Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sovana Xiong, age 32, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 188 months in prison and a 10 year term of supervised release to follow for one count of Distribution of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Tulsa Police Department — Special Investigations Division.

On December 9, 2024, Xiong pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, from October 15, 2023, until April 11, 2024, Xiong knowingly distributed visual depictions on the internet of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement.  You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Xiong will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffrey Wayne Thompson, age 49, of Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced to time served and three years of Supervise Release for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On November 7, 2024, Thompson pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on February 21, 2023, deputies conducting a traffic stop discovered Thompson in possession of a handgun and six rounds of ammunition.  At the time of the stop, Thompson had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daniel Levi Magness, age 36, of Okemah, Oklahoma, and Joanna Lee Higgins, age 33, of Okemah, Oklahoma, were sentenced for charges relating to child abuse and neglect.

Magness was sentenced to 220 months in prison for two counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country. Magness was also sentenced to 63 months for one count of Maiming in Indian Country and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently for a total of 220 months.  Magness entered a guilty plea to the charges on October 15, 2024.

Higgins was sentenced to 140 months in prison for one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.  Higgins pleaded guilty to the charge on November 12, 2024.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to investigators, on January 31, 2024, officers responded to a call for a welfare check at an Okemah residence and discovered two minor children in the defendants’ care living in unsanitary conditions and covered in bruises.  One child was suffering from a visible disfiguring injury to one ear.  A search of the home recovered a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, a bolt-action rifle, and a shotgun despite Magness having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.  Investigators determined that Magness and Higgins had perpetrated their abuse and neglect on the children for over a year.

The crimes occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  The defendants will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garret James Walkos, age 25, of Red Oak, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, punishable by thirty years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that beginning in June 2023 and continuing until March 2024, Walkos knowingly engaged and attempted to engage in a sexual act with a minor who had not attained the age of 12 years.

The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Criminal Investigations.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Walkos will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Bove and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Dale Kelley, aka Jimmy Dale Kelly, aka Jimmy Dale Robinson, age 37, of Grant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.

The Superseding Indictment alleged that on August 9, 2024, Kelley knowingly possessed a revolver and five rounds of spent ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Kelley was allowed to remain on current bond with conditions of release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chrystano Peder Carmelo Cooper, age 22, a citizen of The Bahamas lawfully present in the United States on an F1 student visa, was sentenced to 220 months in prison for four counts relating to the production, distribution, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse materials.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.  Cooper will register as a sex offender and be removed from the United States after completing his term of incarceration.

The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.

On November 14, 2024, Cooper was found guilty by a federal jury of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, Distribution of Certain Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor at trial.

Between December of 2022 and February of 2024, Cooper, while attending college in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, induced a minor child to create and share sexually explicit images via the internet.  According to investigators, federal agents seized Cooper’s cellular telephone during the execution of a federal search warrant, which revealed multiple child sexual abuse materials of the minor victim.

“This sentence is proof that this defendant's perverse behavior of sexually exploiting a child will not go unpunished,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard Homeland Security Investigations Dallas.  “Thanks to a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, this child predator will be incarcerated, allowing the minor victim he abused to begin the healing process.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute those who exploit and victimize children,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement.  You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Cooper will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Jessica Bove represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sheena Grasshopper, age 41, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Attempted Arson of a Dwelling in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On January 14, 2025, Grasshopper pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 31, 2023, Grasshopper attempted to set fire to a Tahlequah home and placed the occupant’s life in jeopardy.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Grasshopper will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Daniel Tow, age 35, of Moore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and 87 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the District 27 Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On December 10, 2024, Tow pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on June 6, 2024, law enforcement conducting a traffic stop discovered Tow in possession of 290 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution, a semi-automatic pistol, and eight rounds of ammunition.  At the time of the stop, Tow had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Tow will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Willard Leroy Robbins, Jr., aka Bub, age 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison.

The Information alleged that on April 10, 2024, Robbins unlawfully killed the victim with malice aforethought.

The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Robbins will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Victoriano Ponce-Garcia, age 53, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Coal County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.

The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Coalgate Police Department.

The Indictment alleged that on April 11, 2025, Ponce-Garcia, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed on two separate occasions without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Ponce-Garcia will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cory Lamont Bostic, aka Cory L. Neal, age 48, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

On January 8, 2025, Bostic pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on September 7, 2023, Bostic knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 54 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Bostic will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five Oklahoma residents were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in violation of federal law.

