KISSIMMEE, FL – A Kissimmee man is headed to federal prison for a decade after concocting a chilling plot to kill his ex-partner using ricin, a deadly biological toxin. Kevin Deane Jones, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger after pleading guilty in May 2022 to possessing ricin and illegally holding firearms as a convicted felon. The case reveals a disturbing level of premeditation and a callous disregard for human life.
The FBI first received word of Jones’s sinister intentions on December 6, 2021. Investigators quickly discovered Jones had been actively sourcing materials online to manufacture ricin, a substance derived from castor beans. Evidence showed he wasn’t just making the poison; he was meticulously planning its delivery. Court documents detail how Jones reportedly tested water guns – checking for leaks – and formulated an alibi, intending to go “on vacation” immediately after spraying his former partner with the deadly toxin.
Law enforcement intervened on December 17, 2021, intercepting Jones as he prepared to travel to the state where his ex-partner resided. A search of his truck yielded a plastic water gun and five tubes containing liquids that subsequently tested positive for ricin. A follow-up raid on Jones’s residence unearthed even more ricin, along with the raw material – castor beans – and a substantial cache of approximately 200 rounds of ammunition.
The investigation didn’t stop there. ATF agents discovered that Jones, already prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction, had attempted to conceal weapons after being questioned about them. Following the ATF visit, Jones moved multiple firearms and ammunition to a storage unit he had rented. A search of that unit revealed a rifle, handgun, silencer, and a staggering 3,000 rounds of various types of ammunition. Jones was ultimately ordered to forfeit all seized firearms.
“This investigation demonstrates the strength of our law enforcement partnerships and the determination of the special agents and officers who risk their lives every day to rid our communities of dangerous individuals like Mr. Jones,” stated FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez echoed that sentiment, adding, “He is a dangerous individual who put not only the victim, but the community at risk. He deserves to be in prison for a long time.”
The case was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington prosecuted the case, securing the 10-year sentence for Jones. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals intent on violence and the critical role federal agencies play in protecting the public.
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