Chicago Man Charged After Fentanyl and Firearms Found in Valparaiso Traffic Stop
Valparaiso- Franklin Raul Jones, 50, of Chicago, is charged in Porter County after officers reported recovering fentanyl, multiple handguns, and a stolen firearm during a November 30, 2025 traffic stop in Valparaiso, according to court documents.
At approximately 1:40 PM, a Valparaiso officer traveling westbound on U.S. 30 observed an SUV with Missouri plates traveling about ten miles per hour over the posted 45-mph limit. As the vehicle approached U.S. 30 and Horse Prairie Avenue, the officer activated emergency lights. The SUV came to a stop in the Burger King parking lot, according to the affidavit.
The officer reported the SUV was occupied by a female driver and front-seat passenger Franklin Jones. The driver provided identification, while Jones stated he was licensed in Illinois but did not have his identification with him. The officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
The female driver admitted possessing a small amount of marijuana and a handgun. Additional officers arrived, and Jones exited the SUV, consenting to a search of his person, which yielded no contraband. A search of the purse inside the vehicle revealed a Ruger 9mm handgun and a small baggie of marijuana.
On the front passenger floorboard, officers located a locked book bag that neither occupant claimed. Inside, officers found:
• A Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm handgun, later confirmed stolen out of Tennessee
• A Taurus G3C 9mm handgun
• Two baggies containing 125 multi-colored pills
• Pills that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl, with a combined weight of 56.98 grams
• A handwritten receipt bearing the name “Franklin Jones”
Charges Filed December 3,2025
Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (Fentanyl) — Level 2 Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun — Level 5 Felony
Theft (Stolen Firearm) — Level 5 Felony
Lodged in the Porter County Jail.
