Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Micheal Shane Burch, age 33, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.

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

On September 19, 2023, Burch pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, law enforcement discovered nude photos of a minor on Burch’s phone after the child’s parents filed a complaint about Burch behaving suspiciously.  Law enforcement questioned Burch, who consented to a search of his phone and admitted to taking the images found on it.  The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Burch 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 Jessica Bove represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Devon Leroy Battiest, age 43, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.

The charge arose from investigations by the Broken Bow Police Department, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 17, 2024, Battiest pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 6, 2023, Battiest entered a Broken Bow residence armed with a firearm, then shot and killed a guest at the residence.

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

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Battiest 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 Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenneth Leon Thomas, Jr., age 35, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 270 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

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

On April 19, 2023, Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of an Information of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.  According to investigators, on May 31, 2022, during a dispute over switching cells at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville (since renamed the Allen Gamble Correctional Center), Thomas had an altercation with a fellow inmate and stabbed the inmate three times, killing him.  The crime occurred in Hughes County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  At the time of the murder, Thomas was serving 8 years on a state court conviction out of Comanche County for Assault and Battery on a Police Officer.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Thomas 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 Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lawanna Renee Pogue, age 41, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for possessing a firearm after being previously convicted of a felony offense.

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

On April 19, 2023, Pogue pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on December 25, 2022, deputies with the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office stopped Pogue’s vehicle after observing a traffic infraction and located a .22 caliber firearm in the vehicle’s trunk compartment.  Pogue later admitted to possessing the firearm despite her status as a convicted felon.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, 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 Daniel Wayne Bayless, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 420 months for each of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.  The terms of imprisonment will be served concurrently.  Bayless will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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

On July 18, 2023, Bayless was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in 2020 Bayless sexually assaulted a minor victim under the age of 12 on multiple occasions.  The Government also presented evidence Bayless victimized another child ten years prior.  The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Bayless 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 Nicole Paladino and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Douglas Vaughn Switch, Jr., age 47, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term in prison for 168 months for one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

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

On September 25, 2023, Switch pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on the evening of October 23, 2022, Switch fired a single round from a .380, killing the victim instantly.  Law enforcement officers responding to a 911 call discovered Switch pressing the .380 pistol to his own chin and sitting beside the body of the deceased on the front porch of a Seminole residence.  The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Switch 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 today that Zion Alexander Canard, age 25, of Henryetta, Oklahoma was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country.

Canard was found guilty of child abuse following a federal bench trial on August 14, 2023.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on September 12, 2022, Canard abused an infant left in his care, resulting in a brain hemorrhage, lacerations, and bruising.  The crime occurred in Hughes County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, the Tulsa Police Department, the Glenpool Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Canard 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 Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Gary Lynn Armer, Jr., age 19, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 87 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  The sentences are to be served concurrently.

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

On October 19, 2022, Armer pleaded guilty to a two-count felony information.  According to investigators, on March 26, 2022, Armer drove to a residence outside Gore, Oklahoma, and confronted an individual there.  During the ensuing argument, Armer fatally shot the victim.  Armer then fired upon a second individual sitting in a nearby vehicle, causing serious bodily injury, before fleeing the scene.  Armer was arrested a short time later by investigating officers, who located Armer at his residence.  The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, which is within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and 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 sentencing hearing.  Armer 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 today that Ryan Christopher Dill, age 37, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, on one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse, and 120 months on one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  The terms of imprisonment will run concurrently.

On September 29, 2022, Dill pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on December 25, 2021, Dill stabbed, bludgeoned, and sexually assaulted the victim at an Ada residence.  The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

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.  Dill 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 Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenric West, age 47, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine.

The Indictment alleged that on September 28, 2023, West knowingly and intentionally distributed 112 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Oklahoma State 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. West 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 today that Elijha Dewayne Taylor, age 34, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of one count of Murder in the First Degree in Indian Country, one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, April 22, 2024, and concluded on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.

At trial, the government presented evidence that on March 4, 2023, Taylor approached a Muskogee apartment building, entered an apartment, then intentionally shot the victim with a .22 firearm before fleeing.  The victim later died at an area hospital.

The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  The defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Attorneys Richard Lorenz and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Austin Isaac Furr, age 23, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Office of the Inspector General.

On October 11, 2023, Austin Furr pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on September 26, 2021, Furr was involved in an altercation with his cellmate in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.  During the struggle, Austin Furr killed his cellmate by stabbing and strangling him.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raymond David Phillips, age 32, of Lindale, Texas, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Arson, 41 months for one count of Animal Crushing in Indian Country, and 6 months on two misdemeanor counts of Assault in Indian Country.  The sentences will run concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grand River Dam Authority.

On May 22, 2023, Phillips pleaded guilty to the charges.  On September 3, 2022, Phillips and his girlfriend were vacationing at a resort area along the Illinois River when his girlfriend was arrested.  Angered by the arrest, Phillips decapitated the resort owner’s cat, then began burning other guests’ camping equipment.  Law enforcement arrested Phillips at the Cherokee County Detention Center, where he had arrived to bail out his girlfriend.  After being taken into custody, Phillips threatened and assaulted jail and law enforcement officers.

