Judge orders Joplin Honky held without bond while awaiting sentencing on meth, weapons charges

A federal judge ordered a member of the Joplin Honkys gang held without bond while awaiting sentencing on charges of meth possession and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

James Grant Wilson, 32, Joplin, pleaded guilty to the crimes in January under a plea agreement that included the dismissal of an unlawful transport of firearms charge.

The crime was described in the criminal complaint:

On July 24th, 2019, Joplin, Missouri, Police Department (JPD) Canine Officer Brett Davis attempted to stop a silver 2019 Nissan Versa displaying Missouri license 1KP-998. This vehicle stop was initiated based on the license plate being registered to a 1998 Dodge truck, and the driver being identified as James G. WILSON (WILSON) who was known to have a revoked Missouri Drivers’ license and a full U.S. Extradition warrant for Parole violation on the original charge of Burglary. 

The Nissan failed to yield during the attempted vehicle stop in the city of Joplin, Missouri, within Jasper County. During a lengthy pursuit at high speeds, Duquesne, Missouri, Police Department (DPD) Officer Kyle Gramley stated over the radio that he observed an item being thrown out the passenger side window of the Nissan. This occurred on V Highway east of I-49. 

The pursuit continued throughout Newton County, Missouri. A tire deflating device was deployed with positive results deflating several of the Nissan’s tires. The Nissan stopped at 20301 Newton Road in Jasper County approximately 25 minutes into the pursuit. 

A felony car stop was conducted and WILSON was taken into custody. 

A front seat passenger, Tammy Woods, and an additional passenger in the back seat, Ashley Cook, were detained. 

WILSON had recently been involved in a shooting where he was struck several times and had posted on his Facebook page holding what appeared to be a black handgun with the caption, “I hope y’all are ready for the next level."

 This post was previously observed by SA Davis, who had queried WILSON’s criminal history. SA Davis heard the radio traffic during the pursuit regarding the thrown object and responded to the area of V Highway and Kodiak Road in Newton County to begin searching the area. 

While searching the area, SA Davis was contacted by a witness, who stated she observed a black bag being thrown out of the passenger side of the car that law enforcement was pursuing. The witness described to SA Davis the area the bag was thrown out of the car. 

SA Davis and ATF Task Force Officer (TFO) Justin Barnett began searching along V Highway, west of Kodiak Road, in the described area by the witness. SA Davis located a black nylon bag in the ditch on the south side of V Highway, approximately one-tenth (1/10) of a mile west of Kodiak Road. The bag was recovered and taken to the Joplin Police Department. 

At the Joplin Police Department, SA Davis and TFO Barnett removed the items of the recovered bag and photographed them. Among other items contained within the bag were the following: 

-Loaded black Hi-Point, Model CF380, .380 caliber pistol, S/N P8082955 with one .380 round of ammunition in the chamber (four additional rounds of .380 caliber ammunition in the magazine) 

-Three plastic baggies with a total weight of approximately 69.9 grams of apparent methamphetamine

 -Numerous small plastic baggies common for distribution of methamphetamine 

-Digital scale

-Drug paraphernalia

-Handgun holster

-Notebook containing drug ledger information 

SA Davis conducted an examination of the above described Hi-point pistol and determined it to be a firearm as defined by the Gun Control Act. 

SA Davis and TFO Barnett conducted a post-Miranda interview with rear passenger Ashley Cook of the Nissan. During the interview, Miss Cook was asked about the bag thrown from the fleeing Nissan and she stated the bag was not hers. 

SA Davis and TFO Barnett conducted a post-Miranda interview with Tammy Woods, front passenger of the Nissan. During the interview, Miss Woods was asked about the bag thrown from the fleeing Nissan and she too stated the bag was not hers. 

SA Davis and TFO Barnett conducted a post-Miranda interview with James WILSON, driver of the Nissan. The interview did not make it to the point of asking WILSON if the discarded bag was his, but WILSON made random statements regarding firearms and also him not being able to possess them as a felon. 

At one point, WILSON asked, “What’s the case? What’s the charge man? What are you going to charge me with? Owning firearms and being a felon? What?” 

SA Davis asked if WILSON was supposed to have guns being a felon which he replied, “No. Absolutely not. So there you go- you got me.” 

When asked why WILSON was owning firearms after he knew he couldn’t, he stated, “I don’t own any firearms.” 

SA Davis asked why the talk of him being a felon owning firearms even came up which WILSON replied he did not know. 

On the MULES “wanted person” return from querying WILSON, the following warnings were listed, “Caution; known to resist arrest; abuse drugs; abuse alcohol; be assaultive; violent tendencies”. WILSON also had numerous tattoos documenting his Joplin Honky gang membership. 

WILSON had previously posted a video on social media recording himself stating, “Alright, so I’m f--kin ' face Jimmy. I’m a f--kin’ beast. I f--kin’, uh, run from the mutha f--kin’ police. Got away last night; couple different time, might I say. I’m stoned on my oxycontins, and I’m f--kin’ ready to get it in. [laughs] I don’t even know what the f--k this s--t is about, for real, I just wanted to try live video.” 

Wilson has a lengthy list of felony convictions on his record in Missouri and Illinois, including the following:

2010 Burglary

2011 Burglary 

2011 two counts Burglary and Aggravated Battery

2011 two counts Aggravated Battery 

2016 Forgery 

2016 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Burglary

2016 Tampering and Resist Arrest

Wilson's sentencing is scheduled for October 22 in U. S. District Court in Springfield.