Previously Banished Felon Arrested Again in Stephens County on Drug and Gang Charges

Johnny Rodrickus “Hotrod” Jones, 33 of Toccoa, a previously convicted felon banished from the Mountain Judicial Circuit, was arrested on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Stephens County. The arrest was made by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) task force.

Jones was originally sentenced in connection to a January 2, 2022, shooting at the Toccoa Pines (Prather Park) apartment complex. He previously pled guilty to three counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Violation of the Georgia Criminal Street Gang Prevention Act, receiving a 20-year sentence with three years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). As part of his sentence, he was banished from Stephens, Habersham, and Rabun counties.

Following his recent release from GDC, authorities received reports of Jones’ alleged renewed involvement in criminal street gang activity and drug trafficking in northeast Georgia. An investigation was launched by ARDEO, the GBI Metro Gang Task Force, the FBI-North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force, and SCSO criminal investigators. The investigation identified Jones as operating a ruby red 2006 Ford Mustang while allegedly conducting illegal activities.

On April 29, 2025, law enforcement located Jones’ vehicle within Stephens County, in violation of his banishment. A traffic stop was conducted, and Jones was confirmed as the driver. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a quantity of marijuana, suspected criminal street gang paraphernalia, digital scales and packaging materials, and $790 in U.S. currency.

Jones was taken into custody and transported to the Stephens County Detention Center. During the booking process, he allegedly attempted to conceal multiple illegal substances, including suspected hydrocodone, suspected methamphetamine, a felony amount of suspected marijuana, and suspected crack cocaine.

Jones has been charged with: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Schedule 2 Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute (Crack Cocaine), Possession of Schedule 2 Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute (Hydrocodone), Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Schedule 2 Controlled Substances (Crack Cocaine), Possession of Schedule 2 Controlled Substances (Hydrocodone), and four Counts of Crossing Guard Lines with Drugs without Consent of Warden. His bond for these charges was set at $141,000 by the Stephens County Magistrate Court.

Additionally, Jones has been charged with eight counts of Unlawful Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity, for which he received “No Bond” and will need to appear before a Stephens County Superior Court Judge to determine bond.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this case or other criminal gang and drug activity to contact the GBI ARDEO Tip Line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) and or the SCSO Criminal Investigations Tip Line at (706) 898-7048. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at gbi.georgia.gov or on the SCSO app using the “Submit a Tip” form.