Federal Indictment Charges Defendant with Drug Trafficking & Firearms Charges Linked to Murder of Seaside Police Sergeant

PORTLAND, Ore. – Jamie Lee Jones, 44, a former resident of Nevada, was indicted today on drug trafficking, firearms, and witness tampering charges, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.  Jones was living in Seaside in early February 2016, during the time of the alleged offense conduct.  The indictment charges Jones with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; felon in possession of a firearm; two counts of tampering with a witness by physical force or threat; and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  The defendant is currently in custody. Trial will be scheduled at defendant’s initial appearance and arraignment on the federal indictment.    

The federal charges arise after a two-month, multi-agency investigation tracing the firearm used in the February 5, 2016, homicide of Seaside Police Sergeant Jason Goodding.  As alleged in the indictment, Jones is accused of tampering with two witnesses by using physical force and the threat of physical force against them with the intent of hindering or preventing the witnesses from communicating information to law enforcement regarding the federal offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and the use of that firearm by another to shoot and kill a law enforcement officer.  Specifically, Jones is accused of threatening to kill a witness, striking a witness, and discharging a firearm near both witnesses, all with the intent to hinder or prevent them from communicating information to law enforcement.

Douglas Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF in Oregon stated, “The ATF remains committed in our partnership with state and local law enforcement, holding responsible anyone who threatens the safety of our community.”

The use of a firearm count carries a 10-year mandatory minimum, a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.  An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

The agencies participating in the investigation are the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, the Clatsop County Major Crimes Team,  the Cannon Beach Police Department, the Astoria Police Department, the Oregon State Police, the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad.

The indictment can be found attached below.