Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Charles Riddle, age 35, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, each punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.

The indictment alleged that on January 6, 2025, Riddle knowingly possessed one round of .45ACP caliber ammunition, 18 rounds of .380ACP caliber ammunition, and one round of .22 caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Indictment further alleged that between January 17, 2024, and August 2024, Riddle knowingly possessed one .22 caliber pump action rifle, one 12-gauge pump action shotgun, one 6.5 Creedmoor caliber bolt action rifle, and 15 rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah 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 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. 
Riddle was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

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 Brett Wayne Pigeon, age 45, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 126 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  The terms will be served consecutively.

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

On January 6, 2025, Pigeon pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on November 27, 2023, law enforcement responding to reports of shots fired discovered the victim deceased from apparent gunshots to the back, head, and hip.  Pigeon was identified as a suspect, and later admitted shooting the victim with a 12-gauge shotgun.    The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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.  Pigeon 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 Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Cody Ray McFadden, age 36, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for one count of Maiming in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 16, 2024, McFadden pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 16, 2022, McFadden invited a visitor to his residence. Once inside, McFadden beat the victim, forced the victim into a cage, and padlocked the door.  During the next 36 hours, McFadden proceeded to assault and torture the victim, threatening to kill the victim with a cross bow and intentionally striking at the victim with an axe.  The victim, who sustained a head laceration, burns, bruises, and a broken arm, managed to break free, escape through a window, and run to a neighbor’s home.  Law enforcement responding to the neighbor’s emergency call took McFadden into custody after a brief standoff.  The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This defendant demonstrated a complete lack of humanity, subjecting the victim to an extended period of violence resulting in unimaginable physical and mental trauma,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out violent offenders through aggressive investigations and prosecutions.”

“This is the stuff of nightmares, but unfortunately, it was sickeningly real,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I commend the bravery of this survivor, the quick work of law enforcement in securing an end to this horrifying ordeal, and the steadfastness of investigators and prosecutors who ensured that McFadden spends the next decade in prison answering for his ruthless crimes.”

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.  McFadden 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 Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Heath Lloyd Taylor, age 46, of LeFlore County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for Drug Conspiracy.

Taylor’s co-defendants were sentenced at hearings held between October 16, 2024, and April 25, 2025.  Seven members of the drug trafficking organization were sentenced for Drug Conspiracy:

• Aaron Guy Key, age 47, of Poteau, Oklahoma (240 months);
• Travis Austin Powers, age 38, of Anderson, South Carolina (168 months);
• Mallory Nicole Laird, age 37, of Poteau, Oklahoma (130 months);
• Terri Angela Stroud, age 53, of Spiro, Oklahoma (70 months);
• Kandi Anne Hankins, age 43, of Idabel, Oklahoma (57 months);
• Tracie Ann Sells, age 55, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma (41 months); and
• Jeremy Paul Newman, age 47, of Poteau, Oklahoma (24 months).

Five additional members of the drug trafficking organization were sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances:

• Taylor Dain Parnell Caldwell, age 35, of Poteau, Oklahoma (151 months);
• Cody Wade Reece, age 34, of Poteau, Oklahoma (151 months);
• Heather Leigh Brown, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma (87 months);
• Whitney Marie Granite, age 37, of Spiro, Oklahoma (58 months); and
• Randi Shawn Gann, age 35, of Heavener, Oklahoma (57 months).

According to investigators, between August 2022 and November 2023, Heath Lloyd Taylor, who was serving time in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, led a drug trafficking organization operating in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  As part of that conspiracy, non-incarcerated members obtained, stored, and distributed over 25 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 465 grams of fentanyl from a base of stash houses.  The stash houses also served as a base of operations where the defendants funneled drug proceeds, stored drug trafficking assets, and obtained and stored firearms.

This joint investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, working in cooperation with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and IRS Criminal Investigation.

Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed at various stages of the investigation, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Poteau Police Department, the Spiro Police Department, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Seminole Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.

