Repeat criminal gets maximum federal sentence for firearm charge
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - A federal judge handed down the maximum sentence to a known criminal for federal possession of a firearm, while taking into consideration a rolling gun-battle that ended in a crash and an elderly couple getting injured.
Marcus Jones, 33, of Oakland, will spend a decade in prison and be forced to pay a $100,000 fine, according to court documents. Jones has never faced charges related to the gun-battle.
Jones pleaded guilty in August to possessing a gun and ammunition. He was arrested after returning home from Oakland International Airport and was found carrying a loaded handgun, $19,478 and an additional $14,980 in his luggage along with a bulletproof vest.
After his arrest, federal and local law enforcement executed a search warrant including an AK-47 assault rifle, marijuana, $240,280 in cash and credit-card making devices.
Police believe Jones was the driver of a minivan involved in a driving gun-battle with another suspect, Davlon Harris, 33, of Oakland. It happened on November 17, 2016, and resulted in an SUV slamming into an elderly couple’s car, seriously injuring them both.
"Anybody who takes as lightly as it's okay to go driving through the streets of a community and start launching rounds out of a window especially when there's kids around, there's elementary schools and kindergartens, and they think that's okay, we're here to stop that,” Special Agent in Charge John Bennett said. “We're here to work with the locals to insure that this community of San Leandro and the Bay Area understand that this is not going to be tolerated. We're going to come down as hard as we can, every opportunity we can, where it's appropriate."
The FBI said Jones had an extensive criminal history including gun charges, drug possession and robbery.
Special Agent in Charge John Bennett explained the collaboration between federal and local agencies helps keep violent criminals off Bay Area streets. He praised San Leandro Police Department for its work on the case.
"Do you hope that message will resonate with other criminals?" KTVU Investigative Reporter Brooks Jarosz asked.
"I know it will and I'm here to tell them they better start looking over their shoulder," Agent Bennett said.