United States of America v. Kurtney Bernard Jones

Abilene, Texas, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Kurtney Jones, also known as “KP,” was responsible for distributing large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the Abilene area.

In December 2023, Jones assumed control of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed drugs in Abilene and the surrounding counties. He formed a relationship with a drug supplier in Dallas, Texas. He organized the transport of a total of 42,000 fentanyl pills, 140 grams of heroin, 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, another 4,600 grams of fentanyl to the Abilene. While running the DTO, Jones threatened rival dealers and trafficked firearms. When arrested, he possessed 452 grams of fentanyl and $225,994.25 in cash. Agents also discovered that Jones possessed a pill press, capsules to make pills, and another 318.95 grams of heroin.

Jones’s prosecution was part of “Operation Top Shelf.” This was a comprehensive narcotics investigation that involved seven separate local and federal law enforcement agencies. Agents performed two separate “takedowns.” The first takedown occurred in February of 2024 and involved more than 80 agents and officers from the 7 collaborating agencies. Court records reflect that over the course of the first takedown operation, agents seized 29 kilograms of methamphetamine, 721 grams of cocaine, 1,370 grams of fentanyl, and 60 firearms. Seventeen methamphetamine and cocaine traffickers were arrested and indicted.

The second takedown occurred in September of 2024. Agents arrested and indicted 12 fentanyl traffickers, including Jones.

After the takedowns, opioid overdose rates fell sharply in Abilene. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/after-takedown-opioid-overdose-rates-fall-abilene.

With Jones’s sentencing this week, all 31 traffickers charged in “Operation Top Shelf” have been sentenced. In total and excluding Jones, the Court sentenced the defendants to 4,328 months, which amounts to over 360 years of federal prison time. Those sentences include:

Kurtney Bernard Jones: sentenced to life imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute and distributing fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Rafael Perez: sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Diana Nichole Perez, aka Diana Santana: sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Eddie Ochoa Lomas: sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Tylik Ojur Johnson: sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Nathaniel Deal: sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Lisa Ann Beckham: sentenced to 204 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Angel Alvarez: sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Orson Rolando Ortegon: sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Joshua Gosson: sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Marquee Anthony Aboso, aka “OC”: sentenced to 175 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Hannah Rai Gongora, aka Hannah Alvarez: sentenced to 172 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Laura Trevino: sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Alexandrea Delgado: sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Petra Soliz: sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Juan Manuel Oliveros, Jr.: sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Jeremiah Greene, aka “Lil Mexico”: sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Bradley Kirk Gutierrez: sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Jimmy Rangel: sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Gloria Santibanez: sentenced to 114 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Jason Eugene DeLeon: sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Steven Lattimore, aka “PNut”: sentenced to 103 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Mckenzee Marie Lane: sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Joseph Brassell: sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for possession to distribute fentanyl.
Robert Lee Mason: sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Glen Edward Lee, Jr.: sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Maxine Gonzales: sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Christopher Thompson: sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Jacob Lee DeLeon: sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Paul Eli Snyder: sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Christopher Anthony Glaze: sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

The operation involved agents and officers from DEA Fort Worth, FBI Dallas Field Office - Abilene Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF Dallas, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Abilene Police Department, and the Callahan County Sheriff’s Office.

This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas handled the prosecution.

Imprisonment with BOP for a term of Life as to count 1; 240 months as to count 3; and 240 months as to count 12, with all the terms to run concurrently with one another, for a total term of imprisonment of Life; Supervised Release for a term of five (5) years as to count 1 and three (3) years as to each count 3 and 12, with the terms to run concurrently with one another for a total term of supervised release of five (5) years; MSA of $300.00.