“There should never be any doubt that there are countless victims of drug trafficking, and the violence associated with it,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chavez, who oversees DEA operations in Oklahoma.  “Defendant Taylor and his associates took advantage of individuals and showed no concern for those who stood in their path of destruction.  Sentences of this nature are a win for our victims and a warning to drug traffickers.”

“Drug trafficking and the illegal activity associated with it continues to threaten the safety of the general public throughout our communities.  Life in a federal prison should serve as a reminder to those who think they fly under the radar that they are and will continue to be our target.  ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal substances out of our communities and investigating those responsible,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims.

“This was an outstanding joint investigation with our state and federal partners to dismantle and prosecute a complex criminal organization,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson.  “We want this to send a strong message that we will aggressively pursue those who think they can safely run their criminal network while behind bars.”

“The sentencings announced today conclude a months-long investigation and prosecution of a nefarious group that distributed large quantities of dangerous narcotics in and around the Poteau area,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Thanks to the cooperative work of federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, Taylor and his co-defendants are off the streets and their drug operation has ended.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and the Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by designation, presided over the hearings. Defendants are 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 Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz represented 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 Jimmy Darrell Porter Jr., age 40, of Westville, 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 a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that on August 4, 2024, Porter knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Westville 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.

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

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 Armondo Joseph Palma, age 23, and Brooklyn Elaine Wilson, age 28, of Howe, Oklahoma, were sentenced in federal district court for sexually abusing a child under the age of 12.

On April 24, 2025, Palma was sentenced to life in prison for one count of Transportation of a Minor.

On April 23, 2025, Wilson was sentenced to life in prison for four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and to 10 years in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.  The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations-Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, the District 16 Drugs and Violent Crime Task Force, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Carl Albert State College Campus Police.

On November 12, 2024, Palma and Wilson pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, law enforcement became aware that Palma was sending images of a child being sexually assaulted to another person over the internet.  The ensuing investigation revealed that between November 2023 and March 2024, Wilson and Palma sexually abused a child under the age of 12, often recording or photographing their abuse.  On more than one occasion, Wilson and Palma transported the child across state lines, where the abuse continued.  During the course of the investigation, law enforcement also seized electronic images from the defendants’ cell phones depicting the sexual abuse and the sexual exploitation of additional children.

The crimes occurred primarily in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“These defendants routinely abused an innocent child, showing a complete lack of concern for the life-altering physical and emotional damage their sexually exploitative behavior would inflict,” said Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge for HSI North Texas and Oklahoma.  “The lengthy healing journey for this child's unwarranted trauma can now begin with these child predators incarcerated for the rest of their lives.”

“The sexual abuse the defendants perpetrated on the victim is sickening, and a prison cell is where they deserve to spend the remainder of their days,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Seeking justice for victims is a priority of the Department, and I commend the exceptional investigative work of HSI’s Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force and the other law enforcement agencies that assisted in this case.”

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 hearings.  Palma and Wilson 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 hearings.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joe Clay Harris, age 40, of Boswell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 56 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.

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

On December 2, 2024, Harris pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on April 6, 2024, law enforcement serving a search warrant on Harris’s residence discovered Harris in possession of methamphetamine, digital scales, and several small plastic baggies commonly used to package illegal narcotics for distribution.  Law enforcement also seized one .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and five rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.  Harris was previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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.  Harris 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 Steven DeWayne Beard, age 51, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for First Degree Murder in Indian Country and to a consecutive sentence of 120 months for Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

On September 14, 2024, a federal jury convicted Beard on both counts.   According to investigators, on March 29, 2023, Beard, who was a romantic rival for a woman’s affections, became angry and ordered the woman to remove her property from his residence while he was away.  Knowing that the victim was the woman’s only ride and would accompany her to remove her items, Beard hid his vehicle from view, then waited inside his residence for the pair to arrive.  When the woman arrived with Beard’s intended target, Beard shot the victim in the chest with a shotgun.  The victim fell to the ground and Beard shot the victim in the chest again at pointblank range.  The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Beard 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 Kevin Gross and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garland Leon Seay, age 38, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Theft of Government Property, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a $250,000.00 fine, and one count of Entering a Military Installation for a Purpose Prohibited by Law, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to $5,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that on July 22, 2024, Seay willfully and knowingly stole property of the United States belonging to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in value exceeding $1,000.00, including an inert training missile, telescope spotlights, electronic tablets, tools, and a Nikon camera.

