St. Paul Man Sentenced to 132 Months in Prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine

A 21-year-old St. Paul man was sentenced today in federal court to 132 months in prison on one count of possessing with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.

Wendell Raymone Jones also was sentenced to five years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Ann Montgomery. Jones, a known member of the Selby Siders Gang, was indicted on Nov. 13, 2008, and pleaded guilty on Jan. 29.

“Mr. Jones was dealing in significant quantities of crack cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Frank J. Magill. “Mr. Jones also made the reprehensible choice of fleeing and causing a high-speed chase, thereby putting the lives of police officers and the general public in danger. He put countless people at risk and, as a result of his actions, caused horrific injuries to the innocent bystanders in this case. Because of this, today’s sentence is most appropriate.”

According to his plea agreement, Jones admitted that on Aug. 27, 2008, he possessed with intent to distribute approximately 81 grams of crack cocaine. Jones also admitted he was responsible for possessing an additional 7 grams of crack cocaine on Aug. 15, 2007.

Additional court documents state that police had arranged a controlled purchase from Jones, and when officers attempted to arrest Jones, he fled the scene in his vehicle, striking at least one police car. In fleeing, officers estimated Jones traveled at more than 100 mph. Jones threw the crack cocaine out the window, struck another vehicle, and lost control of his car.

While out of control, Jones’s vehicle struck a parked car. Two innocent bystanders were standing in between a number of parked cars, including the one Jones’s vehicle struck, and were severely injured. One victim had his femur severed, while the other victim had one of her legs amputated.

This case was the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Wilton.

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