Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kelly Don Girty, Jr., age 30, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months for illegally possessing a firearm. The Court ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to state sentences Girty received in the District Court of Sequoyah County.

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

On May 2, 2024, Girty pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on January 7, 2024, a Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Girty in possession of a .22 caliber bolt action rifle.  At the time of the stop, Girty had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

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 C. Coughenour, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Girty will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Kaira Leigh Wilson, age 35, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Idabel Police Department.

On January 11, 2024, Wilson, was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of the charge.  According to investigators, on March 12, 2020, law enforcement responding to a 911 call at an Idabel residence discovered an unresponsive 6-month-old infant.  EMS responders began life-saving measures and rushed the infant to the hospital for acute respiratory failure.  Medical professionals successfully resuscitated and stabilized the infant.  Medical scans revealed fresh injuries consistent with non-accidental trauma, including a subdural hematoma and extensive retinal hemorrhages.  The infant also sustained vision loss in one eye.  A subsequent investigation revealed that prior to the 911 call, a witness in the residence observed Wilson throw the infant against a wall.

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

“I commend the work of the first responders and medical staff in diagnosing and treating the defenseless victim and want to thank the investigators for tirelessly working to determine how the injuries were inflicted,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I also applaud the Assistant United States Attorneys who effectively presented the case at trial and compassionately advocated for the victim and the victim’s family at the sentencing hearing.  We recognize the discretion of the Court in sentencing and respect the decision.”

The Honorable John C. Coughenour, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Wilson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Sarah McAmis represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Lee Matlock, Jr., age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, and 120 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  The sentences are set to be served consecutively for a total of 288 months in prison.

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

On February 12, 2024, Matlock pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on the evening of September 14, 2021, Matlock intentionally fired his rifle at an individual from inside a pickup truck, then drove from the scene of the crime.  Adair County deputies responding to a shooting discovered a Stilwell resident deceased from a gunshot wound to the chest.  Law enforcement apprehended Matlock less than a mile away, parked in his pickup truck, with a Remington 700 bolt action rifle and ammunition.  The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John C. Coughenour, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Matlock will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Jasmine Rae Valdez, age 25, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.

The Indictment against Valdez alleged that, on August 29, 2023, Valdez aided and abetted an attack on an individual with a dangerous weapon.  The assault resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim.  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 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.  Valdez was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leslie Ray Upchurch, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on April 28, 2023, Upchurch, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of such conviction, knowingly possessed one Ruger 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol and several rounds of assorted 9mm Luger caliber ammunition.

The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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.  Upchurch was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal 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 Keith Wyatt Underwood, age 32, of Haskell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country.

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

On July 10, 2023, Underwood pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 24, 2022, Underwood was discovered by a property owner stealing copper cables from a Muskogee County property.  Underwood then pulled a revolver on the resident before driving away with the stolen cables.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John C. Coughenour, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Underwood will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ryan John Capps, age 25, of Calera, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for one count of Coercion and Enticement, and 300 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.  Capps was also sentenced to 180 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

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

On May 1, 2024, Capps was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury.  According to investigators, in the autumn of 2022, while employed as a teacher and coach at Durant Middle School, Capps enticed a minor student to produce child sexual abuse material and engage in sexual activity.  The crimes occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This defendant abused his position of trust as a teacher and coach by sexually exploiting a student he was supposed to protect,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “I’m grateful for the dedicated efforts of the FBI, the Durant Police Department, and the US Attorney’s Office to remove this predator from the lives of innocent children through the justice system.”

“The defendant violated the trust placed in him as a teacher in order to exploit the victim for his own prurient interests,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The jury’s verdict and the sentences imposed by the Court are a resounding message that those who commit these deplorable acts will be subjected to the justice system and severely punished.”

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 on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.

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

Assistant United States 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 Eduardo Garcia, age 55, Eric Lopez, age 46, Eric Jesus Lopez, age 28, Savanna Jade Lopez, age 28, Francisco Hernandez, age 25, and Christian Lopez, age 27, each of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, were sentenced on federal firearms charges.

