$500,000 IN CASH SEIZED, DRUG GROUP SOLD 1,000 KILOS OF COCAINE IN CHARLOTTE

On April 7, 2022 in Charlotte, NC Jared Jones, 39, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Jared was the leader of a drug and money laundering organization operating across North Carolina, South Carolina, and California. Jared was the main connection for the drugs. Much of the cocaine was sold in Charlotte, NC by several co-conspirators that were also sentenced to prison, they are: Jarmel Brownlee, 31, Marlaina Smoot, 27, Phonesavanh Phonesavang, 39, Joel Walker (Money Laudering), 36, Nathasha Lawes, 33, Judiet Cooper, 36, Jervonta Walker, 39, and Jasneko Wright, 35.

According to filed documents and court proceedings, between 2014 and September 2020, the drug conspiracy trafficked approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine from California into North Carolina and South Carolina and laundered the criminal proceeds.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized 30 kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, and approximately $500,000 in cash. Jared pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, money laundering conspiracy, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Jared recruited several people in the drug conspiracy to sell drugs for him.

A federal judge previously sentenced Jared’s co-defendants as follows:

• Jasneko Wright, 35, of Newberry, S.C., was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering conspiracy.

 • Joel Walker, 36, of Columbia, S.C., was sentenced to 84 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for money laundering conspiracy.

• Jarmel Brownlee, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering conspiracy.

• Nathasha Lawes, 33, of Clover, S.C., was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

• Phonesavanh Phonesavang, 39, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

• Marlaina Smoot, 27, of Newberry, S.C., was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

• Judiet Cooper, 36, of Charlotte, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, money laundering conspiracy, and possession with intent to distribute heroin. followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

• Jervonta Walker, 39, of Los Angeles, California, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, money laundering conspiracy, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and is currently awaiting sentencing.

Several people were arrested when the ATF, FBI, and DEA partnered with several police departments to identify a drug trafficking organization that sold cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.