The leader of the drug trafficking organization, Christopher Adam Banschbach, age 39, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy on February 22, 2024.  Banschbach’s four co-defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute and were sentenced at hearings held between July 11, 2024, and May 22, 2025.

• Ricky Edward Hall, age 30, of Covington, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 324 months for each count, to be served concurrently.
• Joshua Levi Kendrick, age 43, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 235 months for each count, to be served concurrently.
• Brittany Marie Cagle, age 35, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 168 months for each count, to be served concurrently.
• Christina Gail Pool, age 43, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months for each count, to be served concurrently.

According to investigators, between March 2022 and November 2022, while serving time on state charges at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Banschbach coordinated and directed the distribution of approximately forty-five kilograms of methamphetamine.  Non-incarcerated members of the conspiracy obtained the methamphetamine from various locations and distributed it in Muskogee and other locations.

The charges arose from an investigation led by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, with assistance from the Muskogee Police Department and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by designation, the Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by designation, and the Honorable William P. Johnson, Senior U.S. District Judge for the District of New Mexico, sitting by designation, presided over the hearings.  All defendants are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hanna Jera Davidson, age 41, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Information charging her with Failure to Collect or Pay Over Tax, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.

The Information alleged Davidson, who exercised control over the financial affairs of Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery, willfully failed to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over trust fund taxes of $13,273.57 due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on behalf of the employees of Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery for the second quarter of the year ending in 2020.

In addition, as part of the plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Davidson admitted that between March 2015 and December 2020, Davidson willfully chose not to pay over to the IRS $158,527.00 in taxes collected from employees and that Davidson willfully chose not to pay over to the IRS $72,665.82, which represented Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery’s portion of the employment taxes owed.

The charge arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Davidson was released on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Alan Chastain, age 53, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Ardmore Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 16, 2024, Chastain pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 17, 2024, Chastain attacked an individual at his encampment in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  Chastain chased the victim beyond the boundaries of the encampment, striking the victim multiple times with a machete.  The victim fled but sustained serious injuries, including severe cuts to his limbs and a severed thumb.  Law enforcement responding to an emergency call found the victim unconscious near the railroad tracks and a trail of blood leading back to the encampment.  The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Chastain will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nezjoneil Nikkolo Marris, age 28, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on March 26, 2022, Marris knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ardmore Police Department.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson,  U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Marris will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Dean Burris, T. Cameron McEwen, and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brad William Ritter, age 51, and Toby Le Mills, age 51, both of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, were sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.  Ritter was sentenced to 41 months of incarceration.  Mills was sentenced to 33 months of incarceration.   As part of sentencing, the Court ordered the defendants to pay $3,797,500.00 in restitution.  In addition, the Court entered a money judgment against Mills in the amount of $1,059,958.00, ordered forfeiture of $697,863.67 in funds seized from Ritter, and entered a forfeiture money judgment against Ritter in the amount of $2,029,678.33.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Ritter and Mills each pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire fraud on April 3, 2024.

According to investigators, beginning in at least 2018 and continuing until January 2022, Ritter and Mills conspired to defraud an employee-owned business operating in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.  Ritter, who worked as an executive for the company, used his position to submit false invoices on behalf of a business set up in Mills’s name. The invoices billed the business for services that Mills’s company never performed, resulting in $3,797,500.00 in fraudulent payments made to Ritter and Mills during that time.

“The sentence imposed on these two defendants should serve as a stark reminder that criminal activity motivated by greed comes at a price,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “The FBI is committed to ensuring those who engage in fraudulent activity are held accountable through the justice system.”

“Ritter and Mills went to great lengths to disguise a years-long scheme to siphon millions from an unsuspecting employer, using false invoices, shell companies, and layered financial lies,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., IRS-CI special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office.  “Let this case serve as a warning: complex fraud schemes may be layered in lies and paperwork, but they are never beyond the reach of IRS Criminal Investigation special agents.  IRS-CI will aggressively track illicit financial activity and dismantle criminal enterprises, no matter how sophisticated.  Those who think they can get away with defrauding businesses or taxpayers should think again.”

“The wounds may not be physical, but the harm caused by fraudsters is still very real.  I commend the investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to ensure that the defendants answered for their crime,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ritter and Mills were allowed to remain on previous bond with conditions of release and will self-report into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility by June 23, 2025, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster, Joshua Satter, and Clay Compton represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Lee Harp, age 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment or Information.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.

On January 7, 2025, Harp pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, between December 12, 2020, and December 9, 2021, Harp received a semi-automatic rifle despite being charged in the District Court of Latimer County, Oklahoma, for a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than a year.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Harp was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ivone Monforte Leal, aka Yvonne Monforte, aka Ivonne Monforte Stefany, age 34, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.

