Judge imposes 47-year term for fentanyl death and carjackings

Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options Shares A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 47 years in federal prison for his role in multiple violent crimes, including two carjackings, an attempted carjacking, and the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a young woman in 2023. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark sentenced Bobby Lee Jones, 27, following his convictions and guilty plea in separate federal cases involving drug trafficking and vehicle thefts. In January, a federal jury in St. Louis found Jones guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Trial testimony and evidence established that Jones sold fentanyl-laced pills to an 18-year-old woman who had been seeking marijuana in 2023. According to evidence presented during the trial, Jones agreed to sell marijuana to the woman and also offered her what he claimed was a Percocet pain pill. Investigators determined the pills had been manufactured to resemble Percocet but actually contained fentanyl. After taking one of the pills, the woman was found dead the following day by her boyfriend. During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, the victim’s mother, aunt, friend, and a family friend addressed the court. In a written statement, the victim’s best friend described her as “beautiful, unforgettable, and full of life.” Jones previously pleaded guilty in December to one count of carjacking. Court records show he admitted driving his nephew, Labron Collins, and a juvenile to the 4100 block of Botanical Avenue in St. Louis on Jan. 25, 2023. Collins and the juvenile then stole a 2012 Honda Civic at gunpoint. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Clark determined that evidence showed Jones also participated in an additional carjacking and an attempted carjacking. Testimony indicated that approximately one hour before the Honda Civic theft, Jones and his associates attempted to steal a 2022 Dodge Charger. When the driver attempted to escape, Collins and the juvenile opened fire, shattering a rear window and striking the driver in the back. Evidence further showed that the group later rear-ended a 2011 Infiniti G37 before forcibly taking that vehicle from its driver. Several hours after the shooting involving the Dodge Charger, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle in which Jones was riding as a passenger. One of the firearms used during the shooting was discovered beneath Jones’ seat. Investigators later located the stolen Infiniti parked behind Jones’ mother’s residence. A sentencing memorandum filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski alleged that Jones initiated the crimes and used his then-18-year-old nephew and a juvenile to carry them out in an effort to limit his own criminal exposure. The memorandum also detailed Jones’ extensive criminal history. According to prosecutors, Jones was found in possession of cocaine base and a firearm at age 18. At age 20, he was apprehended in a stolen vehicle following a police pursuit. Less than three months after being released from custody, prosecutors said he committed another carjacking involving a BMW and was later found with another firearm. Judge Clark imposed a 45-year prison sentence for the fentanyl distribution and carjacking offenses. He also ordered Jones to serve an additional two years for violating the terms of supervised release stemming from a 2019 federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Collins, now 21, also of St. Louis, previously pleaded guilty to five counts of carjacking and three counts of possessing or brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He admitted participating in the two carjackings and attempted carjacking connected to Jones. Collins additionally admitted responsibility for the carjacking of a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta on Feb. 11, 2023, and the theft of a 2013 Acura TL and a 2014 Honda Civic the following day. He is currently serving a 15-year federal prison sentence. Post Views: Share this: Tweet Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Print (Opens in new window) Share on Tumblr Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Related Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options Shares Shares Sharing Email this article Print this article