Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Tassia Ann-Lorene Sellers-Turner, age 32, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment 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 Stilwell Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 11, 2024, Sellers-Turner pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on September 9, 2023, officers responded to a 911 call of a stabbing at a Stilwell residence.  Officers arrived to discover the victim bleeding from multiple life-threatening stab wounds sustained during an attack.  Sellers-Turner fled the scene on foot but was apprehended and arrested by officers a short distance from the scene of the crime.   The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Sellers-Turner 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 Pete Allen Knight, Jr., age 40, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 47 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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

On December 18, 2023, Knight pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on July 17, 2023, Knight knowingly possessed a firearm and 45 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoff Edward Luethje, age 46, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a plea of guilty to one-count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The Indictment alleged that between April and August of 2023, Luethje knowingly possessed, and accessed with an intent to view, visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of children under the age of twelve.

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

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.  Luethje will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Christopher J. Wilson, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).  Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.

Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Wilson emphasized the importance of awareness and education.

“Fraud, financial exploitation, and elder abuse are each uniquely devastating to a senior’s well-being and independence,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to combatting the many forms of elder abuse, and to educating and equipping seniors, together with their family and friends, on how to recognize and avoid common schemes and patterns of abuse.”

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship.  Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological.  The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans.  In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.

Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity.  Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice.  The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example:

•    In Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation.

•    In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services.

•    In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) page.

The Eastern District of Oklahoma continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311, and visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Elder Fraud Complaint Page at IC3.gov.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that a Westville, Oklahoma, couple were sentenced for sexual offenses they committed against minors in Indian country.

Robert Lee Catron, age 36, was sentenced on June 11, 2024, to 30 years in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  According to investigators, between 2020 and 2022, Catron sexually assaulted a child he knew to be under the age of 12.

Jenny Marie Locust, age 39, was sentenced on June 4, 2024, to 10 years in prison for one count of Enticement and Coercion of a Minor.  According to investigators, between 2021 and 2022, Locust used her cell phone to entice and coerce a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity with her boyfriend, Robert Lee Catron.

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

Both Catron and Locust will be required to register and comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act upon release.

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

“I'm extremely grateful for the collaborative effort that brought these defendants to justice for their detestable crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The significant sentences handed down in this case should send a clear message to child predators that law enforcement will aggressively pursue them, even when the abuse is disclosed years after it occurs.”

“Together, Catron and Locust committed horrifying crimes, transgressing every rule of decency our society has set up to protect children,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “There can be no tolerance for those who would visit such evil upon children, and this office will not relent in its pursuit of such perpetrators.”

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.  Catron and Locust will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve their non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that three Oklahoma residents, ROBERT JAMES JACKSON, age 31, of Hugo, ANDRE CIMONE GOLSTON, age 35, of Idabel, and ANTWAINE TREMAINE NELSON, age 33, of Idabel, were sentenced for federal drug charges.  Jackson was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Golston was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility, and Nelson was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and Idabel Police Department.

On September 22, 2022, Golston pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility.  On October 13, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility.  On October 19, 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, Jackson, Golston, and Nelson participated in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma from the spring of 2020 until approximately October 2021.

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 in Muskogee.  The defendants 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christian Scott Dunham, age 22, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison for the August 2022 killing of his neighbor.

The charges arose from investigations by the Poteau Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 13, 2023, Dunham pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.  According to investigators, in the early morning hours of August 20, 2022, Dunham shot and killed the victim with a .22 caliber revolver.  The crime occurred in Le Flore 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.  Dunham will remain in 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 Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brenden Kaleb Rains, age 25, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

The Indictment against Rains alleged that on August 29, 2023, Rains attacked an individual with a dangerous weapon, intending to do harm, and caused that individual serious bodily injury.  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.  Rains was remanded to 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 Jerry Wayne Asbill, age 42, of Adair County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.  The terms will be served concurrently.

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

On May 10, 2023, a federal jury convicted Asbill on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse.  At trial, the Government presented evidence that in November of 2018, Asbill sexually assaulted a child he knew to be under the age of 12.  The crimes occurred in Adair County, on the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Mr. Asbill’s crimes were abhorrent and morally reprehensible,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.  “Thanks to the bravery of the victim who came forward, and the tenacity of the investigators and the prosecution team, we were able to achieve some measure of justice in this case.  The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never waver in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our population – our children.”