The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.

The Indictment alleged that on March 26, 2025, Leal, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed twice without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Leal will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anthony James Deason, age 29, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for one count of Attempted Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.

On December 11, 2024, Deason pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, between October 26 and October 30, 2023, Deason, then a teacher and coach with Tahlequah Public Schools, used social media to contact two students he knew to be minors and requested they send him explicit images.  Deason offered money and gift cards as an inducement.  Deason also sent an unsolicited explicit image of himself to one of the victims.  Both minors refused his requests.

The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This case serves as a stark reminder for kids and parents that the internet is often used by persons with evil intentions to exploit and victimize,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Fortunately, the defendant’s sordid requests and offers of gifts were refused.  I am grateful for the alert students and concerned families who reached out to law enforcement, and for the efforts of investigators and prosecutors who successfully stopped an online predator.  Because of them, Deason will be held accountable for his vile crimes.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement.  You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Deason will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara McAmis represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Henry Lawrence, aka Charles Henry Lawrence, Jr., age 57, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Latimer County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On November 25, 2024, Lawrence pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on November 11, 2022, law enforcement officers serving a search warrant on Lawrence’s Wilburton, Oklahoma residence seized one rifle and one revolver.  At the time of the search, Lawrence had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Lawrence will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anthony Lynn Brewer, age 67, of Warner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, and to 12 months for one count of Simple Possession of Methamphetamine, a misdemeanor.  The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On October 4, 2024, Brewer pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, during a traffic stop on May 29, 2024, troopers discovered Brewer in possession of a shotgun and methamphetamine.  At the time of the stop, Brewer had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Brewer will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jasmine Rae Valdez, age 26, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 33 months for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.  The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

On April 10, 2025, Valdez’s co-defendant, Brendan Kaleb Rains, age 26, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and 60 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, to be served concurrently.  Rains pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2024.

On October 29, 2024, Valdez pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on August 29, 2023, Valdez and Rains forced entry into a Stonewall, Oklahoma residence.  During the ensuing altercation, Valdez participated in Rains’ attack on the occupants, actively assisting and enabling the attack, as well as acting to prevent another from coming to the victim’s aid or defense.  The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.  Valdez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Samuel Shane Allgood, age 36, and Shannon Rae Scraper, age 44, both of Stilwell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the exploitation and neglect of a minor in Indian country.

Allgood entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.

Scraper entered a guilty plea to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country, punishable by a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of $5,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that beginning in December 2016 and continuing until March 2024, Allgood employed, used, persuaded, enticed or coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and acted with the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.

The Indictment further alleged that beginning in December 2016 and continuing until March 2024, while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of a child under the age of 18, Scraper willfully and maliciously failed to provide the child with adequate nurturance, affection, and supervision, and failed to protect the child from sexual acts and materials that were not age appropriate.

The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted Allgood’s plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted Scraper’s plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The defendants will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Bove represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tommy Allen Winkler, age 37, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Theft in Indian Country.

The Information alleged that on November 16, 2022, and continuing until June 14, 2024, Winkler took and carried away, with intent to steal and purloin, money and personal property of three victims with a value exceeding $1,000.00.

The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Winkler was released on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Kenneth Barber, age 45, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.

On November 5, 2024, Barber pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on December 20, 2023, Barber killed the victim with a single intentional shot to the head fired at close range from a .22 caliber rifle.  The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Barber will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilbert Lamon Rivers, aka Wilbert Lamon Rivers, Jr., age 27, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Lighthorse Police Department, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On November 4, 2024, Rivers pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on November 4, 2023, law enforcement discovered Rivers in possession of forty rounds of ammunition and a semi-automatic pistol capable of accepting a large capacity magazine after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Rivers will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Kent Leondis Honeycutt, age 44, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 84 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.

On November 5, 2024, Honeycutt pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on January 24, 2024, Sequoyah County deputies conducting a traffic stop discovered Honeycutt in possession of 436 grams of methamphetamine, scales, baggies, a ledger, a semi-automatic pistol, and 56 rounds ammunition.  At the time of the stop, Honeycutt had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Honeycutt will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gary Wayne Fraser, age 54, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Weleetka Police Department.