The Indictment also alleged that between July 2023 and September 4, 2024, Seay willfully and knowingly stole property of the United States belonging to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in value exceeding $1,000.00, including computer hard drives, spools of cable, bags of heavy machinery tools, and miscellaneous tools and equipment.

Finally, the Indictment alleged that beginning on July 11, 2024, and continuing until July 16, 2024, Seay knowingly and unlawfully entered the property of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, a military installation, in order to steal property belonging to the United States.

The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Police Department, Pittsburg County Sherriff’s Office, 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.

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 Antonio Lamar Ford Jr., age 31, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On November 21, 2024, Ford pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 16, 2023, Ford crashed his Dodge Challenger into another vehicle on Interstate 35 while attempting to pass in the right lane of travel.  The force of the collision ejected Ford’s passenger from the vehicle.  That passenger died on the scene.  Prior to the crash, Ford was driving at speeds in excess of 140 mph with a blood alcohol content above .08.  The crime occurred in Love County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw 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.  Ford 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 Jeffry Gabriel Zamora-Pineda, age 33, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Seminole, 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.

The Indictment alleged that on March 19, 2025, Zamora-Pineda, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed 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 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.

Zamora-Pineda will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tracy Ann Mannon, aka Tracy Ann Moore, aka Tracy A. Carter, age 52, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The Information alleged that on February 26, 2024, Mannon unlawfully killed the victim willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and 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 Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Wilburton 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.

Mannon will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service 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 Nathan Quinn Harrington, a/k/a Blaze McClanahan, age 31, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On May 1, 2024, Harrington pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 23, 2024, law enforcement conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Harrington knowingly in possession of a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and five rounds of .22 caliber ammunition after having 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Harrington 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 Eric Jason Franklin, age 53, of Okemah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on July 15, 2024, Franklin knowingly possessed one .410-gauge pump-action shotgun and 15 rounds of .410-gauge ammunition, after 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.

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.

Franklin 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 Lee Edward Redman, age 52, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Attempted Coercion and Enticement.

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

On November 7, 2024, Redman pleaded guilty to attempting to use the internet to entice an individual who he believed to be under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity.  According to investigators, between October 21 and October 24 of 2022, Redman initiated contact with an account appearing to belong to a young female.  That account was actually operated as part of an undercover operation conducted by Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators.  After a conversation in which Redman learned that his intended target was 15 years of age, Redman arranged to meet the account holder for sexual intercourse.  On October 24, 2022, deputies arrested Redman in the parking lot of a Muskogee mall where he had arranged to meet the 15 year old intended victim.

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.  Redman 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 Morgan A. Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathaniel Dewayne Meashintubby, age 42, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, or Attempting to Strangle or Suffocate.

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

On November 18, 2024, Meashintubby pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on March 10, 2024, Meashintubby assaulted the victim by suffocation, resulting in serious bodily injury.  The crime occurred in LeFlore 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.  Meashintubby 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 John Paul Cruz Rosado, age 45, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced on April 10, 2025, to 135 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Cocaine, and 135 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.  The two prison terms will be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, with the assistance of the Zanesville, Ohio Police Department.

On July 24, 2024, Cruz Rosado, the former Director/Event Manager for the Muskogee Civic Center, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  According to investigators, on November 29, 2023, Cruz Rosado sold approximately ten ounces of cocaine.  On December 6, 2023, during the execution of a search warrant at Cruz Rosado’s Muskogee residence, law enforcement seized over nine pounds of cocaine, along with scales, baggies, cash, firearms, and other evidence of drug trafficking.

“OBN is grateful to our partners with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for helping secure a significant sentence in this case,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson.  “Cocaine distribution is on the rise across Oklahoma, leading to increased overdoses and deaths in recent years.  My agency is committed to stopping those who are profiting while putting Oklahoma lives at risk.”