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

Eduardo Garcia, aka Eduardo Garcia Olvera, aka Eduardo Olvera Garcia, aka “Lalo”, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  On May 18, 2023, Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge.

Eric Lopez, Eric Jesus Lopez, Savanna Jade Lopez, and Christian Lopez each pleaded guilty to one count of False Statements During the Purchase of a Firearm and were sentenced to five years’ probation.

Francisco Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of False Statements During the Purchase of a Firearm and was sentenced to four years’ probation.

According to investigators, on November 4, 2022, ATF agents discovered Eduardo “Lalo” Garcia in possession of one 20 GA Browning Light Twenty shotgun, one 20 GA Mossberg model 185K shotgun, one 9mm Ruger PC Carbine, and one completely built AR-15 style upper receiver in 5.56 NATO caliber, together with 19 empty gun boxes for manufactured firearms and over 2,900 rounds of ammunition, all shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.  At the time Garcia possessed the firearms, he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

An investigation by ATF agents revealed that five of those gun boxes bore serial numbers that matched firearms purchased for Garcia.

The investigation also revealed that between October of 2021 and October 2022, Eric Lopez, Eric Jesus Lopez, Savanna Jade Lopez, Christian Lopez, and Francisco Hernandez purchased a total of 107 firearms from four licensed firearms retailers in the Tahlequah and Muskogee areas.  For each purchase, the defendants falsely stated on a Department of Justice ATF Form 4473 that they were the actual buyers of the firearms.  In reality, the defendants were purchasing the firearms for Garcia, who was unable to complete purchases due to his felony conviction.  Law enforcement in Mexico recovered one of those firearms, a Glock 9mm pistol, five months after a family member purchased it for Garcia.

“Enforcing federal firearm regulations is a crucial part of protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and ensuring public safety,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Felons like Mr. Garcia and others who would otherwise not be able to legitimately purchase or possess firearms often look for buyers with no previous criminal history to act as straw purchasers on their behalf.  Garcia and his co-defendants attempted to thwart the safeguards and are being held accountable for their acts.”

“When family and friends choose to commit crime together, they become felons together.  Federal firearms laws are designed to keep weapons from those that shouldn’t have them, and today’s sentencing is a notice to all that ATF and its partners will relentlessly pursue those who choose to ignore them. Whether you are a felon in possession or supplying prohibited persons with firearms, we will find you and prosecute,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

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 Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Garcia will remain out of custody pending assignment to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Edward Ketcher, Jr., age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

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

On March 15, 2024, Ketcher pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on October 14, 2023, Ketcher was captured on a surveillance camera carrying a rifle.  At the time Ketcher possessed the rifle, he knew he had previously 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 Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.   Ketcher was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 at the sentencing hearing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wesley Wayne Sutton, age 59, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Arson in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that, on June 1, 2024, Sutton maliciously set fire to a dwelling.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

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.  Sutton will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Catherine Victoria Rogers, age 51, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, and Deception.

The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about August 1, 2023, and continuing until on or about November 14, 2023, Rogers knowingly and intentionally obtained Hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, and deception.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General.

According to investigators, Rogers was a nurse at the VA Medical Center in Muskogee. Without permission or authority, Rogers took approximately 132 hydrocodone pills from the medical center’s medication storage and distribution system.

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.

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 Joe Soriano III, age 55, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl.

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

On February 6, 2024, Soriano pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on January 5, 2023, and January 12, 2023, Soriano was captured on video selling a total of 50 pills containing Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Phillip Dale Wilson, age 72, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 204 months each on two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.  The terms are to be served concurrently for a total prison term of 17 years.

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

On December 18, 2023, Phillip Dale Wilson pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, beginning in December of 1999 and continuing until November of 2005, Wilson sexually abused a child he knew to be under the age of 12.  Investigators also established that between April 2004 and March 2011, Wilson sexually abused a second child he knew to be under the age of 12.  The investigation further revealed that between September 2001 and December 2015 Wilson sexually abused three other children under the age of 12 and another child under the age of 16.