On September 9, 2024, Fraser pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 15, 2023, Fraser caused a collision resulting in death, failed to render reasonable aid, and fled the scene of the accident in order to avoid prosecution.  While driving a pickup truck outside Weleetka, Oklahoma, Fraser crossed over the center line and struck a pedestrian walking in the oncoming lane.  Law enforcement investigating a possible collision found the victim laying on the side of the road with visible injuries and Fraser’s empty truck stranded in a ditch with noticeable damage to the front end.  The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Fraser will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan W. Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Demarrio Lee Hannah, aka Demario Hannah, aka Mario Hannah, age 36, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on June 22, 2024, Hannah knowingly possessed a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, despite having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Trae Allen Cordell, age 31, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 262 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 60 months for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

On November 6, 2024, Cordell pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on April 3, 2024, law enforcement serving a search warrant on Cordell’s residence seized two large bags containing smaller baggies amounting to 1,257 grams of methamphetamine, as well as two loaded semi-automatic pistols.  At the time of the arrest, Cordell had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Cordell will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucas Wayne Cullum, aka Lucus Wayne Cullum, age 26, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On July 17, 2024, Cullum pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on November 23, 2022, Cullum failed to devote attention to driving, causing the death of a passenger.  While driving at a high rate of speed, Cullum crossed the opposing lane of traffic on State Highway 59 and left the roadway. Cullum abruptly swerved the vehicle back to the right, crossed both lanes of traffic, exited the roadway, and struck a tree.  As Cullum fled the scene of the crash on foot, the car caught fire with two occupants inside.  One passenger was seriously injured but was able to escape the vehicle.  The other passenger was unable to escape and died from injuries sustained in the crash and the resulting fire.

The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Cullum will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Tyrone Dawson, age 35, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, and to 41 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police.

On October 8, 2024, Dawson pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on October 16, 2023, officers conducting a traffic stop on Dawson’s vehicle discovered an outstanding warrant for his arrest through the Muscogee Nation.  Law enforcement subsequently seized 29 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded .40 caliber pistol from the vehicle.  At the time of the arrest, Dawson had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Dawson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garrick Davaughn McCrary, age 29, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Stalking, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that beginning in April 2023 until January 16, 2025, intending to injure, harass, intimidate, or place a person under surveillance, McCrary used facilities of interstate or foreign commerce, including social media and internet websites, to engage in a course of conduct that caused substantial emotional distress to the victim and placed the victim in reasonable fear of serious bodily injury.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

McCrary will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Herman Will Sanders, Jr., age 40, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On November 18, 2024, Sanders pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on June 5, 2023, Sanders knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sanders will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jessica Marie Campbell, age 43, of Spiro, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by at least 5 years up to 40 years in prison and a fine of $5,000,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that on June 7, 2023, Campbell knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 27 Violent Crime Task Force, and the District 16 Drug Task Force.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Campbell was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffery Scott Pinkston, age 40, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

On November 14, 2024, Pinkston pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, from November 2022 until June 2024, Pinkston knowingly possessed visual depictions of a minor under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, which Pinkston accessed intending to view.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement.  You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pinkston will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sean Paul Duer, age 58, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to twenty years in prison.

The Information alleged that on May 12, 2024, Duer knowingly and intentionally possessed a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Durant Police Department.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Duer will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Celdon Mullins, age 22, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree.  Mullins was also sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  The terms are set to be served consecutively.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

On November 6, 2024, Mullins pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators on June 20, 2023, Mullins pulled a 9mm pistol during an argument with a neighbor and fired twice.  One bullet struck the victim, who died on the scene.  The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Mullins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

WASHINGTON - An Oklahoma man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Landon Joe Black, 25, of Stilwell, was sentenced for producing CSAM featuring two child victims that he shared on the “dark web.” Black would pose as a young girl on the internet to establish relationships with children and would then direct them to create CSAM. He would then share images of his victims along with their ages, as well as other CSAM images, on the dark web. He would refer to some of his victims as “baits.” Documents found on Black’s computers included a draft how-to guide for other offenders. Black also collected detailed information about one child, including information about their family, school, and daily movements. The pictures Black produced and shared continue to circulate, causing significant ongoing harm to his victims.

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rafael Martin Sangines, age 29, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.00, and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on September 29, 2024, Sangines assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.

The Indictment further alleged that on September 29, 2024, Sangines possessed a rifle, a pistol, and multiple rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Broken Arrow Police Department.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Sangines will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Soverly and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jukobie Allen Ramsey, age 22, of Marietta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, to be followed by a lifetime term of Supervised Release.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office.

