USA v. JONES

1
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 	)
)
v. 	) 	Criminal Nos. 21-490 & 25-120
)
KENYETTA JONES 	)
MEMORANDUM ORDER
On October 11, 2023, Defendant Kenyetta Jones was sentenced to a term of 60 months’
imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release following his guilty plea in Criminal No.
21-490 to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1). (Crim. No. 21-490, Docket No. 81). On October 9, 2025, Defendant was sentenced
to a term of 15 months’ imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release following his guilty
plea in Criminal No. 25-120 to escape from custody, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 751(a). (Crim.
No. 25-120, Docket No. 31). Defendant did not file a direct appeal of his conviction or sentence
in either case, nor has he filed any collateral proceeding attacking his conviction or sentence in
either case.
On December 5, 2025, Defendant filed a pro se Motion for Sentencing Transcripts, (Crim.
No. 21-490, Docket No. 84; Crim. No. 25-120, Docket No. 33), in which he requests that he be
provided with a copy of his sentencing hearing transcript in each case free of charge. 	For the
following reasons, Defendant’s Motion will be denied.
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(e)(1), a court shall authorize an indigent defendant to obtain
services, including documents, for adequate representation only upon a finding that the services
Case 2:21-cr-00490-WSH Document 85 Filed 12/05/25 Page 1 of 3

2
are necessary and that the defendant is financially unable to obtain them. 	See United States v.
Raghunathan, 288 F. App’x 2, 4 (3d Cir. 2008) (“Necessary transcripts are included within the
‘services’ authorized.”). 	The burden is on the defendant making the request to show necessity.
See United States v. Pitts, 346 F. App’x 839, 841-42 (3d Cir. 2009) (the defendant has the burden
of establishing necessity by “demonstrat[ing] with specificity the reasons why such services [or
transcripts] are required”) (emphasis in original) (citation omitted).
Here, Defendant simply requests a copy of his sentencing hearing transcript in each case
without providing any reason for his request. (Crim. No. 21-490, Docket No. 84; Crim. No. 25-
120, Docket No. 33). As to each case, Defendant does not currently have an appeal pending, the
time period for filing an appeal has long since passed, and he has no collateral proceeding pending.
In light of these circumstances, Defendant is not entitled to the sentencing hearing transcripts he
requests free of charge. See United States v. Jackson, 302 F. App’x 122, 123 (3d Cir. 2008) (citing
Walker v. United States, 424 F.2d 278, 279 (5 th Cir. 1970) (“A federal prisoner is not entitled to
obtain copies of court records at Government expense for the purpose of searching the record for
possible error.”)); Raghunathan, 288 F. App’x at 4 (relevant statutes do not authorize the
Government to pay for a transcript where no proceeding is pending); United States v. Moran, Crim.
No. 21-21, 2023 WL 4295828, at *1 (W.D. Pa. June 30, 2023) (Hardy, J.) (denying the defendant’s
request for sentencing hearing transcript at the Government’s expense where no proceeding was
pending); United States v. Smith, Crim. No. 04-309-2, 2010 WL 11534344, at *1 (W.D. Pa. Aug.
2, 2010) (Diamond, J.) (“[T]here is no basis for the court to grant a motion for transcripts when no
proceeding of any kind is pending.”). Accordingly, the Court enters the following Order:
Case 2:21-cr-00490-WSH Document 85 Filed 12/05/25 Page 2 of 3

3
AND NOW, this 5 th day of December, 2025, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s
Motion for Sentencing Transcripts, (Crim. No. 21-490, Docket No. 84; Crim. No. 25-120, Docket
No. 33), is DENIED.
s/ W. Scott Hardy
W. Scott Hardy
United States District Judge
cc/ecf: All counsel of record
Kenyetta Jones (via U.S. mail)
Reg. No. 81777-509
USP Hazelton
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 2000
Bruceton Mills, WV 26525
Case 2:21-cr-00490-WSH Document 85 Filed 12/05/25 Page 3 of 3