“I commend the work of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics in dismantling Cruz Rosado’s cocaine distribution operations, and taking a drug dealer off the streets,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

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.  Cruz Rosado 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Lee Holloway, age 40, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On July 11, 2024, Holloway pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, in the early evening of February 16, 2023, Holloway crossed the centerline of US 270 Highway just outside Wilburton, Oklahoma, causing a multi-vehicle collision that killed one person and severely injured another.  A toxicology test conducted on Holloway after the collision revealed methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC in his system.

The crime occurred in Latimer 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.  Holloway 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoff Edward Luethje, age 47, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.  The imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Residence Agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, and Muskogee, Oklahoma.

On June 18, 2024, Luethje pleaded guilty to the charge.  As part of that plea, Luethje admitted to knowingly possessing, and accessing with an intent to view, visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of children under the age of twelve, between April 28, 2023, and August 3, 2023.

According to investigators, in July of 2023, Special Agents were alerted to Luethje’s activity in an online community dedicated to distributing child sexual abuse material.  An investigation and subsequent search of Luethje’s electronic devices and cell phone revealed that Luethje possessed over 27,000 images depicting the sexual abuse of children.

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 John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Luethje 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 Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cord Sikes Hutchins, age 43, and David Colbert Johnston, age 65, both of Springer, Oklahoma, were sentenced in federal district court.

Hutchins was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  Hutchins pleaded guilty to the charges on April 24, 2024.

Johnston was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  Johnston was found guilty by a federal jury at trial on May 7, 2024.

The charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Crime Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

According to investigators, on May 11, 2023, U.S. Marshals apprehended Hutchins at Johnston’s Springer residence on outstanding felony arrest warrants out of Wichita County, Texas.  As the entry team prepared to breach the house, Johnston confessed that Hutchins had access to firearms inside the residence.  During the arrest, Marshals discovered Hutchins armed with an AR .223 semi-automatic rifle, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and assorted rounds of ammunition and shotgun shells.  After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, investigators discovered a second AR .223 and a 12-gauge shotgun in Hutchins’ bedroom closet and a .22 caliber rifle and ammunition in the living area of the house.

At the time of arrest, both Hutchins and Johnston had previously been convicted of crimes 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 John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Hutchins and Johnston 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 Edith Singer and T. Cameron McEwen and represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Coty Layne Hayes, age 26, of Konawa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

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

On September 19, 2024, Hayes pleaded guilty to the charge.  As part of that plea, Hayes admitted that between June 9, 2023, and continuing until September 22, 2023, he sexually abused a child who had attained the age of 12 years but not yet attained the age of 16 years, and who was more than four years younger than him.

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.  Hayes 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 Morgan A. Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dylan Thomas Walker, age 29, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 235 months in prison for one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, and to 120 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively for a total of 355 months in prison.

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

On October 31, 2023, Walker pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on the evening of December 3, 2022, Walker drove to a Broken Bow residence armed with a gun and attempted to gain entry.  Walker then fired upon an occupant of the residence who answered the front door.  The victim, who sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and arm, was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.

The crimes occurred in McCurtain 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.  Walker 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 Rachel Geizura and Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Scott Alan Bahe, age 42, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, and one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.  Both charges are punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Bahe with knowingly possessing one 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm Luger-caliber ammunition on December 23, 2023, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.  The Indictment also charged Bahe with knowingly possessing an additional 39 rounds of assorted 9mm Luger caliber ammunition that same day, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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

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.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Pedro Cucul-Gualna, a/k/a Esduardo Cucul-Choc, age 25, of Guatemala, was sentenced to six months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations.

On December 12, 2024, Cucul-Gualna pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on October 26, 2024, Cucul-Gualna, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously deported and removed on one prior occasion near El Paso, Texas, on May 23, 2019.

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.  Cucul-Gualna 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 Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Mose Adam Smith, age 43, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.00.

