Gainesville Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

Gainesville, Florida - Stephen Lamar Jones, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "I applaud the excellent investigative work by the DEA and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office that supported this successful prosecution by my office. This repeat offender sought to profit from the devastation caused by meth and other drugs, but now he'll remain locked away in federal prison where he belongs."

Court records indicate that the defendant was found in possession of 284 grams of methamphetamine. The defendant also had heroin and cocaine in his possession. The defendant has a prior conviction for Trafficking in Amphetamines.

Jones faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years' imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christie Utt and Tyler Fleming.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.