“The despicable crimes perpetrated upon this child warrant the life sentences imposed by the Court,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Violent crime in Indian country remains a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, and through continued cooperative efforts of our local, state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, we are committed to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders like Asbill accountable.”

The Honorable Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Asbill will remain in 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 Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Curtis Ray McClendon, III, age 41, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

On January 9, 2024, McClendon was indicted on the charge.  The Government Indictment alleged that on November 6, 2023, McClendon assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm.

The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, which is within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, and the Ardmore Police Department.

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

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 Billy Eugene Shepard, Jr., age 42, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 49 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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

On November 1, 2023, Shepard pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  As part of the plea, Shepard admitted to knowingly possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Shepard will remain in 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 Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that John Arthur Dennis, age 24, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for illegal possession of two firearms.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department; and the Ardmore Police Department.

On November 2, 2023, Dennis pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  According to investigators, on November 14, 2021, Dennis knowingly possessed two firearms after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing.  Dennis will remain in 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 Jesse Lee Fish, age 34, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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

On October 31, 2023, Fish pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  According to court documents, on April 4, 2023, Fish knowingly possessed a rifle and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Fish will remain in 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 Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Mason Anthony Wilson, age 28, of Gore, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, June 3, 2024, and concluded on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Wilson caused injuries to a 2-month-old baby, including 10 fractured bones and multiple bruises, and then failed to provide medical care for the baby.  The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Judge 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 trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Wilson was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States 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 James Tyler Garbey, age 36, of Catoosa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and 60 consecutive months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse or Intimate Partner in Indian Country, for a total of 180 months in prison.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.

On December 12, 2023, Garbey pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on July 19, 2023, Garbey broke into the victim’s residence, waited for the victim to arrive, then beat the victim before dragging her from the residence at knifepoint to a waiting truck.  The ordeal left the victim with substantial bodily injury.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that David Henry Vick, Jr., age 38, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months imprisonment for one count of an Information of Obstruction of the Due Administration of Justice.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Ada Police Department.

On February 6, 2024, Vick pleaded guilty to the charge.  As part of the plea agreement, Vick admitted to attempting to intimidate and threaten a witness for the purpose of influencing, delaying, or preventing testimony before a convening Federal grand jury.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing.  Vick will remain in 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 Robert Micco Harjo, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment charged Harjo with knowingly possessing a firearm and 117 rounds of ammunition on December 3, 2023, after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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

The Honorable Jason 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.  Harjo was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Dean Dod, age 39, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country.

The charge arose from investigations by the Sallisaw Police Department, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On February 6, 2023, Dod pleaded guilty to one count of a superseding indictment of Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on April 6, 2022, Dod forced his way into a Sallisaw apartment, on the Cherokee Nation Reservation, and attempted to burn the apartment by lighting combustible materials on the kitchen stove.  Dod fled the scene, but was apprehended and arrested a short time later by law enforcement after neighbors spotted Dod gaining entrance into a nearby residence.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Dod will remain in 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathan Rex Upton, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charges arose from investigations by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Secret Service.

On November 1, 2023, Upton pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on October 20, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Upton’s McAlester home.  Agents seized multiple computer hard drives.  A subsequent search of the drives revealed over 16,000 images depicting child sexual abuse.

The Honorable Judge Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Upton will remain in 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 Caila M. Cleary 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 and Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.

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) website at www.cybertipline.com.  If you prefer to speak to someone directly, you can contact NCMEC’s Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or HSI at 1-877-4-HSI TIP (1-877-447-4847).

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wesley Wayne Hunter, Jr. age 28, of Yukon, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation.