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

“This case demonstrates the commitment of the FBI to investigate anyone who would harm the most vulnerable members of the community, our children,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue child sex offenders and send them to federal prison where they belong.”

“Due in large part to the bravery of the victims and the exceptional investigative work of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, the defendant will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “No prison sentence can undo the physical and emotional damage the defendant inflicted on his victims, but I hope they can have some measure of peace in knowing the defendant no longer poses a threat to them or other children.”

The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Wilson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 announces that Terry Joseph Dunnavent, age 39, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 76 months imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm.

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

On January 4, 2024, Dunnavent pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on January 3, 2023, Sallisaw Police discovered Dunnavent in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after Dunnavent attempted to evade a routine traffic stop, crashed his vehicle, ran from the crash site, and officers gave chase.  At the time of the offense, Dunnavent knowingly possessed the firearm despite having been previously 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing.  Dunnavent will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Bobby Laymone Sanders, age 64, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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

On November 1, 2023, Sanders pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on April 13, 2023, law enforcement discovered Sanders in possession of one .40 S&W caliber semi-automatic pistol and two rounds of ammunition during the execution of a search warrant at a home in Sallisaw.  At the time of the offense, Sanders had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knew of such conviction.

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 sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Sanders will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Patrick Lamar Tims Jr., age 22, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the January 2024 robbery of a Muskogee Family Dollar store.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 16, 2024, Tims pleaded guilty to one count of Robbery in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on January 16, 2024, Tims approached a clerk at a Family Dollar store in Muskogee and demanded $50 in cash.  Tims had his hand in his vest pocket and the clerk feared Tims was armed with a gun.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Tims will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Justin Lee Williston, age 33, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On January 4, 2024, Williston pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 1, 2022, Williston was driving a pickup truck eastbound on State Highway 3 with a suspended driver’s license.  Williston crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck an oncoming vehicle which rolled on impact, killing the passenger.  Law enforcement investigating the crash discovered open beer cans in Williston’s vehicle and Williston admitted drinking approximately “eight or nine beers” before the collision.  Investigators obtained blood samples which tested positive for marijuana and a blood alcohol content of .19 g/100ml.  The crime occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Williston will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Edward Downey, age 38, of Grant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, with five years of supervised release, for Failure to Register as Sex Offender.

On April 15, 2024, Downey pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshal Service.

In 2011, Downey was convicted in the State of Texas on four counts of Sexual Assault of a Child and was required to register as a sex offender.  Downey was advised that he was required to register as a sex offender every ninety days for life, and to inform law enforcement within seven days of any change in residency.  An investigation by U.S. Marshals revealed that between June 2022 and October 3, 2023, Downey failed to register as a sex offender in Oklahoma, despite moving from Texas to Oklahoma and living at various residences in and around Indian country in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Downey will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence of incarceration.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Randall England, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for the 2023 murder of a Stilwell resident.

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

On April 30, 2024, England pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.   According to investigators, on February 7, 2023, England traveled to a Stilwell residence, waited outside for the resident to arrive, then fired upon the victim eight times with a 7.62x39 rifle before fleeing the scene.  Three of the shots struck the victim, who died at the scene.  England was later apprehended by the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service in Tahlequah and arrested without incident.  The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  England will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Christopher Joe Knight, age 43, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

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

On February 20, 2024, Knight pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on December 26, 2022, OHP troopers conducting a routine traffic stop in Leflore County discovered Knight in possession of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol.  Knight knowingly possessed the firearm 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 Raúl Manuel Arias-Marxuach, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Knight will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Kenric West, age 48, of Noble, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Okemah Police Department.

