KC Reporter

A Kansas City man, Darren M. Wood, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison without the possibility of parole due to illegal possession of firearms in connection with a drug trafficking offense. The sentence was delivered by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Wednesday, March 26.

Wood, who is 28 years old, entered a guilty plea on November 20, 2024, to the charge of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. His arrest on September 15, 2023, followed a suspicious activity report concerning someone sleeping in a vehicle. Officers from the Belton, Mo. Police Department, upon arriving at the scene, saw Wood leaving the vehicle.

During their investigation, officers found a loaded Glock 19, 9mm pistol on the driver's seat. Additionally, they discovered over $3,000 in cash on Wood and several controlled substances in the vehicle, including 285 fentanyl tablets labeled "M30," 20 alprazolam tablets, 4 clonazepam tablets, and two bottles of liquid promethazine. A black AR-15 style rifle with a loaded magazine was found in the car’s trunk.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Belton, Mo. Police Department, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The case also fell under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program uniting law enforcement and communities to combat violence and gun-related crimes. Launched on May 26, 2021, the Department's strategy aims to enhance community trust and legitimacy, support violence prevention, establish strategic enforcement priorities, and track outcomes.