KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two Kansas City, Mo., men were convicted in federal court today for their roles in a 10-year long drug-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the death of one individual and the distribution of more than three kilograms of heroin in the Kansas City area.
Timothy L. Kirlin, also known as “Jim Curlon," 33, and Matthew Davis, 48, both of Kansas City, were found guilty of all nine counts contained in an Oct. 16, 2013, federal indictment.
Kirlin and Davis were each found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to distribute 1,000 grams or more of heroin, as well as cocaine, from Jan. 1, 2002, to Feb. 3, 2012. Kirlin traveled to Dallas, Texas, to procure wholesale amounts of heroin and other drugs for resale in the Kansas City area. Davis was among the conspirators who received heroin and cocaine from Kirlin and distributed it to others. Ten co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
On March 5, 2002, Kirlin distributed heroin to Joshua Webb, and the use of this heroin by Webb resulted in his death.
Kirlin traveled to Dallas at least once a month to purchase heroin. The usual amount that Kirlin would purchase in Dallas was four ounces of heroin, although he bought more on occasion. He sometimes transported the heroin back to Kansas City by hiding it in his rectum.
Co-defendant Patrick Holmes, 33, of Dallas, was Kirlin’s source for six years. Holmes, who pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy, admitted that Kirlin purchased more than three kilograms of cocaine from him for resale in the Kansas City area during the time he was involved in the conspiracy.
Because Kirlin had been shot in the head, he was unable to drive himself, and would ride the bus to Texas and frequently enlist the aid of others in the conspiracy to drive him from place to place.
In addition to the conspiracy, Kirlin was found guilty of being a felon in possession of explosives. Kirlin, who has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, was in possession of four sticks of explosives (along with manuals on how to build explosive devices) on Feb. 2, 2012.
Kirlin was also convicted of six counts of distributing heroin and one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute. Kirlin must also forfeit to the government $200,000, which represents the proceeds of his illegal drug trafficking, and $1,425 that was seized by law enforcement officers.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for three hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner, ending a trial that began March 24, 2014.
Under federal statutes, Kirlin is subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole. Davis is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles E. Ambrose, Jr., and Patrick Edwards. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