The Government’s Superseding Indictment alleged that on July 20, 2023, while on duty in his official capacity as a Canadian County Sheriff’s Deputy, Hunter purposefully deactivated the mobile tracking system on his work phone, altering and falsifying the official record of his activities.  As part of his plea, Hunter admitted to deactivating the mobile tracking system while transporting a female pretrial detainee from Bryan County to Canadian County before pulling his patrol car off the transport route.  Hunter further admitted he did this to conceal and impede any future investigation into his subsequent criminal misconduct.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable John Russell, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Hunter will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending a presentence investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Richard Lorenz, in consultation with Trial Attorney Laura Gilson from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Carl Ward, age 68, of Vian, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

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

The Indictment alleged that on January 2, 2024, Ward knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the same.  According to investigators, Ward possessed and intended to distribute over 575 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Ward was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Beau Don Morton, age 41, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two separate counts of an Indictment.

The Government indictment alleged that from March 24, 2022, to April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly maintained a premises for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance. The indictment also alleged that on April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

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

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Morton was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Corey Ray Pettit, age 31, of Marble City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for illegally possessing ammunition as a prohibited person.

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

On September 14, 2023, Pettit pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.  According to investigators, on December 14, 2022, Pettit fired upon a parked vehicle, striking it twice.  Ballistics technicians confirmed that a spent .25 casing recovered from the crime scene was a match to spent .25 casings retrieved from Pettit’s home.  At the time of the crime, Pettit knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma presided over the sentencing hearing.  Pettit will remain in 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 Patrick Timothy Kelley, age 46, of Pocola, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 270 months in prison for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force in Le Flore County.

On October 10, 2023, Kelley pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, during the summer of 2021, Kelley sexually abused a minor under the age of 12.  As part of the plea, Kelley also admitted to creating and transporting sexually explicit depictions of two minors between 2015 and 2021.  The crimes occurred in Le Flore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Homeland Security Investigations will never relent in our pursuit to hold those accountable who prey on innocent children,” said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the HSI Dallas – Oklahoma Division.  “We are proud of the collaboration with our partners of the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Taskforce and U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure justice was served.”

“This sentence should serve as another clear warning to those who prey on children:  we will leverage all available resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute you,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I am grateful to our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their work in bringing this defendant to justice.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Kelley will remain in 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 Jessica Bove represented the United States at sentencing.

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 and internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.

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) website at www.cybertipline.com.  If you prefer to speak to someone directly, you can contact NCMEC’s Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or HSI at 1-877-4-HSI TIP (1-877-447-4847).
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marco Antonio Naranjo-Aguilar, age 30, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced to 235 months for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

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

On January 9, 2023, Naranjo-Aguilar pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 20, 2022, Naranjo-Aguilar led officers on a high-speed pursuit on Oklahoma Interstate Highway 40 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma.  Upon apprehending and arresting Naranjo-Aguilar, law enforcement seized approximately 22.3 kilograms of methamphetamine from his vehicle.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Naranjo-Aguilar was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bradley Jordan Eagle-Tate, age 31, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment 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 September 22, 2023, Eagle-Tate pleaded guilty to the crime.

According to investigators, on June 27, 2022, Eagle-Tate crossed into the oncoming lane of Oklahoma Highway 100 in a no-passing zone, clipping one vehicle before colliding head-on with a second vehicle.  The driver of the second vehicle died at the scene, and a passenger in the first vehicle was left seriously injured.  Eagle-Tate admitted during the plea hearing that he had multiple drugs in his system at the time of the collision and failed to devote full time and attention while driving his motor vehicle.  The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Eagle-Tate will remain in 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shyla Faye Pittman, age 38, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for one count of Arson in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On October 16, 2023, Pittman pleaded guilty to one count of Arson in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on March 11, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a call about a housefire and arrived to discover Pittman on the porch of the burning building, with a butane torch nearby.  After firefighters extinguished the blaze, ATF Fire Investigators discovered multiple points of origin for the fire, indicating that Pittman had purposefully set fires throughout the home.  The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Pittman will remain in 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Patrick Wayne McHenry, age 30, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping, 360 months for one count of Kidnapping, 180 months for one count of Carjacking, and 180 months for one count of Robbery in Indian Country.  Those terms will be served concurrently.  In addition, McHenry was sentenced to 60 months for Use and Carry of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  That term will be served consecutively.

The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Police Department.

