A Memphis woman, Raven Jones, is grappling with federal charges after allegedly assaulting United States Secret Service agents following an incident where she is accused of discharging a shot on Oct. 19 into the Memphis field office during a confrontation, as reported by Action News 5.
The 41-year-old Jones reportedly approached the entrance of the U.S. Secret Service field office, armed with her phone to record a live stream on Facebook. At the time of her arrival, the building was occupied by agents, task force officers, administrative staff, and visitors.
During the altercation, Jones allegedly brandished a 9mm handgun and discharged a single shot into the wall adjacent to the doorway. Subsequently, she placed the firearm on the floor and raised her hands above her head. Federal officers promptly detained Jones.
In an affidavit, Jones revealed that her actions were fueled by frustration with former government workers, stating, “I came here for a confrontation today with the U.S. Secret Service.”
The United States Secret Service is a federal
law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Homeland Security. Established in 1865 with the primary mission of combatting currency counterfeiting, the Secret Service has evolved into a multifaceted agency with two main responsibilities. First, it is entrusted with protecting national leaders, including the President, Vice President, and their families, as well as visiting foreign dignitaries and major presidential candidates. The Secret Service’s Protective Mission Division is renowned for its elite agents who undergo rigorous training to ensure the security of high-profile individuals. Second, the agency has a crucial role in investigating and combatting financial and electronic crimes such as counterfeiting, financial fraud, and cybercrime.If convicted, Jones could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the firearms charge, along with a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are actively investigating the case. According to the outlet, Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow of the National Security and Civil Rights Unit oversees the prosecution.
Jones is being held at the Shelby County Jail on a $60,000 bond. In addition to federal charges, she also faces local charges of reckless endangerment and vandalism of $1,000 or less.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the motive behind Jones’s confrontation with the Secret Service remains a focal point of the investigation.