On April 15, 2024, West pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, on September 28, 2023, West sold four plastic baggies containing 112 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, to an undercover narcotics officer.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  West will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Mason Anthony Wilson, age 28, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country and 120 months in prison for one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.  The terms are set to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On June 5, 2024, a federal jury found Wilson guilty at trial on both counts.  According to investigators, in April 2022, Wilson caused injuries to a 2-month-old baby in his care, including multiple fractured bones, and failed to provide medical care for the child.  The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Wilson will remain it the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Jessica Bove represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ronald Wayne Yarbrough Jr., age 54, of Lehigh, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 115 months in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

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

On August 31, 2023, Yarbrough pleaded guilty to an Information of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on November 24, 2022, Yarbrough instigated a fight outside the family home.  During the fight, Yarbrough stabbed the victim in the neck.  The victim was later declared dead at an area hospital.  The crime occurred in Coal County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Yarbrough will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Warren Allen Coleman, age 40, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

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

On October 8, 2024, Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on September 1, 2023, OHP troopers conducting a traffic stop discovered Coleman in possession of a chamber loaded 5.7x28mm semiautomatic pistol with 14 rounds in the magazine.  Law enforcement also seized a loaded .45 caliber handgun with a magazine holding nine additional rounds of .45 ACP ammunition.  Coleman knowingly possessed the firearms 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 District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Coleman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nakiah Twobear Eagle, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 25, 2024, Eagle pleaded guilty to the federal firearms offense.  According to investigators, on August 30, 2022, an Adair County Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Eagle to be in possession of a loaded .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol, along with 732.8 grams of methamphetamine, which Eagle intended for distribution. Eagle knowingly possessed the firearm in furtherance of his trafficking of methamphetamine.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing.  Eagle will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 today that David Deval Martin, age 39, of McIntosh County, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury for the 2013 murder of a Checotah resident.

The jury trial began with testimony on October 8, 2024, and concluded on October 11, 2024, with the verdict of guilty on one count of Murder in Indian Country.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on November 7, 2013, Martin killed a Checotah resident with malice aforethought.  At trial, the government presented evidence that Martin viciously beat and stabbed the victim, who sustained over 109 separate injuries during the attack, including dozens of injuries to the head and neck.  At the scene of the crime, investigators recovered Martin’s DNA mixed with the victim’s own blood from the front door of the home, and Martin’s fingerprint on the handle of a metal rod used to beat the victim.  Martin’s DNA was also recovered from the steering wheel of the victim’s abandoned car. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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 trial in Oklahoma City and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Martin will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Trial Attorneys Jared Hernandez and Bryan Lynch from the Department of Justice Violent Crime and Racketeering Section represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Gene McGee, Jr., age 38, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Ardmore Police Department.

On February 26, 2024, McGee pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on October 12, 2022, law enforcement officers conducting a routine traffic stop along Sam Noble Parkway in Ardmore, Oklahoma, saw McGee throw an object from the vehicle.  During the stop, officers discovered McGee in possession of a pistol magazine loaded with eleven rounds of 9mm ammunition.  Law enforcement also recovered a semiautomatic firearm lying in a nearby ditch along the route travelled by McGee’s vehicle prior to the stop.  The loaded firearm contained twelve rounds of 9mm ammunition inside a magazine that matched the magazine found on McGee’s person.  McGee knowingly possessed the firearm and 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.  McGee will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Devon Ray Gillispie, age 33, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

The Information alleged that on January 31, 2022, Gillispie, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of such conviction, possessed forty-two rounds of ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sallisaw 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.  Gillispie will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal 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 Michael John Jones, age 41, of Talihina, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

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

On February 6, 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 24, 2023, law enforcement conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Jones driving on a suspended license while travelling northbound on Highway 63 west of Talihina.  A subsequent search revealed Jones to be in possession of multiple plastic baggies containing over 124 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Jones will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Rian Reid Miller, age 23, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.