The jury trial began with testimony on April 7, 2025, and concluded on April 10, 2025, with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on or about July 17, 2023, Smith unlawfully killed an individual during an altercation at the victim’s Sallisaw, Oklahoma residence.  The Government presented evidence that during the altercation, Smith inflicted blunt-force trauma on the victim, and that Smith caused extensive injuries resulting in the death of the victim.  Smith attempted to conceal the victim’s death and fled the state.  The crime occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

On March 19, 2025, Co-defendant Kimberly Dawn Ball-Gilbert, age 42, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to an Information of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter.  At the plea hearing, Ball-Gilbert admitted to aiding and abetting Smith’s actions in causing the victim’s death.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory.

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 trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencings for Smith and Ball-Gilbert will be scheduled following completion of the presentence reports. The Court will sentence the defendants after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Smith and Ball-Gilbert will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that 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.  The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.

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

On June 11, 2024, Rains pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on August 29, 2023, Rains and two others forced entry into a Stonewall, Oklahoma residence.  During the ensuing altercation, Rains attacked one occupant with a club, beating the victim and causing serious bodily injury.  The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw 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.  Rains 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 Jeffrey Gilbert Franklin, Jr., age 49, of Okemah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that on April 25, 2024, Franklin knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute.

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

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.

Franklin 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 Dale Warren Gribnitz, age 66, of Valliant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The Indictment charged Gribnitz with knowingly possessing a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun on October 20, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Valliant Police Department, the Choctaw County Sheriff's Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Allen Truelove, age 50, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The Information alleged that on January 24, 2024, Truelove knowingly possessed over 100 rounds of ammunition 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 Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.

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.

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 today that McAlester residents Billy James Menees, age 30, and Ashley Dawn Marie Schardein, age 28, were sentenced on child abuse and neglect charges.

Menees was sentenced to 192 months of imprisonment for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country and 192 months of imprisonment for one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.  The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.

In a separate hearing held on April 1, 2025, Schardein was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country and 240 months of imprisonment for one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.  The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office for District 18, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 23, 2023, Menees and Schardein were each found guilty by a federal jury at trial on charges of child abuse and neglect.  According to investigators, on May 9, 2020, officers responding to a welfare call arrived at the shared residence of Menees and Schardein.  Inside, they discovered an extremely malnourished and underweight 10 year old child, covered in bruises and confined to a barren, unfurnished room.  At trial, the government presented evidence showing that beginning in January 2019, Menees and Schardein regularly isolated, confined, restrained, neglected, underfed, tortured, and beat the child over a 16 month period.

The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“There is no justification for the abuse endured by the child victim in this case.  What makes this particularly disturbing, is the treatment was at the hands of the people responsible for the child’s well-being and safety,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “Thanks to the vigilance of a caring third-party who reported the abuse, and the thorough investigation by the FBI and our law enforcement partners, justice has been served for these two defendants.”

“I am thankful for the tireless work of the McAlester Police Department, the OSBI, the FBI, and my investigators in rescuing an innocent child from unspeakable abuse and for the exceptional work of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys in obtaining justice for the victim,” said District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan.  “If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please do the right thing and call law enforcement.  Together we can make a difference in protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.”

“The defendants’ horrific acts of abuse and neglect are deserving of lengthy prison sentences,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands together with law enforcement and the community in our pursuit to hold offenders who harm children accountable.”

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.  Menees and Schardein 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 Nicole Paladino and Caila Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Ja’Darious Rajae Scroggins, a/k/a Juice, age 25, of Hugo, Oklahoma, Latrell Lamont Crawford, a/k/a Trell, age 25, of Atoka, Oklahoma, and Kaleigh Leann Ervin, age 22, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to federal drug crimes relating to drug distribution in Eastern Oklahoma.

Scroggins pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by up to 465 months in prison.  The Superseding Indictment against Scroggins alleged that between October 19, 2023, and July 17, 2024, Scroggins knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and substances containing cocaine, both Schedule II controlled substances.  The Superseding Indictment also alleged that during that time, Scroggins acquired, used, and traded firearms to protect and further that drug distribution.

