Great Lakes Wire

A federal jury has convicted Malik Jones-Smith, 30, of Muskegon, Michigan, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The announcement was made by Timothy VerHey, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

The conviction stems from an incident on December 28, 2024. After a shooting in Muskegon Heights, Jones-Smith and another individual fled from police in a van before escaping on foot. Authorities found a stolen pistol near the van that was loaded with one round partially fed into the chamber and another round in the magazine. A search of Jones-Smith’s cell phone revealed he had uploaded a video to Snapchat less than ten hours earlier featuring the same firearm.

Further investigation showed that both Jones-Smith and his passenger were involved in the Muskegon Heights shooting. At the time, Jones-Smith was on federal supervised release following an earlier conviction for distributing fentanyl; he had been released from federal custody just sixteen days prior to possessing the firearm.

“Gun violence destroys communities,” said United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office remains committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms and threaten public safety.”

Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal commented on law enforcement efforts: “The Muskegon Police Department is committed to ensuring that everyone can live without the threat of gun violence. This conviction through the collaboration with the United States Attorney’s office in conjunction with the FBI and ATF strengthens that commitment.”

Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, stated: "This conviction reinforces FBI Detroit’s commitment to stopping habitual violent offenders, such as Malik Jones-Smith, from inflicting further harm on our Michigan communities. I want to thank the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, Muskegon Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Muskegon Major Case Initiative (MMCI), which includes the Michigan State Police and the Muskegon Heights Police Department. These agencies played a critical role in removing this dangerous, convicted felon from our streets. I am also grateful for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan in securing this successful prosecution."

Jones-Smith is scheduled for sentencing on March 10, 2026. He faces up to eighteen years in federal prison due to this new conviction combined with violations related to his supervised release.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies including members of local law enforcement and federal authorities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Clay Stiffler prosecuted.