KC Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking, Resulting in Death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role 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.

Matthew Davis, 48, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 30 years in federal prison without parole.

On April 1, 2014, Davis and co-defendant Timothy L. Kirlin, also known as “Jim Curlon,” 34, 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.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, Kirlin was sentenced to life in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $17,000 in restitution for funeral costs.

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.

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.

In addition to the conspiracy, Kirlin was found guilty of being a felon in possession of explosives. Kirlin, who has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, was in possession of four sticks of explosives (along with manuals on how to build explosive devices) on Feb. 2, 2012.

Kirlin was also convicted of six counts of distributing heroin and one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute. Kirlin must also forfeit to the government $200,000, which represents the proceeds of his illegal drug trafficking, and $1,425 that was seized by law enforcement officers.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles E. Ambrose, Jr., and Patrick Edwards. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.