On December 21, 2022, McHenry was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial.  According to investigators, on September 11, 2021, McHenry kidnapped an individual from a motel in Muskogee, on the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and held the victim captive during an ordeal that lasted over two days.  On September 12, 2021, McHenry, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, targeted, robbed, and carjacked a second victim from the same motel in Muskogee.

“I applaud the work of law enforcement and prosecutors for their roles in holding McHenry accountable for his spate of violence,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  McHenry 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Danny Ray Gordon, III, age 33, of Lone Grove, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment filed on March 13, 2024, charged Gordon with one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

At the plea hearing, Gordon admitted that on December 16, 2024, he was found in possession of a Colt, Model 1903, .32ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol, and several rounds of ammunition.  Gordon also admitted that at the time he possessed the firearm and ammunition, he knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

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.  Gordon will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshall pending sentencing.

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 Courtnei Quincyion Wells, a/k/a Cortnei Quincyion Wells, age 22, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 74 months in prison for one count of Tampering with a Witness.

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

On October 5, 2023, Wells pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, in April 2023, Wells sent a series of messages via social media attempting to intimidate and threaten the victim to influence, delay, or prevent testimony before a Federal grand jury.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Wells will remain in 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 Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Kenneth Reilly, age 34, of Kingston, Oklahoma, was sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment for one count of Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm.

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

On September 12, 2023, Reilly pled guilty to charge.  According to investigators, on December 24, 2022, Reilly attempted to redeem a pistol from EZ Pawn in Durant, Oklahoma.  During his visit, Reilly intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 asserting that he was not under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or for any other crime for which he could be imprisoned for more than one year.  In reality, at the time of the transaction, Reilly was charged with a felony crime by the state of Oklahoma in Marshall County District Court.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Matthew Kyle Pinson, age 37, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, and 51 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, to be served concurrently.  Pinson was also sentenced to 57 months in prison for one count of Assault resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, to be served consecutive to the other terms of imprisonment.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department.

On July 25, 2023, Pinson pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on January 16, 2022, Pinson physically assaulted an individual, causing significant facial injuries that required surgery.  Three days later, on January 19, 2022, Pinson, a convicted felon, discharged a firearm, killing a second individual.  The crimes 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 U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Pinson 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Russell Richard Fincher, age 53, of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement to selling ammunition to a prohibited person.

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

As part of the plea agreement, Fincher admitted during the plea hearing that on May 5, 2023, he knowingly sold 60 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition to an individual he had reason to believe was a felon.  Fincher also admitted that between February 2021 and June 2023, he unlawfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.

Federal law requires that people engaged in the business of dealing in firearms, defined as repeatedly devoting time and attention to purchasing and reselling guns for monetary gain, obtain Federal Firearms Licenses, or FFLs, and run background checks on potential buyers.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that three Oklahoma residents, DONALD PAUL SPITTLER, age 42, of Holdenville, SUSAN MELODY SAXON, age 49, of Shawnee, and DANNA LAVON MCCARLEY, age 38, of Ardmore, were sentenced for federal drug charges.  Spittler was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy, Saxon was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and McCarley was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the District 22 Drug Task Force.

On January 19, 2023, Spittler and McCarley each pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy.  On February 7, 2023, Saxon pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

According to investigators, Spittler, Saxon, and McCarley participated in a scheme to obtain and distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  In January 2022, McCarley used a vehicle belonging to Spittler and Saxon to travel to El Centro, California.  In El Centro, McCarley obtained a large quantity of methamphetamine, divided it into separate parcels, and sent the parcels priority overnight mail.  The packages were addressed to residences in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  The U.S. Postal service flagged the parcels as suspicious, and a narcotics canine alerted on the packages.  USPIS investigators obtained and executed a search warrant finding a package addressed to Spittler at a residence associated with Saxon contained nearly 3,000 grams of methamphetamine; a second parcel addressed to McCarley contained over 2,000 grams of methamphetamine.  Law enforcement officers replaced the original parcels with dummy packages and completed the controlled deliveries.    Agents executed federal search warrants on the residences which led to the discovery of additional quantities of methamphetamine, scales, and money.

“Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most dangerous and prevalent illicit drugs in Oklahoma, tearing families apart and ruins lives as it makes its way into our neighborhoods,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez, who leads operations in Oklahoma.  “Defendants Spittler, Saxon, and McCarley are now learning the hard way that the strong law enforcement partnerships in Eastern Oklahoma will always see that justice prevails.”

“The USPIS seeks to rid the mail of illicit drug trafficking and the associated violence, preserve the integrity of the mail, and, most importantly, provide a safe environment for postal employees and Postal Service customers — the American public,” said Inspector in Charge Kai Pickens of the Fort Worth Division.  “We are thankful for our partnerships with the DEA, OBN, District 22 Drug Task Force, and USAO.  We will not stop pursuing those who seek to utilize the mail system for illicit drug trafficking.  We will continue our long standing tradition of protecting the mail system and effectively enforcing the laws of this nation.”

“We cannot overstate the importance of these collaborative investigations,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson.  “Methamphetamine continues to be a leading cause of drug-related deaths in Oklahoma.  My agency is committed to working along-side our state and federal partners to target, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for distributing meth onto the streets of Oklahoma.”

“I would like to start by first offering my gratitude to the dedicated state and federal law enforcement agencies that were involved in this investigation, and secondly I want to acknowledge the great work of our partner prosecutors in the Eastern District, specifically the service of AUSA Erin Cornell,” said Erik Johnson, District Attorney for District 22, representing Pontotoc, Seminole and Hughes Counties.  “We are in a daily battle to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities, and collaborative work on cases like this is becoming the new normal and making our efforts much more successful.”

“I commend the DEA, OBN, District 22 Drug Task Force, and USPIS for their collaboration and excellent investigative work in dismantling this drug trafficking organization,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “It remains our collective mission to curtail the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and to hold drug distributors accountable.”

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.  The Defendants 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 sentences 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 Kiah John Pritchett, age 39, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 63 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  The terms will run concurrently.

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

On August 15, 2023, Pritchett pleaded guilty to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on July 4, 2021, Pritchett gave the victim a ride in his vehicle.  An altercation broke out between Pritchett and his passenger along the route.  During the altercation, Pritchett unlawfully shot and killed the victim.

Pritchett, who had previously been convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year imprisonment, was prohibited at the time from possessing a firearm.

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

ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Boshek II said, “Our agents worked countless hours in the pursuit of justice for the victim and his family.  ATF is committed to combatting violent crime in our communities no matter how long it takes.  There is no amount of time in federal prison that will bring the victim back.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as we know Pritchett’s time in federal prison won’t ease their pain.”

“I commend the work of law enforcement in compiling an extensive and thorough investigation which allowed the government to prosecute the defendant for unlawfully taking the victim’s life,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Pritchett will remain in 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 Jarrod Leaman and Patrick Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathan Kelly Graham, age 26, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, with three years of supervised release, for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, and a concurrent term of 15 months’ imprisonment, with three years of supervised release, for one count of Theft in Indian Country.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service.

On October 4, 2023, Graham pleaded guilty to one count of Theft in Indian Country, and one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

According to investigators, on January 26, 2023, Graham stole a fleet truck containing a GPS relay tracker from a Muskogee gas station.  Muskogee deputies responding to the GPS location data discovered the truck stuck in the mud, and Graham attempting to attach a tow strap to the front bumper.  Graham fled on foot.  A K-9 unit tracked Graham and he was later arrested.

On September 13, 2023, Graham was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.  In 2015, Graham was convicted of Rape, Second Degree, and was required to register as a sex offender.  On April 4, 2022, Graham registered with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  At the time of registration, Graham was advised that he must notify law enforcement at least three days before any change of address.  An investigation by U.S. Marshals revealed that between July 4, 2022, and March 21, 2023, Graham failed to report any change of address despite residing at various residences in and around Indian Country in the Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Graham was transferred into federal custody September 14, 2023, and 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 United States Attorneys Joshua Satter and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Heath Tyler Bryan, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on January 1, 2024, Bryan was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, after having been previously convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than one year and knowing of the conviction.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 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.  Bryan was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Karrie Michelle Brown, age 32, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

On March 27, 2023, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. According to investigators, Brown sold approximately 55.25 grams of methamphetamine on December 11, 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 in Muskogee.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter 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, pleaded guilty to an Information of one count of Robbery in Indian Country.

