Former "Smallville" actor Sam Jones just moved into his new home for the next year -- federal prison.

Jones checked in to the low-security correctional facility in Lompoc, California some time this week -- beginning his 366-day sentence for the role he played in a massive drug ring.

As we previously reported, Jones pled "guilty" to conspiracy to sell more than 10,000 Oxycodone pills ... and was sentenced in June.

Not bad ... considering the feds wanted him to serve 5 years.

Sam Jones just caught a HUGE break -- dude was sentenced to spend 366 days in federal prison for his hand in a MAJOR drug ring ... even though the feds wanted him to serve 5 years.



Jones -- who recently pled guilty to conspiracy to sell more than 10,000 pills of Oxycodone -- was hit with the sentence this morning in federal court in Los Angeles.

Before sentencing, we're told Jones begged the judge for mercy ... explaining he'd lost everything -- including his dog, his car, and his acting gig on "Blue Mountain State" -- due to the drug charges.

The judge apparently bought it ... and said he was cutting the actor a break due to his "minor" role in the drug deal.

Jones will have to surrender to authorities once it's determined which prison he'll call home for a year.

Their chart-topper hasn't even been released yet -- but TMZ has learned Playmate Karissa Shannon and "Smallville" star Sam Jones have just called it quits.



According to sources connected with the ex-couple, Karissa pulled a cruel bait-and-switch before she dumped the actor.

First, she told Jones she needed to move back into the Playboy mansion for professional reasons ... but after he helped her pack up her stuff ... she dropped the hammer, confessing she was actually moving in with her twin sister ... and their relationship was over.

Sigh. And we were JUST starting to get that damn song out of our heads.

He's been a TV star ... a porn star ... and a convict ... but now Sam Jones is trying his hand in the music industry -- teaming up with his Playboy Playmate GF for the next summer anthem -- "Juice and Vodka."



Sam and Karissa Shannon are both featured on the song -- which includes the hook, "Mix that Juice and vodka ... juice, juice and vodka. Mix that juice and vodka ... juice, juice and vodka."

The twosome is putting the song on iTunes next week.

"Smallville" star Sam Jones is less than a month away from being sentenced in his major drug case and he's spending one of his few remaining weeks of freedom in Holland ... looking for dogs.


Jones goes in front of a judge on June 22 to be sentenced for conspiring to illegally sell THOUSANDS of oxycodone pills and he could get as much as 70 months in the pokey.

But before that happens, Jones is going to spend the first week of June in Holland, where he will handpick dogs for a canine-protection business he owns called Platinum K9.  PK9 sells personal protection dogs to high-end and celebrity clients ... as well as to police K9 units. Ironic, no?

Jones got permission from Uncle Sam to head overseas, according to court docs filed this week, and will have his passport returned to him for the trip. The docs say Jones has to submit his itinerary to court officials before the trip and report back to them within 24 hours of his return ... or else.

A former "E.R." actor claims he ONLY agreed to take part in a major drug operation to help his best friend pay off a debt to a deadly Mexican drug cartel ... this according to legal docs obtained by TMZ.



Sam Jones -- who also starred in "Smallville" and "Blue Mountain State" -- wants a judge to go easy on him ... despite having pled guilty  to conspiracy to sell more than 10,000 pills of oxycodone.

The feds want Jones to spend 70 months in prison -- but Jones says it's an unfair sentence because his only intention was to raise enough cash to save his friend from certain doom.

According to court docs, Jones says his childhood friend, a drug dealer named Tom Cataloni believed he was on the hook to a Mexican drug cartel to the tune of $90,000.

Jones says rather than let his friend get killed, he agreed to slang some pills to help raise the cash ... only to find out, there was no Mexican drug cartel ... and the whole thing was a DEA set up.

Jones says he only played a "minor role" in the conspiracy -- and therefore wants a reduced sentence.

Jones is set to face the judge on June 22.

He's out on bail facing 20 years in prison -- but ex-"Smallville" actor Sam Jones still needs to work ... which is why an LA court granted him permission to party in Mexico this week with his Playmate GF.



Sources close to the actor tell TMZ, Sam was paid to appear at Dady'O Nightclub in Cancun Thursday night -- alongside his GF Karissa Shannon and her twin sis Kristina -- and in Hollywood ... that counts as a real job.

But Sam couldn't just hop a plane and fly south of the border ... the guy is awaiting sentencing for his massive drug trafficking case -- scheduled for June -- and technically isn't allowed to leave the country.

So he did what any other actor in his position would do -- he filed papers with the federal court in L.A. asking for a special dispensation ... on the grounds that he needed the money ... and the court actually GRANTED it.

FYI -- the photo above is from the actual event. Celebrity justice at its finest.

Karissa Shannon's sex tape partner wasn't 100% honest when he implied that he owned a certain badass Rolls-Royce -- because TMZ has learned ... dude actually borrowed the car from a friend.


Sam Jones III stepped out of the baller Rolls Phantom outside Premiere Supper Club in Hollywood over the weekend -- Karissa by his side -- claiming, "That is not a rental ... young mogul style."

Unfortunately for Sammy the real owner of the car -- Jay Grdina, the guy behind the website kikster.com -- contacted TMZ and says, "Considering I have the only matte black Phantom in L.A. ... ole Sam just told a nice lie to TMZ."

Grdina tells us, Sam borrowed the car Saturday night as a favor ... free of charge. Mr. Young Mogul must have forgotten that part.

We took your questions on everything -- including Lindsay Lohan's probation revoked, Paris Hilton pleading guilty in her cocaine case, and our exclusive stills from Karissa Shannon's sex tape.


Plus: Sarah Palin will be at "Dancing with the Stars" tonight to support Bristol.

Former Playboy Playmate Karissa Shannon must have been extremely filthy before she shot her sex tape ... because she spends a whole lotta time in the bathtub and the shower.


These are non-filthy screen grabs from the video.

As we first reported, Shannon and her BF -- "Blue Mountain State" star Sam Jones -- claim they tried to block the release of the tape ... but ultimately agreed to a deal with Vivid Entertainment after the price was right.

TMZ has learned ... former Playboy Playmate Karissa Shannon and her BF, "Smallville" actor Sam Jones, have finally agreed to release their sex tape ... and all it took was cold, hard cash -- that's what she said.



Sources close to the couple tell us they both agreed to a deal with Vivid Entertainment when the offer hit the "six-figure range."

Steven Hirsch -- the president of Vivid -- tells us, "We are excited to finally distribute this amazing DVD. Not only is it extremely kinky for a celeb sex tape, Karissa is absolutely beautiful. And as for Sam, let's just say he's no 'Smallville.' This is sure to be one of our all-time best sellers."

Watch your backs, Paris and Kim K -- sounds like you've got a challenger for the title.