Timothy L. Kirlin, Heroin Trafficking, Missouri 2014

Kansas City, Mo. — A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced to life in federal prison without parole for his 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.

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that Timothy L. Kirlin, also known as "Jim Curlon," 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to life in federal prison without parole.

The court also ordered Kirlin to pay $17,000 in restitution for funeral costs.

On April 1, 2014, Kirlin and co-defendant Matthew Davis, 48, of Kansas City, Mo., were each found guilty at trial 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.

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, 34, of Dallas, was Kirlin’s source for six years. Holmes, who was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for 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.

Timothy L. Kirlin was 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, distributing heroin and possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of explosives.

The 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.

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