The Information alleged that on or about January 16, 2024, Tims took by force, violence, and intimidation, a thing of value, namely, United States currency, from a Family Dollar located in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The crime 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 Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Tims was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amber Nicole Pickelsimer, age 45, of Healdton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for one count of Wire Fraud.  Pickelsimer was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $1,050,000.

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

On July 20, 2023, Pickelsimer pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud.  As part of the plea, Pickelsimer admitted to defrauding a victim of their retirement savings through a blackmail scheme perpetrated over nineteen months between 2019 and 2020.  According to investigators, Pickelsimer targeted a retired acquaintance, created fake Facebook accounts, then used those accounts to extort money from the victim.  Pickelsimer initiated contact with the victim through one of the fake accounts, falsely claimed to possess damaging material about a family member and threatened to release the damaging material unless the victim delivered large quantities of money to a drop site.  Soon after, Pickelsimer created an additional fake Facebook account and multiple false personas to send messages to threaten the victim into making additional payments.

“We take extortion threats very seriously and will investigate them to the fullest extent of federal law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Sonia Garcia of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.  “The criminals who think they can extort innocent people should know there will be consequences.  These crimes cause severe emotional distress to the victims and will not be tolerated.”

“Online extortion can be financially and emotionally devastating, but it can be stopped,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “If you believe you or someone you know is the target of cyberextortion or blackmail, do not be afraid to reach out for help.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Pickelsimer will self-report on June 13, 2024, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT. 
1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)

Or to file a complaint, visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FBI’s central hub for reporting cybercrime, at https://www.ic3.gov/Home/ComplaintChoice and select “Elder Fraud.”

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Colbert Johnston, age 64, of Springer, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, including aiding and abetting another felon in illegally possessing a firearm.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, May 6, 2024, and concluded on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on May 11, 2023, while serving arrest warrants on Cord Sikes Hutchins at Johnston’s Springer residence, law enforcement officers discovered two semi-automatic firearms, one bolt action rifle, one handgun, and assorted ammunition in the home.  After obtaining a federal search warrant, law enforcement seized the weapons and ammunition as evidence.  At the time of the discovery, Johnston and Hutchins were both prohibited from possessing the firearms due to prior felony convictions.  On April 24, 2024, Hutchins pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the United States Marshal Service, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Madill Police Department, the Love County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Honorable Kenneth J. Gonzales, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  The defendant will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Edith Singer and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OK - In honor of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement.  The week will be observed Saturday, May 11, through Friday, May 17, 2024.

“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.  “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most.  Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them.  The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”

“During National Police Week, we honor those who, through their courageous and selfless deeds, have been killed or disabled in the line of duty,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “In doing so, we also recognize the dedication and sacrifice of law enforcement officers, past and present, for their loyal devotion and dedicated service securing the rights and safety of the public.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.

On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil.  To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.

To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Randall England, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.

The Information alleged that on or about February 7, 2023, England shot and killed the victim with an assault rifle.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, 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.  England was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Austin Dean McMahan, age 24, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 600 months in prison on each of two counts of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.  The terms will be served concurrently.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.

On February 16, 2023, McMahan pleaded guilty to an Information of two counts of Murder in Indian Country-Second Degree.  According to investigators, on April 7, 2020, McMahan killed two people at an Okmulgee residence.  McMahan shot and killed the first victim during an argument. He then fired on a second victim who had attempted to come to the first victim’s aid. After the gun jammed, McMahan procured another firearm and shot the second victim multiple times. The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ada E. Brown, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  McMahan will remain in 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.

U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Gang Section Trial Attorney Cesar Rivera-Giraud and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tanner Dean Washington, age 29, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 murder of his girlfriend, Faith Lindsey.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the District 22 District Attorney Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office, the Pauls Valley Police Department, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Chickasaw Nation Emergency Management.

