Evergreen Reporter

Cameron Jones, a 26-year-old resident of Camden, South Carolina, has been sentenced to over seven years in federal prison. He was convicted for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The case stemmed from an incident on April 1, 2022, when an officer from the Camden Police Department noticed suspicious activity in a local park known for recent violence. As the officer approached, Jones attempted to flee while holding his waistband. During the chase, he discarded items into nearby bushes before being apprehended. Officers later retrieved a tan pistol with a drum magazine and 24.11 grams of cocaine from the area where Jones had thrown them. Jones also had more than $3,700 in cash on him at the time of his arrest. Subsequent investigations confirmed that Jones' DNA was present on the firearm and that he had previously posted pictures with it on social media.

Further developments occurred on December 19, 2023, when FBI agents and local law enforcement arrested Jones following his indictment by a grand jury for his actions in April 2022. A search warrant executed at his home uncovered multiple handgun magazines, marijuana, methamphetamine, and 18 machine gun conversion devices known as Glock switches.

Jones' criminal history includes a prior conviction for distributing cocaine which legally bars him from possessing firearms or ammunition. At the time of his arrest, he was identified as a gang member.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson handed down a sentence of 93 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for Cameron Jones. It is noted that there is no parole available in the federal system.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing community safety through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Additionally, this prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation focused on dismantling high-level criminal networks through coordinated efforts among various law enforcement entities.

The investigation involved contributions from the FBI Columbia Field Office, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and Camden Police Department with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sanford leading the prosecution efforts.