On December 4, 2024, Ramsey pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, beginning in May 2021, and continuing until April 29, 2024, Ramsey engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor for the purpose of producing and transmitting visual depictions of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet, then transmitted those depictions onto the internet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement.  You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at http://www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ramsey will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five Arkansas residents were sentenced for federal drug crimes.  The leader of the drug trafficking organization, Rito Alvarado Gomez, age 37, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy.

Alvarado Gomez’s co-defendants were sentenced at hearings held between March 25, 2025, and May 6, 2025.  Three were sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine:

• Ricardo Villeda, age 26, was sentenced to 151 months in prison;
• Jose Alberto Alvarado Gomez, age 34, was sentenced to 68 months in prison; and
• Iris Yosellin Luna-Herrera, age 27, was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

Co-defendant Ana Isabel Frayre Barboza, age 38, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Misprision of Felony.

According to investigators, beginning in 2018 and continuing until March 2024, the defendants traveled from Arkansas into the Eastern District of Oklahoma to distribute methamphetamine.  As part of the conspiracy, the defendants sold over 9 kilograms of methamphetamine.  The defendants also traveled into the Eastern District of Oklahoma to collect money owed for methamphetamine sales.

The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration-McAlester Resident Office, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Texarkana Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations-Texarkana, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the 8th North Drug Task Force out of Hope, Arkansas, and the 9th West Drug Task Force out of Nashville, Arkansas.  Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation, including the Arkansas State Police, the Hope Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Rito Alvarado Gomez, Jose Alvarado Gomez, Ricardo Villeda, and Iris Luna Herrera are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.  Ana Frayre Barboza was ordered to report to the U.S. Marshals on June 2, 2025, when she will begin serving a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Karen Sue Freeman, age 64, of Grant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hugo Police Department, and the Durant Police Department.

On January 14, 2025, Freeman pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on March 13, 2024, Freeman knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Freeman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wesley Wayne Sutton, age 60, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Arson in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On October 23, 2024, Sutton pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 1, 2024, Sutton approached a Tahlequah residence, broke one window, attempted to break a second, then used gasoline to ignite the front door of the dwelling before entering the building and assaulting a resident.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sutton will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clint Rogers Chuculate, a/k/a Clint Robert Chuculate, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On December 18, 2024, Chuculate pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on September 19, 2024, Chuculate was stopped for a traffic violation while driving through Stilwell, Oklahoma.  During the stop, law enforcement discovered approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, along with a 7.62x39mm caliber semi-automatic rifle loaded with a high capacity magazine and a 9mm caliber Luger semi-automatic pistol. During the ensuing investigation, Chuculate admitted to selling approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine in the month prior to the traffic stop.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Chuculate will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bryant Dewayne Underwood, age 36, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.

On January 13, 2025, Underwood pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on October 26, 2023, deputies conducting a traffic stop in LeFlore County discovered Underwood in possession of a 5.56 NATO (.223) caliber, short-barreled rifle.  The rifle had previously been reported stolen from a location in Arkansas and Underwood was not the registered owner of the rifle in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Underwood will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jayson Geoffrey Evans, age 50, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine, and one count of Eluding Peace Officer in Indian Country, punishable by not less than one year imprisonment and up to five years imprisonment, and a fine of not less than $1,000.00 and up to $5,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that on December 30, 2023, Evans assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm.

The Indictment further alleged that on December 30, 2023, Evans willfully attempted to elude a peace officer while operating a motor vehicle after receiving a visual and audible signal directing him to stop.

The crimes occurred in Murray County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Evans will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Mark McAnally, age 65, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Possessing Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.  He will serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release from incarceration.

The charge arose from an investigation by Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 12, 2024, McAnally pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, in July of 2023, McAnally knowingly possessed visual depictions from the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which McAnally accessed with intent to view.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement.  You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  McAnally will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kyle Hunter Laws Duffner, age 27, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 384 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 4, 2024, Duffner pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing a child with malice aforethought.  According to investigators, on June 27, 2021, law enforcement responded to a 911 call of a non-responsive infant.  The child was life-flighted for care but succumbed to injuries shortly after transfer.  During treatment, medical professionals discovered signs of acute rib fractures, older rib fractures in various stages of healing, and a possible head injury.  A post-mortem examination revealed a skull fracture symptomatic of blunt force impact in the early stages of healing, multiple contusions to the forehead, jaw, and chest, and rib fractures consistent with at least three events of blunt force trauma.

The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Duffner will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Wayne Shomo, aka Jerry Wayne Shomo, Jr., age 47, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Shomo with knowingly possessing one DSP Armory Model DSP-15, multi-caliber, semi-automatic rifle on December 9, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Shomo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia P. Staubus represented the United States.