JACKSON – A suspected major drug dealer has been taken off the streets and is now sitting behind bars under two bonds with a combined total of $1.2 million, according to the Northampton County’s Sheriff’s Office.

Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent said the arrest of Cory DeShawn Jones, 29, of 1502 Griffintown Road in Potecasi was a coordinated effort by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Office of the SBI (State Bureau of Investigation).

“He’s one of the bigger dealers we’ve had in recent years,” said Vincent.

Jones was taken into custody twice, first by Bertie County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday and then was place in the custody of Northampton County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday afternoon.

Captain George Reed of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office said both Bertie and Northampton were working on separate cases concerning Jones when the joint effort was made.

The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office seized several items from Jones’ residence, including a cache of guns ranging from small hand guns to automatic weapons to shot guns, 29 ounces of cocaine hidden under Jones’ bed and $137,000 in cash.

“There was $17,000 in the dishwasher and I believe the other $120,000 was in (a small blue safe),” said Reed.

Also confiscated were scales and a hammer, which were allegedly used to weigh and break up kilos of cocaine.

Vincent said he believes Jones was selling both crack and powder cocaine and estimated Jones was bringing in $15,000 to $20,000 a week.

Vincent made reference to a military issued flap jacket that was seized and said Jones had spent time in the military.

“You’re supposed to turn these in when you’re done,” he said. “I believe he wore it when he was selling drugs.”

A 2002 Cadillac Escalade and a 2002 Kawasaki motorcycle were also taken from the residence.

Jones, who manages the Onyx Club in Potecasi, was charge with trafficking cocaine, selling and delivering cocaine and maintaining a residence to sell cocaine in Northampton County.

Reed said Jones was also charged in Bertie County with the trafficking and selling cocaine.

Jones is currently being held in the Northampton County Jail under two bonds one set in Northampton at $200,000 and the other in Bertie set at $1 million.

Vincent said Jones has one previous drug offense.

“We have not finished dealing with him,” Vincent said. “The investigation is forthcoming.”

He said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have been contacted to find out the status of the guns that were seized. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) have been called into the investigation as well.

Reed commended Bertie County Narcotics Officer Frank Timberlake, the SBI and the SBI’s K-9 unit for their work on the case.

“Removing him from society will help many counties,” said Vincent, “including Halifax and Pitt counties.”