By Adam Kramer
Jones, 32, who was in court to face charges of allegedly running a red light in July 1999 at 228th Street and Linden Boulevard in Cambria Heights and possession of drugs, was denied bail by State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Grosso, who deemed the rapper a flight risk.
Jones is a member of the multiplatinum New York rap group Wu-Tang Clan.
“Bail was denied because he was picked up on a warrant,” said Mary de Bourbon, a spokeswoman for the Queens district attorney's office. “He jumped bail and failed to appear in court.”
De Bourbon said the court usually does not grant bail to someone “who is a bad risk.”
The troubled rapper allegedly blew through a red light in July 1999. When police pulled him over, they reported finding 20 envelopes of cocaine and one envelope of marijuana stuffed into his pocket, the DA's office said.
According to court papers, Jones asked a police officer to ignore the cocaine and said he would accept the marijuana charge.
“Can you make the drugs disappear? The marijuana charge I'll take. Make the rocks disappear,” Jones allegedly said to the cop. “The kids look up to me. They listen to my music. I'm a role model. Do the right thing. You are gonna know who I am.”
De Bourbon said Jones had been released on $200,000 bail, which he forfeited when he did not show up for his original court date.
If Jones is convicted, he could face up to 25 years with a minimum of two to six years in prison on a felony charge, de Bourbon said.
She said an arrest warrant for Jones was issued by the Queens DA's office when he fled the California drug treatment center he had been remanded to on separate charges in that state.
Jones, who violated his probation when he did not return to the treatment center, was picked up by police in Philadelphia in the parking lot of a McDonald's Restaurant.
The rapper is also wanted on motor vehicle and drug charges in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Jones' lawyer, Peter Frankel, could not be reached for comment on the case.
