Nancy Jones, the widow of late country music legend George Jones, is facing a countersuit from her former partner as a high-stakes legal battle unfolds over millions of dollars in cryptocurrency and other assets. The dispute centers on allegations that Jones’ ex-boyfriend, Kirk West, stole a significant portion of her wealth, claims West now firmly denies as he asserts entitlement to a share of the fortune accumulated during their relationship.
West, 58, was arrested last July at Nashville International Airport, where authorities stopped him just before he boarded a flight to the Philippines. The arrest followed a civil complaint and police report filed by Jones, 78, who alleged she had discovered approximately $400,000 in cash and records reflecting roughly $11.6 million in cryptocurrency missing from a safe at her home. Jones accused West, her partner of more than ten years, of stealing the assets amid the collapse of their relationship.
In new court filings submitted Friday in Williamson County, Tennessee, West disputes that characterization entirely. He denies stealing any cryptocurrency and instead claims the assets in question were jointly accumulated through what he describes as prudent investments made during the course of their relationship. According to West, those investments generated substantial shared wealth, entitling him to a portion of the couple’s assets.
West’s countersuit alleges that Jones has engaged in abuse of process, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and defamation. He argues that by publicly accusing him of theft and publicizing his arrest, Jones caused significant damage to his reputation and subjected him to public scorn and professional harm. West claims he has been deprived of “public confidence and social interaction” as a result of what he describes as false allegations.
As part of his legal action, West is seeking half of the assets he says the couple possessed when he moved out of their shared residence, a mansion valued at approximately $5.9 million. Those assets allegedly include cryptocurrency holdings, up to $5 million in gold and silver, and about $1 million in cash. Attorneys for both parties declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Jones has previously described West as someone she trusted deeply, both personally and financially. At a court hearing in October, she testified that West managed many aspects of her affairs during their relationship. “Everything that he told me, I definitely trusted him,” she said. “Even the romantic part, I definitely trusted him. He took care of everything.”
In her original lawsuit, Jones accused West of deliberately exploiting her and other women through a pattern of deception. She alleged that West used charm, polished manners, and claims of success in real estate to gain the trust of wealthy and potentially vulnerable women, ultimately persuading them to invest significant sums of money. Jones claimed this conduct amounted to a long-running scheme that extended beyond their relationship.
According to Jones’ filings, she met West in the summer of 2013, shortly after George Jones’ death earlier that year. West was touring Country Gold, the late singer’s 80-acre estate, which Jones was preparing to sell. What began as a professional interaction reportedly developed into a romantic relationship that lasted more than a decade.
In prior reporting, Rolling Stone spoke with several individuals who claimed to have known West or been involved with him. Those sources alleged that West frequently encouraged people to invest large amounts of money in real estate ventures, promising substantial returns, only to retain the profits himself. Some sources claimed he targeted single mothers and other individuals facing financial or emotional vulnerability.
West has denied those allegations through his court filings, maintaining that his financial dealings were legitimate and that the wealth in question was built collaboratively during his relationship with Jones.
The case remains ongoing, with both sides presenting sharply conflicting narratives about trust, ownership, and financial control. A resolution could hinge on whether the court determines the disputed assets were solely Jones’ property or part of a shared financial enterprise developed over years of partnership.
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