A Ute man was sentenced last week to 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping charges. Thirty-five-year-old Allen Jones submitted his plea in March and was sentenced on Aug. 2. On July 7, 2023, Jones lured a co-worker into his garage by claiming his car wouldn’t start and needed a ride to work. Once there, he pointed a loaded shotgun at the co-worker and forced him into his car, intending to drive to a nearby casino to “shoot up the casino” and use the co-worker as a human shield. During the drive, Jones changed plans, instructing the co-worker to stop at a gas station in Mapleton to buy food and beer. The co-worker used the opportunity to escape and find help after running through fields and crossing the Maple River. Law enforcement arrested Jones nearby, finding methamphetamine on him and a loaded shotgun in his truck. A search of Jones’ home revealed more firearms, ammunition, prescription pills, methamphetamine, and contraband. Jones had a history of drug use and was convicted in 2013 of federal firearms violations. He was ordered to serve 192 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Monona County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
