Newport Police Make Gun Arrest Tuesday

NEWPORT, RI — Jason Jones, 23, of Portsmouth, was arrested Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. at the Hill Mart convenience store on Connell Highway. Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Newport police had put him under surveillance on suspicion he was selling heroin and fentanyl. An undercover agent allegedly bought $100 worth of heroin and fentanyl from him at the Hill Mart.

On July 5, police said Jones contacted an undercover agent and allegedly said he had a gun for sale. The agent directed him to her "boss," according to the arrest report, and Jones and the undercover police exchanged text messages regarding the purchase of .380 caliber Ruger. They discussed a $300 price and arranged a meeting at the Hill Mart. The undercover agents wore wires. While a Newport detective took photographs and monitored the audio transmission, the agents also attempted to record the sale on a hidden video camera. They negotiated the price and bought the gun for $260.

On July 11, the ATF ran tests on the gun and determined it was working.

Police on Tuesday obtained a federal court warrant for Jones' arrest on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm. The undercover agent called Jones and arranged to meet around 3 p.m. on Broadway. Newport officers stopped his car en route from Maple Avenue and arrested him. He is also suspected of selling heroin and two other guns to a gang in Fall River, Mass., police said.

Jones was arraigned in federal court today and is being held without bail.