James L. Kenney was sentenced to 20 years in prison after prosecutors detailed a West Sacramento drug trafficking operation involving fentanyl and other drugs.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — James L. Kenney was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced Friday.
Kenney, 45, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Kenney was an organizer, broker and known leader in a drug trafficking organization operating in West Sacramento. The organization distributed several controlled substances, but it mainly sold fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. While the organization was operating, Kenney was on probation for previous convictions for selling controlled substances.
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In May 2025, a confidential source met with Kenney during one of his appointments with Yolo County Probation. Prosecutors said Kenney offered to sell the source several types of drugs and sold the source two ounces of fentanyl that same day at a West Sacramento hotel.
The source later made two more purchases from Kenney, including another two ounces of fentanyl and four ounces of methamphetamine on May 13.
On May 23, the source arranged to buy a pound of methamphetamine, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Kenney set prices and arranged drug supplies throughout the conspiracy, and a co-defendant handled the payment and handoff during some of the transactions.
On Aug. 28, 2025, investigators searched the motel where the drug deals took place. They found 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, two kilograms of cocaine, 283 grams of methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs, three handguns and an assault rifle and more than $12,000 in cash.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Kenney and two other people were found in an adjoining motel room that also contained drugs, including methamphetamine and heroin. A co-defendant was found in another room with the three handguns and the fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to prosecutors.
A monitor in Kenney’s room was linked to a camera observing another room in the motel. That room was unoccupied but contained additional fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, as well as an assault rifle and multiple magazines.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted through a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local district attorney’s offices. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura, who is also a Yolo County deputy district attorney, prosecuted the case with Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Harman.
Federal prosecutors said the case is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a multi-agency effort targeting criminal cartels, gangs, drug trafficking organizations and other transnational criminal organizations.
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