Crawford entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 188 months in prison.  The Superseding Indictment against Crawford alleged that on December 18, 2023, Crawford knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Ervin entered a guilty plea to one count of Maintaining Drug Involved Premises, punishable by up to 63 months in prison.  The Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning on October 25, 2023, and continuing until January 16, 2024, Ervin knowingly maintained a residence in Durant, Oklahoma, for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Hugo Police Department, and the Durant Police Department.

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.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter, Jordan W. Howanitz, and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Lana Freeman, a/k/a Lil’ Jerry, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 224 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Hugo Police Department, and the Durant Police Department.

On September 16, 2024, Freeman pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, from June 16, 2023, until July 17, 2024, Freeman willfully conspired with others to possess and distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

“The community is better off with Jerry Freeman off the streets and his supply of methamphetamine disrupted.  Over 18 years in the federal penitentiary should dissuade anyone else considering Jerry’s line of work to reconsider.  ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal substances out of our communities and investigating those responsible” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims.

“This sentence is a message to all drug traffickers who put methamphetamine on our streets and line their pockets with dirty money,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division.  “Our neighborhoods are safer by holding people accountable with sentences like this.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals and criminal organizations distributing illegal narcotics in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Methamphetamine continues to plague families and communities, and through the cooperative work of law enforcement our goal is to hold offenders accountable for the misery their actions cause.”

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. Attorneys Joshua Satter and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ashley Nicole Castleberry-Miller, age 30, of Kingston, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to 96 months imprisonment.

The Indictment alleged that on April 20, 2024, Castleberry-Miller unlawfully killed the victim when she failed to devote full time and attention to driving, drove left of the center line of the roadway while driving without due caution, and operated a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance other than alcohol.  The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole 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.

Castleberry-Miller will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

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 Matthew Carl Wilson, age 38, and Candice Marie Logan, age 35, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to one count of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, punishable by up to ten years imprisonment.

The Indictment alleged that on January 16, 2024, Wilson and Logan transported stolen industrial radio equipment valued at $5,000 or more in interstate commerce from Hugo, Oklahoma, to Paris, Texas, knowing the equipment was stolen, converted, and taken by fraud.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Department, and the Paris, Texas Police Department.

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

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

Wilson and Logan 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 Timmy Lynn Tatum, age 17, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Robbery in Indian Country, punishable by not more than 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00, and one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm, punishable by not more than 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.

The Information alleged that on June 30, 2024, by force, violence, and intimidation, Tatum took and attempted to take items of value from the person and presence of the victim.  The Information further alleged that on that same day, Tatum assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.

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, the Sulphur Police Department, the Murray County Sherriff’s Office, and the Chickasaw 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.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathon Mark Brinlee, age 39, of Calera, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm, punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that on November 11, 2024, Brinlee knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement to a licensed firearm dealer during the acquisition of a firearm, representing that he was not subject to a court order when in fact he was subject to such a court order.

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

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

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 Anna Marie Scoles, age 37, of Valliant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by no less than 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5,000,000.00.

The Information alleged that on August 4, 2024, Scoles knowingly and intentionally possessed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to distribute it.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

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

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 Cainen Isaac Shephard, a/k/a Cainen Isaac Shepard, age 23, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 22 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Okemah Police Department.

On October 9, 2024, Shephard pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 2, 2024, Shephard fired upon a pickup truck carrying three passengers in the parking lot of an Okemah apartment complex, intending to cause bodily harm to the driver.  No one was injured in the shooting. The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald E. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Shephard 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 Rebecca Leann Hughes, age 33, and Nathanial Louis Hughes, age 31, both of Calera, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to their roles in a scheme to unlawfully buy and sell firearms.

Rebecca Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Acquire a Firearm from a Licensed Dealer by False and Fictitious Statement.  The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.

