Duval County Jury Finds Jones Guilty of Illegal Possession of Firearm

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Willie James Jones guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Controlled Substance. With the verdict, Jones faces up to 40 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Jeb Branham will sentence Jones at a later date.

On July 5, 2022, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Tact Team served an arrest warrant on Jones at a motel on Youngerman Circle. Two undercover officers met with Jones on Blanding Boulevard, and Jones was taken into custody shortly after. Once arrested, officers searched Jones and found narcotics wrapped in a dollar bill as well as more drugs and a silver handgun in his fanny pack. The drugs were sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory for testing; FDLE determined them to be the synthetic stimulant Dimethylpentylone. Jones is a previously convicted felon and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Doug Baer and Emily Jones.