LEADERS OF A NOTORIOUS RING PLEAD GUILTY clifford jones gang

[The Streets Don't Love You Back]

LEADERS OF A NOTORIOUS RING PLEAD GUILTY
Detroit Free Press (MI) - Thursday, December 1, 1994
Author: JIM SCHAEFER Free Press Staff Writer
Two brothers who led a ring believed responsible for more than 50 slayings in the metro area
pleaded guilty Wednesday, abruptly ending their three-week trial in U.S. District Court in
Detroit.
Clifford Jones , the leader of the organization, and his older brother Lester, the ring's enforcer,
threw in the towel after the government introduced more 170 wire-tapped telephone discussions
about murder, intended murder, drug dealing, robbery and other crimes.
"Tape by tape, witness by witness they saw the wall building around them," said the prosecutor,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Stern.
In exchange for the two pleading guilty before Judge Gerald Rosen, the government agreed to
request a sentence of 20 years, 6 months for Clifford Jones and 10 years for Lester Jones .
Clifford Jones , who originally faced more than 20 counts, pleaded guilty to four charges
Wednesday involving guns, drugs and conspiracy to murder a government witness.
His brother, originally facing two gun and drug charges, pleaded guilty to the gun charge.
A third defendant, Emanuel Adams, is continuing with his jury trial. He also faces charges
involving weapons, drugs and conspiracy to murder.
The trial culminates the prosecution of more than 20 people originally indicted in the Jones
Organization ring. Most of them took pleas.
At the time of the indictment, law enforcement officials said the east side Detroit ring was paid
$7,500 to $25,000 each for at least 50 contract killings, mostly of other drug dealers whose
goods were stolen and peddled.
Stern, the prosecutor, credited work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for the
guilty pleas. The investigation lasted three years. Stern said Special Agent Tom Brandon
deserved most of the credit for working long hours preparing the case, including holidays and
weekends. .
"This guy needs to be put on a throne and carried down the streets of Detroit," Stern said.