Meriwether County Man Found Guilty of Illegal Gun Possession and Drug Trafficking

Howatdrick Jamal Jones, 30, of Woodbury, Georgia, was found guilty of multiple charges, including possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The verdict came after a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Clay Land that concluded on Monday, September 23. Jones faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December 12. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary stated, “Repeat armed felons tied to violent criminal gangs will find themselves being held accountable at the federal level. Law enforcement across the Middle District of Georgia is working closely with our office to bring the most dangerous offenders in our communities to justice and make our communities safer for all.”

The case stems from an incident on October 16, 2019, when Jones was stopped by a Waverly Hall Police Department officer after an automatic license plate reader alerted the officer to active arrest warrants for the vehicle’s owner. Upon approaching the car, the officer detected the smell of marijuana and conducted a search, uncovering cocaine, a digital scale, and a razor blade near the drugs. Jones was also found concealing a .45 caliber pistol.

At the time of his arrest, Jones had several prior felony drug convictions, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm. Notably, he was convicted of bank robbery on September 20, 2023, in the Superior Court of Pike County, Georgia, and is currently serving a life sentence for that crime.

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, commented, “Guns, drugs and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of the drug trafficking organizations operating in our communities. Cases like this clearly demonstrate the resolve of the DEA to hold violent drug traffickers accountable.”

Waverly Hall Police Chief Jason Durham also expressed gratitude to law enforcement involved in the case, stating, “This is another proven example that illegal drugs and guns will not be tolerated.”

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Waverly Hall Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Williams and Crawford Seals are prosecuting the case for the Government.