Woman Pleads Guilty to Felon Gun Possession

Courtney L. Jones, 48, admitted in federal court to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon after a July 2025 arrest in Kansas City.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a plain federal courthouse facade under a still flag, in deep navy and cream with a muted red accent. — Courtney L. Jones, 48, pleaded guilty in federal court before Judge Stephen R. Bough to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon after a July 2025 Kansas City arrest. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Courtney L. Jones pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kansas City, Missouri police arrested her on July 5, 2025, after finding a pistol in her car.

Why it matters

The plea resolves a federal firearms charge tied to a disturbance call in Kansas City, a case that reflects federal enforcement of felon gun prohibitions locally. It also illustrates how local police encounters can lead to federal prosecution.

Jones pleaded guilty and faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole under federal statutes. Her sentence will be set by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines, and no sentencing date was included in the record.

The players

Courtney L. Jones

Courtney L. Jones is the 48-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Stephen R. Bough

Stephen R. Bough is a U.S. District Judge presiding over the case in federal court in Missouri.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is a federal law enforcement agency that investigated the case alongside local police.

Kansas City, Missouri Police Department

The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is the municipal police agency that responded to the disturbance call and made the arrest.

The details

Kansas City, Missouri police were dispatched on July 5, 2025, to the 3600 block of Agnes Avenue for a report of a disturbance involving a firearm. An officer observed Jones moving around her driveway and saw a Romarm Model Mini Draco 7.62 x 39 mm pistol in plain view on her car's passenger seat, leading to her arrest.

July 5, 2025: Police were dispatched to the 3600 block of Agnes Avenue and Jones was arrested after the pistol was observed.
November 5, 2026: Jones's guilty plea was announced.

Legal Context

The case applies the federal felon-in-possession prohibition, which makes possession of a firearm by a convicted felon a federal offense regardless of where the gun is found. Federal prosecutions of this type are coordinated in part through Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national initiative operating across 94 federal districts.

Residents in Kansas City may notice continued police responses to reported firearm disturbances in neighborhoods like the Agnes Avenue area. Federal prosecution of felons carrying guns reflects a broader enforcement priority that can affect how local firearm incidents are charged.

The takeaway

Federal felon-in-possession cases can be built from ordinary police encounters, so people with prior felony convictions should understand that possessing a firearm, even briefly or in a vehicle, can trigger serious federal charges. Sentencing outcomes will depend on advisory guidelines and the specific circumstances presented to the court.