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

On February 7, 2024, Miller pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on April 29, 2023, Miller shot an individual twice with a .380 Smith and Wesson handgun during an assault at a Wewoka residence.  Miller then fled the scene but was identified by the victim, who survived the assault.  Law enforcement later apprehended Miller, who was found hiding in the crawlspace of an area residence in possession of a .380 Smith and Wesson handgun.  The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Miller will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Cainen Isaac Shephard, age 22, of Okemah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that on July 2, 2024, Shephard assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon.  The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges 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.  Shephard was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Brock Lucas Shields, age 59, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term of three years’ probation for one count of Engaging in the Business of Manufacturing and Dealing in Explosive Materials without a License, and three years’ probation for one count of Illegal Possession of a Machinegun.  The terms are set to be served concurrently, with the first six months to be served under house arrest.

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

On November 9, 2023, Shields pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on December 16, 2022, ATF and TFO agents executed a federal search warrant on Shields’ Wagoner residence and discovered Shields in possession of 132 illegal flash powder explosive devices and raw materials for manufacturing devices.  At the time of the search, Shields did not possess a federal explosives license to import, manufacture, or distribute explosive materials. Agents conducting the search also discovered two machine guns, one 7.62x39mm caliber firearm modified for full automatic firing with a single trigger pull, and one 5.56mm caliber firearm modified for full automatic firing with a single trigger pull.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amanda Lynn Howerton, age 41, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

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

On February 5, 2024, Howerton pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 22, 2023, Howerton produced a visual depiction of the sexual abuse of a child, then sold that image on the internet.

“The defendant exploited the innocence of a child by taking sexually suggestive photographs for personal financial gain.  This is not only an abhorrent violation of the law, but morally reprehensible and will not be tolerated by the FBI,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.  “This sentencing delivers a clear message that the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to ensure those who harm children will face consequences.”

“The defendant’s acts—producing and selling depictions of child sexual abuse for personal gain—were despicable and heartless,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Although the sentence handed down will not erase the trauma of such betrayal, it is most certainly deserved.”

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

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 on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Tyrone Dawson, age 35, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on October 16, 2023, Dawson knowingly and intentionally possessed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and that Dawson knowingly possessed a loaded .40 caliber pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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.  Dawson was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal 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 Tracey Nicole Radick, age 38, of Gore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on February 14, 2024, Radick knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute.  The Indictment also alleged that on that same day, Radick possessed one .22 caliber bolt action rifle, and one 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol, together with five rounds of 9mm Luger caliber ammunition, despite having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of that conviction.

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

The Honorable Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Radick will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal 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 David Origel-Villalobos, age 42, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien.

The Information alleged that Origel-Villalobos, an alien, was found in the United States without the express consent of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after having been previously deported and removed on three prior occasions.

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

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. District 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.  Origel-Villalobos was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Trevor Scott McGuire, age 24, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Arson in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that, on or about May 26, 2024, McGuire willfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling.  The crime occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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.  McGuire will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal 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 today that Ashley Bryanne Rockwell, age 40, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of False Statements.

The jury trial began with testimony on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, and concluded on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, with the guilty verdict.

At trial, the United States presented evidence that Rockwell knowingly and willfully made a false statement to a Deputy U.S. Marshal as to a material fact.  On August 18, 2023, while being questioned during an active investigation, Rockwell denied leaving the state with a registered sex offender who was wanted under an arrest warrant for Failure to Comply as a Sex Offender.  In fact, Rockwell had recently traveled to several states with the individual, including Colorado and Oregon.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the United States Marshal Service and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief 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 sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dak Cohen and Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Deland Ray Sam, age 64, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment charged Sam with knowingly possessing one .40 caliber pistol and 10 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition on June 21, 2021, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and 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.  Sam will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hr’Lee Wayde Hisaw, age 23, of Bryan County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that on or about February 18, 2024, Hisaw assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm. The crime 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 Ada Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and 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.  Hisaw was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Coty Layne Hayes, age 25, of Konawa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment on one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about June 9, 2023, and continuing until on or about September 22, 2023, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Hayes knowingly engaged and attempted to engage in a sexual act with a person who had attained the age of 12 years but not attained the age of 16 years.

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

The charges arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, the Konawa 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.  Hayes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that thirteen members of a drug trafficking organization pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and other federal drug crimes.