Nathanial Louis Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

The Indictment alleged that beginning on June 26, 2024, and continuing until July 21, 2024, Rebecca Hughes knowingly and intentionally conspired to unlawfully acquire firearms from a licensed dealer.  The Indictment alleged that while purchasing multiple firearms, Rebecca Hughes answered “YES” on Block 21(a) of ATF Form 4473, indicating that she was the actual buyer of the firearms.  As part of her plea, Rebecca Hughes acknowledged that she formed an agreement to purchase the firearms on behalf of her husband, Nathanial Hughes, despite knowing that he is a convicted felon.

The Indictment further alleged that on or about July 21, 2024, Nathanial Hughes unlawfully possessed multiple firearms despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

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

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.  Rebecca Hughes and Nathanial Hughes were released on bond pending their sentencing hearings.  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 Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerad Daniel Abbott, age 39, of Talihina, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On October 15, 2024, Abbott pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 4, 2023, law enforcement discovered Abbott in possession of one 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol and a round of 9mm Luger caliber ammunition after having 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Abbott 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 A. 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 Devon Ray Gillispie, age 33, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

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

On October 15, 2024, Gillispie pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 31, 2022, officers discovered Gillispie was in possession of 42 rounds of ammunition despite having 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Gillispie 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 Teresa Louise Lightfoot, age 51, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.

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

Lightfoot pleaded guilty to the charge on November 8, 2024.  According to investigators, on September 28, 2023, Lightfoot knowingly possessed a .40 S&W caliber semi-automatic pistol after having 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Lightfoot 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 Nicholas Hammer, age 46, formerly of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, which is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment.

The Indictment alleged that Hammer was convicted of Rape—First Degree on January 4, 2001, in the State of Oklahoma and is required to register as a sex offender.  The Indictment further alleged that Hammer failed to register and update his registration from October 10, 2024, until November 4, 2024, despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.

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

Hammer will be sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leslie Ray Upchurch, age 36, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for one count Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On October 29, 2024, Upchurch pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on April 28, 2023, Upchurch knowingly possessed a Ruger 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol and several rounds of 9mm Luger caliber ammunition after having 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Upchurch 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 Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that J’Quarius J’Vontay Austin, age 18, of Idabel, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Stealing Firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer.

The Indictment alleged that on December 23, 2024, Austin knowingly stole four semi-automatic pistols from a licensed firearms dealer.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broken Bow Police Department, and the Idabel 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.  Austin will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

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 Laura Gema Carroll, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment charged Carroll with knowingly possessing one .380ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol and five rounds of .380ACP caliber ammunition on June 12, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tahlequah 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.  Carroll will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Geizura and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vincent Jerome May, age 37, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Robbery in Indian Country, one count of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Vehicle, and one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that on March 4, 2023, May took and attempted to take, by force, violence and intimidation, items of value from the victim, that May knowingly transported a stolen vehicle from Oklahoma to Colorado, and that May assaulted an intimate partner, causing substantial bodily injury.

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

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Okmulgee 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.  May 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 Dale Lynn Taylor, age 59, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.

The Indictment alleged that Taylor was convicted of Rape—Second Degree in the State of Oklahoma on May 28, 2014, and was required to register as a sex offender.  From April 2, 2019, until July 8, 2024, Taylor failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force.

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.  Taylor 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 Basilio Antonio-Hernandez, a/k/a Basilio Hernandez, a/k/a Basilio Antonio Hernandez, a/k/a/ Basilio Antoniohernandez, a/k/a Antonio Hernandez Basilio, a/k/a Alexander Hernandez Hernandez, age 41, of Mexico, was sentenced to eight months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.

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

On September 12, 2024, Antonio-Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 26, 2024, Antonio-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously deported and removed on three prior occasions without having obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

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.  Antonio-Hernandez 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 Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Origel-Villalobos, a/k/a David Villalobos Origel, a/k/a/ David Origel Villalobos, a/k/a/ David Origel, a/k/a Michael Ryan Martinez, age 42, an alien, was sentenced to eight months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.

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

On October 4, 2024, Origel-Villalobos, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information on the charge.  According to investigators, on August 22, 2023, Origel-Villalobos, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously deported and removed on three prior occasions without having obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

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.  Origel-Villalobos 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 Jacob R. Parker and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.