Portland Man Sentenced to 156 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine While on Federal Supervision

EUGENE, Ore.-A Portland, Oregon man with prior convictions for narcotics, firearms, and interstate prostitution was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing methamphetamine after he was caught by federal law enforcement, while on supervised release, with narcotics and a firearm.

Anthony Ballard Jones, 42, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison and five years' supervised release.

"Every day the FBI works tirelessly to build strong cases to remove violent individuals like Anthony Jones from our communities," said Douglas A. Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. "We appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorney's Office in pursuing justice in this case."

According to court documents, in January 2022, FBI received reports from a concerned citizen that Jones, on federal supervised release from a prior conviction, was sending threatening text messages to individuals. During the investigation, FBI received reports from another concerned citizen that Jones was engaged in illegal activities. At the same time, Jones had fled federal supervision and the U.S. Probation Office in Oregon was rendered unable to track his whereabouts or monitor his conduct.

On March 23, 2022, FBI special agents arrested Jones in Portland, Oregon. A firearm and multiple bags were seized from Jones' vehicle. Later, investigators searched the bags and found ammunition, a knife, drug packaging materials and paraphernalia, and distribution quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as cocaine and heroin.

On April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Jones with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On September 12, 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren and Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.