superseding indictment against him was being prepared. Jones ordered the murder of drug dealer Octavian Henry. On May 13th, 1996, Henry was shot in the head multiple times in an alley off of E. Oliver St in East Baltimore, he was killed in the attack.[20]had been providing information to prosecutors against Jones and his co-conspirators.
Carter shooting
In January 1997, Jones ordered the murder of Angelo Carter,[21]who was co-operating with federal authorities against Jones and his organization. Carter was shot multiple times but survived.[21] Jones received additional charges against him, all of which he was convicted at trial.
Jones murder
On February 21st, 1997, he ordered the murder of his stepbrother John Jones.[22] He was murdered in his own home later that week. In the two weeks leading up to his murder, he had been co-operating with authorities and had given a statement against Anthony.[11][19] Prosecutors argued that Jones used coded slang when ordering the murder from a prison phone. They claimed that the order was spoken in pig latin.[21] Jones was convicted of his murder.
Trial and imprisonment
On May 27th, 1998, Anthony Jones was found guilty on all counts, including the murders of Keith Westmoreland, Derrick Rivers, and his brother John Jones. He was also convicted of the attempted kidnapping of Elway Williams.[2][11] The jury voted against the death penalty.[2] On August 25th, 1998, Jones was sentenced to life with no possibility of parole. He was placed under a no-human-contact order, had both his telephone and mail privileges revoked for ten years,[23]and was only permitted visits with his mother.[19]
In 2014, the restrictions placed on Jones were eased slightly, he is allowed limited contact with prisoners as well as heavily monitored phone calls with his mother and children, he is still kept in isolation for 23 hours each day. He is currently housed at ADX Florence in Colorado.[19]
In popular culture
Jones and his organization served as a partial basis for the fictional character Marlo Stanfield and his eponymous Stanfield Organization on the television series The Wire.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Khalid, S. M. (27 October 1991). "Risky Business: Major Drug Dealers Are Getting Younger". Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ANTHONY AYENI JONES: Special Verdict Form" (PDF). June 1998.
- ↑ "Prosecutor says Jones must die to stop killing". Baltimore Sun. June 5, 1998.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ferranti, Seth (October 28, 2011). "Street Legends: Anthony "AJ" Jones". GORILLA CONVICT - Seth Ferranti. p. 5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Killer tells of 'wicked' lifestyle Member of drug gang testifies in Jones trial". Baltimore Sun. October 31, 1997.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Shatzkin, Kate; Hermann, Peter (May 19, 1996). "Suspect symbolizes police frustrations Repeated arrests on array of charges don't yield convictions". Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Cr. No. WMN-96-0458 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ANTHONY AYENI JONES: Notice of Intention to Seek the Death Penalty" (PDF). June 18, 1997.
- ↑ James, Michael (October 16, 1997). "Witness says death threat made in court 'I'm going to kill your family,' defendant allegedly warned; Jones is suspected hit man; He played key role in drug conspiracy, prosecutors say". Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ Sanchez, Raymond L. (19 September 1991). "CHILDREN UNDER FIRE More and more youngsters being felled by gunfire KINDER-CARNAGE — Special report". Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ "No. 98-4624: United States of America v. Anthony Ayeni Jones - Opinion - (Unpublished Disposition)". yumpu.com. Lombardo Legal. May 26, 2000 – via Westlaw (Thomson/West).
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Drug lord Jones is guilty of murder Feared dealer plotted deaths of informants, rivals and witnesses; Federal death penalty case". Baltimore Sun. May 28, 1998.
- ↑ "Climbing the ladder in drug world Federal probe offers glimpse into evolving role of young people". Baltimore Sun. February 27, 1997.
- ↑ James, Michael (November 5, 1997). "Witnesses describe masked intruders One suspect believed to be alleged kingpin". Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "No. 98-4624: United States of America v. Anthony Ayeni Jones - Opinion - (Unpublished)" (PDF). UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS: FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT. May 26, 2000.
- ↑ "On E. Oliver St., drug lord is seen in a different light Convicted murderer Anthony Jones still respected by neighbors". Baltimore Sun. June 11, 1998.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Accused drug lord's murder trial opens Prosecutors say Jones ruled by fear, ordered deaths of his rivals". Baltimore Sun. April 17, 1998.
- ↑ "Ex-police officer gets 5 years in murder plot Defendant's evidence helped convict notorious drug dealer". Baltimore Sun. May 30, 1998.
- ↑ Hornstein, Larry. "Anthony Ayeni Jones Drug Organization, Baltimore, Maryland". nleomf.org. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Nickerson, William M. (March 13, 2014). "United States v. Jones, (Criminal No. WMN-96-0458 Criminal No. WMN-97-0355 - D. Md.)". Casetext Search + Citator (casetext.com). Thomson Reuters.
- ↑ "Witness in drug probe was slain He testified about gang; retaliation suspected in February shooting". Baltimore Sun. May 23, 1997.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Smith, Van (June 4, 2014). "Wergy tergy! Judge gives Baltimore drug lord Anthony Ayeni Jones a small sip of sympathy". Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ "Shot Caller". Don Diva Magazine. No. 8. DD Global Media.
- ↑ "Jones could lose mail, phone Convicted drug lord has ordered 'hits' from prison, prosecutors say". Baltimore Sun. August 22, 1998.
External links
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