Heath Lloyd Taylor, age 45, Aaron Guy Key, age 46, Mallory Nicole Laird, age 36, Terri Angela Stroud, age 52, Kandi Anne Hankins, age 43, Travis Austin Powers, age 37, Tracie Ann Sells, age 54, Jeremy Paul Newman, age 47, each pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy.

Cody Wade Reece, age 33, and Whitney Marie Granite, age 36, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

Heather Leigh Brown, age 33, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

Taylor Dain Parnell Caldwell, age 34, and Randi Shawn Gann, age 34, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The Indictment alleged that beginning in or about August 2022 and continuing until on or about November 15, 2023, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United Sates, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

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.

The 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, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service 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 Taskforce, 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 Pocola 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.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson and the Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judges in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.  All defendants are in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Adan Garcia-Nava, age 36, of Mexico, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien.

The Indictment alleged that Garcia-Nava was found in the United States, having been removed or deported from the country on four prior occasions.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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.  Garcia-Nava will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Lana Freeman, age 33, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy.

The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about June 16, 2023, and continuing until on or about July 17, 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, Freeman willfully and knowingly conspired with other individuals to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more (actual) of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

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

The Honorable Magistrate Judge Gerald L. Jackson, sitting in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Freeman will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.  Today, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson announced that Muskogee County, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, is included among those designated communities.

The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning or possessing firearms.

Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders.  They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities.  The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g).  The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.

“We know that a gun in the hands of someone previously involved in intimate partner violence increases the likely deadliness of all future encounters, whether inside or outside of the home, and today’s initiative tackles this problem head-on,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “We are strongest when we partner together toward a common goal.  Collaborating with our partners in the ATF and local, state, and Tribal agencies, we will build and implement plans to enhance public safety and protect abuse survivors in Muskogee County and throughout the Eastern District.”

“One of ATFs top priorities has been and will continue to be to reduce domestic violence.  When prohibited people and abusers unlawfully possess firearms, the probability of intimate partner homicide increases substantially,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.  “Far too often, abuse escalates from bruises to bloodshed and tragically, loss of life.  Through our partnerships with the Eastern District of Oklahoma U. S. Attorney’s Office and state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, we will continue to dial in and aggressively charge those who commit these heinous crimes that terrorize families, shatter homes, and destroy lives.”

The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders.  All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.

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 found guilty by a federal jury of one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country and two federal firearms offenses.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, September 9, 2024, and concluded, on Friday, September 14, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Beard intentionally shot and killed the victim with malice aforethought.  According to investigators, Beard and the victim were romantic rivals for the same woman.  On March 29, 2023, Beard 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, and waited inside for the two to return.  When the woman and victim arrived, Beard shot the victim in the chest.  The victim fell to the ground where Beard shot the victim in the chest again at pointblank range.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the results of investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief 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 sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Beard will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States 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 Basilio Antonio-Hernandez, age 40, entered a guilty plea to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.

The Indictment alleged that on May 26, 2024, Antonio-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States without the express consent of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after having been previously deported and removed on three prior occasions.

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

The Honorable Jason Robinson, 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.  Antonio-Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Gage Wiedel, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment of 12 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The Superseding Indictment alleged that Wiedel sexually abused four children under the age of 12 while he was employed as a teacher’s assistant at St. Joseph Catholic School in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  The crimes occurred in Muskogee 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 Muskogee 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.  Wiedel will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Ricky Dale Degase, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 120 months imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  The sentences will run concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

On February 7, 2024, Degase pleaded guilty to the federal drug and firearm charges.  According to investigators, on March 7, 2023, an OHP trooper conducting a traffic stop arrested Degase on an outstanding warrant.  During the arrest, Degase was discovered in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol, found under Degase’s seat, along with 22.36 grams of methamphetamine, which Degase intended for distribution.  Degase knowingly possessed the firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy David Crawley, age 46 of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy.

The Indictment alleged that between 2019 and January 2023, the defendant conspired to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, at least 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the McAlester 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.  Crawley was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.