Driver stopped by USC Police is in trouble for what was in car, prosecutor says
A Lexington County man who was pulled over by the University of South Carolina Police faces significantly more trouble for what was found inside the vehicle he was driving than for a traffic violation.
Trevor Jerremy Jones, 36, pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute and possessing a stolen firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday in a news release.
The charges stem from a Nov. 6, 2021, traffic stop, where USC Police pulled over a vehicle driven by Jones after determining that the car tag had expired, according to the release.
When the officer approached, he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in the driver’s side door and a large clear plastic bag containing a large amount of suspected marijuana in the center console, according to the release. Lab tests confirmed Jones possessed marijuana, in a quantity that he intended to distribute, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
A loaded .40 caliber pistol, which had been reported stolen, was also discovered in the glove compartment, according to the release.
Jones also had a large amount of money, grouped into small denominations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
U.S. District Judge Sherri Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Jones after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office, according to the release. Jones faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as paying restitution, and 3 years of supervision to follow prison sentence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. There is no parole in the federal system.
In addition to the USC Police Department, the case was investigated by the ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. Information about Jones attorney was not available.
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