PHILADELPHIA, PA — Ten people have been charged in a federal cocaine trafficking case that authorities say resulted in more than $17 million worth of cocaine being seized during an investigation spanning multiple jurisdictions.
The indictment charges 10 alleged members or associates of the Jones-Basley Drug Trafficking Organization with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Federal prosecutors allege the organization was led by Gregory Jones, also known as “Smallz,” 48, of Philadelphia, and Edward Basley, also known as “Beeb,” 47, of Wayne.
According to the indictment, Jones and Basley allegedly coordinated with a Mexican drug cartel to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to Philadelphia. Prosecutors allege the organization distributed between $5 million and $10 million worth of cocaine in Philadelphia each month.
Authorities reported seizing more than $8 million worth of cocaine and multiple firearms locally during the investigation. When seizures made with law enforcement partners in other federal districts are included, authorities said more than $17 million worth of cocaine was recovered.
Jones and Basley are each charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to federal prosecutors.
Jones is also charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of an elementary school. Basley faces an additional charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Eight other defendants — Shawn Bell, 54, of Cheltenham; Jabari Savage, 46, Renard Brown, 43, Jermaine Singleton, 52, Farid Haddad, 48, and David McField, 43, all of Philadelphia; Orenthial Bailey, 50, of Temple, Texas; and Eduard Amador, 38, of Manassas, Virginia — are charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The indictment alleges the eight are members or associates of the organization.
The FBI arrested five defendants during coordinated operations Tuesday, according to federal prosecutors. The other five defendants were already being held in state or federal custody.
Federal prosecutors said each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge based on applicable federal law and sentencing guidelines.
The FBI and Philadelphia Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Delaware State Police, Maryland State Police and Virginia State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Stram and Christopher Parisi are prosecuting the case.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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