Bloomfield Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Narcotics

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that McCLENDON JONES, 40, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 8, 2019, Jones sped away from investigators who were conducting a traffic stop in Hartford and his car sideswiped a city transit bus.  He eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a fence on Mahl Avenue.  After Jones was apprehended, a search of the vehicle revealed approximately 47 grams of crack cocaine, 150 bags of packaged heroin, and a quantity of marijuana.  A subsequent search of Jones’ residence revealed $5,880 in cash and quantities of heroin, cocaine, crack, PCP, and marijuana.

Jones has been detained since his arrest.  On July 31, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).

Jones’ criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics distribution, firearm possession and assault offenses.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration and Hartford Police Department.  The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.