Convicted Felon Indicted for Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault of a Federal Employee

MEMPHIS, TN – A federal grand jury has indicted Bernard M. Jones, 35, for attempted murder and aggravated assault of a federal employee with a deadly weapon. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the indictment today.

According to information presented in court, on September 4, 2019, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Jones was in the process of committing the crime of burglary of a motor vehicle. Meanwhile, the victim, a U.S. Postal Service employee, was preparing to take First Class mail from the Jet Cove Annex to the Memphis Processing & Distribution Center located in downtown Memphis. While loading the mail into his USPS staff vehicle, the victim observed someone moving around inside his personal vehicle which was parked approximately 50 yards away in the employee parking lot at the Memphis Priority Mail Annex located at 3300 Jet Cove in Memphis. The victim drove the staff vehicle near his pickup truck and saw the defendant exit his pickup truck.

The defendant shot multiple times at the victim as he escaped in his postal vehicle. As the victim drove away, the defendant followed him in a Nissan Sentra and continued to shoot. During the course of the investigation, United States Postal Inspectors determined two bullets struck the hood and several other locations on the postal vehicle. Law enforcement also located two 9MM Luger shell casings from the shooting scene. The suspect, along with a female accomplice, fled the scene in a blue Nissan Sentra. Postal Inspectors later identified Bernard M. Jones as the shooter. As a result of his prior felony conviction history, Jones is prohibited by federal law from possession of a firearm or ammunition.

Jones has been indicted for the offenses of Assault of a federal employee with a deadly weapon; Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon; Use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence; and Attempted murder of a federal employee.

If convicted on counts 1, 4, and 5 Jones faces sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment on each; a $250,000 fine; and 3 years supervised release. On count 2, he faces a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment; a fine of $250,000 and 3 years supervised release. On count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment; a $ 250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This office takes very seriously our duty to protect the safety of United States Postal Service employees and the sanctity and security of the U.S. Mail. This indictment reflects our commitment to hold offenders accountable for brazen and disturbing acts of violence that endanger and victimize federal employees. We commend the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS in this case."

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###