Christopher Bryan Jones, a 44-year-old resident of Port Arthur, has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Jones pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on May 24, 2024.
Jones was encountered by Port Arthur police on May 8, 2022, alongside Bernard Colbert, 40, of Baldwin, Louisiana, in a vehicle parked at a convenience store on Gulfway Drive while officers were investigating a shooting. During questioning, officers observed a pistol-grip shotgun on the back seat behind the men. Further investigation revealed Jones had prior felony convictions from Jefferson County, including robbery and burglary of a habitation, while Colbert had felony convictions from Louisiana, including possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. A federal grand jury indicted the men together on Nov. 2, 2022.
Under federal law, felons are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Bernard Colbert had previously pleaded guilty to the same offense and was sentenced earlier this year to 40 months in federal prison by Judge Crone.
The investigation was conducted by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve.
