Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TONI JONES, age 33, and TIMREK ANDREWS, age 43, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged on February 25, 2022 in a four-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Federal Controlled Substances Act. Specifically, TONI JONES is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i) in Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment. TONI JONES and TIMREK ANDREWS are each charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) in Counts 3 and 4 of the indictment.

According to court documents, JONES was previously convicted of illegally possessing heroin and fentanyl in St. Bernard Parish and ANDREWS was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Due to their criminal history, they are prohibited from having a firearm and are now charged with possessing a Glock 43, 9mm handgun. JONES is additionally accused of possessing that firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on February 10, 2022 along with possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, cocaine base (“crack”), and methamphetamine, all Schedule II controlled substances, with the intent to distribute.

If convicted of Count 1, JONES faces a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. If convicted of Count 2, she faces a minimum of five (5) years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to five (5) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. JONES, if convicted of Count 3, and ANDREWS, if convicted of Count 4, each face a maximum of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Strauss.