On August 31, 2022, Washington pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.  As part of the plea, Washington admitted to murdering 17-year-old Faith Lindsey on October 27, 2019.  According to investigators, on October 29, 2019, Lindsey’s family called the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office to report Lindsey as a missing person.  During the investigation, law enforcement officers uncovered evidence of blood in two of Washington’s automobiles as well as on a pair of sunglasses found in one of the vehicles.  Law enforcement interviewed witnesses who reported that on the night Lindsey went missing, Washington admitted Lindsey “was dead” and “it was his fault.”  The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  Despite an extensive investigation and exhaustive search efforts, Lindsey’s body has yet to be found.

“The defendant’s life sentence is part of our effort to seek justice and accountability for the tragic murder of an innocent young woman, who had a long and vibrant life ahead of her,” said FBI Oklahoma City Acting Special Agent in Charge Sonia Garcia.  “I am grateful for the unwavering work of our investigators and our law enforcement partners in this case – may it bring some measure of peace to the victim’s family.”

“The OSBI, along with other law enforcement agencies, continues to search for Faith Lindsey,” said OSBI Public Information Manager Hunter McKee.  “We appreciate everyone’s hard work and dedication in arresting and prosecuting the suspect responsible for this heinous crime.  We will continue our search for Faith and will not give up our efforts until she is brought home.”

“I applaud the great work of the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office for the successful prosecution of Tanner Washington,” said District Attorney Erik Johnson for District 22 comprising Pontotoc, Seminole, and Hughes Counties.  “This case has left holes in a lot of hearts in Pontotoc County, and I’m glad to see that Tanner Washington will spend the rest of his days in federal prison.”

“The Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department recognizes the valuable partnership between the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the District 22 District Attorney Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Seminole and Pontotoc County Sheriff's Offices, and the Pauls Valley Police Department for their work to bring resolution to this case,” said Charles C. Palmer, Chief of the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.  “The combined efforts to seek justice for a Chickasaw citizen within the Chickasaw Nation highlights the continued working relationship of law enforcement within Indian Country.”

“The sentence imposed was a direct result of the defendant’s heinous crime and—despite pleading guilty—his callous refusal to provide the location of the victim’s body,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I commend the work of state, county, tribal, and federal law enforcement in identifying Washington as the suspect and of our federal prosecutors in advocating for a life sentence.”

The Honorable Ada E. Brown, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Washington will remain in 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 Ryan Conway represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathan Quinn Harrington, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one count violation of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on January 23, 2024, Harrington, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed a .22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, 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.  Harrington will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

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

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, entered a guilty plea to a one count violation of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on January 7, 2024, Girty, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed a .22 caliber, bolt action rifle which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, 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. Girty will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.

In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities.

“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.  “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain.  Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice.  This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”

“Every missing person, every victim, is a son or a daughter, and their absence is a tragedy that tears at the fabric of families, tribes, and communities," said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  "This office is proud to join with our partners in the Tribal Nations within Eastern Oklahoma to recognize MMIP Awareness Day and shine an important light on what it means to seek justice for victims and their families."

“The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

“DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.”

Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases

Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions.

The MMIP Regional Outreach Program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022.

Not Invisible Act Commission Response

The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States.

Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country

As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons.

Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate.

Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm.

Accessing Department of Justice Resources

Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.

For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.

Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Ryan John Capps, age 25, of Calera, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Coercion and Enticement, one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, April 29, 2024, and concluded on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, with the guilty verdicts on all charges.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in the autumn of 2022, while employed as a teacher and coach at Durant Middle School, Capps enticed a minor to produce child sexual abuse material and engage in illegal sexual activity.  The crimes occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Durant Police Department 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 trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Capps was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

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 today that Jimcy McGirt, age 75, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.

On December 5, 2023, McGirt pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.  As part of the plea agreement, McGirt confessed to sexually abusing a child in August of 1996.

“Today’s sentence closes a chapter on a perpetrator who has attempted to evade the legal consequences of his actions at every turn,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “For the victim, we hope it is but a beginning.  To go into a courtroom—to fight to be heard and to be believed—that takes courage.  To do so over three decades requires unimaginable fortitude of spirit.  It is our hope the guilty plea and the sentence imposed bring some solace and comfort to those most effected by the defendant’s crimes.”

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.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Kyra Jenner represented the United States.