Kevin Deane Jones, Ricin Possession, Florida 2021
Kissimmee Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Ricin, Faces 10 Years in Prison
A Kissimmee man pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of ricin, a biological toxin, and possessing two firearms as a convicted felon, according to the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
Kevin Deane Jones, 50, of Kissimmee, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The plea agreement states that Jones manufactured ricin with the intention of using it to kill his former partner.
On December 6, 2021, the FBI received a complaint that Jones had manufactured ricin. Law enforcement officers then learned that Jones had ordered numerous items online to produce ricin, had reportedly tested water guns to see which ones leaked, and had said that he would go on vacation immediately after spraying his former partner in the face with the ricin, so that he would have an alibi when she died.
On December 17, 2021, law enforcement officers learned that Jones intended to travel to out of state to where his former partner lived. Officers stopped Jones, who admitted to manufacturing ricin. Officers located a plastic water gun in Jones’s truck, as well as five tubes filled with liquids that later tested positive for ricin.
A search of Jones’s residence revealed additional tubes containing ricin, along with castor beans, documents pertaining to ricin, and approximately 200 rounds of various types of ammunition. Additional investigation revealed that on December 6, 2021, Jones was questioned by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding his possession of weapons. Following the ATF visit, Jones removed multiple firearms and ammunition and took them to a storage unit rented in his name.
Law enforcement officers later searched the storage unit and found a rifle, handgun, silencer, and approximately 3,000 rounds of various types of ammunition. Jones is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.
Kevin Deane Jones, a 50-year-old Kissimmee man, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of ricin and possessing two firearms as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count.
The charges against Jones include unlawful possession of ricin, a biological toxin, and possessing two firearms as a convicted felon. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On December 6, 2021, the FBI received a complaint that Jones had manufactured ricin. Law enforcement officers then learned that Jones had ordered numerous items online to produce ricin. He also tested water guns to see which ones leaked and planned to go on vacation immediately after spraying his former partner in the face with the ricin.
This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of possessing and manufacturing biological toxins. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its partners work tirelessly to prevent such crimes from occurring and to bring those responsible to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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