Lockport man arrested on drug and gun charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Ma Le Jones, 37, of Lockport, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katerina F. Powers, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on the morning of December 13, 2025, Jones presented for inspection at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, using a New York State driver’s license for identification. Jones told a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer that he made a wrong turn and was attempting to return to the United States. The CBP officer conducted database queries, which revealed Jones was subject to an active order of protection, and was also on probation for a prior firearms offense. As a result, Jones was referred secondary inspection, during which CBP officers seized, among other things, two cell phones, $2,383 in cash, quantities of marijuana, MDMA, cocaine and crack cocaine, and a loaded revolver. Jones is currently on parole after being convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree in 2017 in New York State Court.

Jones was ordered detained following a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.   

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