CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Kenny Don Jones, a 48-year-old resident of Aransas Pass, Texas, is headed to federal prison for nearly eight years after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm used in a deadly shooting. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton, reflects not only the current offense but a disturbingly violent past.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded on July 20, 2021, when authorities responded to a report of a suspicious death. They discovered a deceased male on a property owned by Jones, along with a single spent .9mm casing. Jones, present at the scene, initially told investigators a story of self-defense, claiming the victim had snatched the gun from his bag and threatened him.
Jones’ account detailed a struggle for the weapon, followed by a single shot that struck the victim between the eyes. However, investigators quickly detected inconsistencies in his story, noting that Jones altered his narrative during subsequent interviews. This, coupled with his extensive criminal history, heavily influenced the judge’s decision.
Following the shooting, Jones didn’t attempt to cooperate fully with authorities. He drove to nearby Rockport and disposed of the .9mm Smith & Wesson pistol—the very weapon used in the shooting—by throwing it from his vehicle. He admitted to knowing he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior convictions.
Those prior convictions are substantial. Jones boasts a significant criminal record, including a previous murder conviction, as well as convictions for shooting two other individuals. The court highlighted this pattern of violence when delivering the 90-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with support from the Aransas Pass Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn successfully prosecuted the case. Jones remains in custody awaiting transfer to a yet-to-be-determined U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, particularly one with a history of violent offenses, carries severe consequences under federal law. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani’s office continues to prioritize cases involving illegal firearms and violent crime in the Southern District of Texas.”
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