The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee 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.  Phillips 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 Lawrence Fourkiller, age 47, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a plea of guilty to one-count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child in Indian Country as a part of a negotiated plea agreement.

During the plea hearing, Fourkiller admitted that between August of 2020 and May of 2021, while employed at Stilwell Elementary School, he knowingly caused a seven-year-old child to engage in a sexual act. The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Stilwell 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.  Fourkiller will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Caila M. Cleary and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Morgan Cameron Blanton-Barnes, age 24, of Roland, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 235 months in prison for one count of Maiming in Indian Country and 188 months in prison for First Degree Burglary in Indian Country.  These sentences are to be served concurrently.

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

On December 14, 2022, Blanton-Barnes pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on April 23, 2022, Blanton-Barnes broke into the victim’s home while the victim was sleeping and attacked the victim with an electric saw.  The victim suffered severe lacerations to the back of his skull and both hands.  The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“The facts of this case are shocking, and the sentence imposed is a clear message that the justice system will hold violent offenders accountable for their heinous crimes,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Blanton-Barnes 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Troy Michael Goforth, age 49, of Clayton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and 60 months on one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.  The terms will be served consecutively.

The charges arose from a joint investigation by members of Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 31, 2023, Goforth pleaded guilty to the charges.  On September 21, 2022, Goforth led officers on a high-speed pursuit, during which Goforth was observed tossing a green duffel bag out of the car before jumping out of the vehicle and fleeing on foot.  Upon apprehending and arresting Goforth, officers discovered a loaded 9mm pistol tucked into Goforth’s waist band.  During a subsequent search of the nearby ditch, officers recovered the green duffel bag, which contained syringes, baggies, digital scales, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Goforth 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 Bryan Udale Jones, age 63, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.  Jones will also be required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

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

On May 2, 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, beginning in 2003 and continuing into 2010, Jones sexually assaulted a minor under the age of 12.  As part of the plea agreement, Jones admitted to additional assaults on three other minors over a span of 15 years.  The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Four innocent children suffered unimaginable horrors at the hands of Bryan Jones.  He is both a danger and a disgrace, and now, thanks to the courage of the victims who came forward in this case, he will spend the rest of his natural life behind prison bars,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray.  “This sentence sends a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate the abuse and exploitation of children.”

“Thanks to brave individuals with the courage to speak up and the diligent efforts of investigators and prosecutors, Bryan Udale Jones will effectively spend the rest of his life in prison,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I want to thank our partners in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case and for their continued partnership in keeping our communities safe from child predators.”

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.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief 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 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 Lawrence Eugene Blue, age 65, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possessing a firearm after being previously convicted of a felony offense.  This sentence is to be served concurrently with an 18-month term of imprisonment imposed for violating supervised release.

The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Probation Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On June 7, 2023, Blue pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  On December 1, 2022, a United States Probation Officer discovered Blue in possession of a .22 caliber revolver and assorted ammunition.  At the time, Blue was on supervised release for one count of a federal drug conspiracy conviction, a felony crime, and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lebron Earl Samuels, age 41, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 7, 2023, Samuels pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 12, 2022, Samuels was discovered in possession of a 9mm pistol and a loaded extended magazine after a high-speed pursuit in which Samuels tried to evade arrest on an outstanding warrant.  At the time of the possession, Samuels had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by 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 hearings.  Samuels 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 Darian Ty Farris, age 27, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months for one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and 30 months in custody for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  The terms are set to be served consecutively.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Wewoka Police Department, the Seminole Lighthorse Police Department, and the Holdenville Police Department.

On August 10, 2023, Farris pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, in the early morning hours of March 2, 2023, Farris approached a Wewoka residence and yelled through the front door, challenging the occupant to a fight.  When the occupant stepped outside, Farris intentionally shot the victim in the abdomen with a firearm and fled.  Law enforcement investigating the crime issued a warrant for Farris’s arrest.  On April 18, 2023, law enforcement uncovered the outstanding warrant during a routine traffic stop.  Faced with arrest, Farris led officers on a chase at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and fired upon pursuing officers.

The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole 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.  Farris 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 William Craig Hollars, age 44, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 235 months in prison for a prolonged assault ending at the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building in September of 2022.

Hollars was sentenced to 115 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, 115 months for one count of Assault of a Dating Partner in Indian Country, 115 months for one count of Attempt to Damage and Destroy by Explosive, and 115 months for one count of Making a Firearm in Violation of the National Firearms Act.  These sentences are set to be served concurrently.  Hollars was sentenced to an additional 120 months in prison for one count of Carrying an Explosive During the Commission of a Felony, to be served consecutive to the other sentences.

The charges arose from investigations by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 7, 2023, Hollars pleaded guilty to the charges.  On September 6, 2022, Hollars strangled the victim, threatened her with a homemade bomb, chased her as she fled to the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building, struck her in the back of the head, dragged her from the building as she sought shelter, then attempted to light the bomb, with intent to injure her and damage the Treasury Building.

The crimes 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 in Muskogee.  Hollars 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 Rebecca Elaine Holloway, age 33, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for one count of Tampering with Consumer Products, a violation of Title 18, United Sates Code, Section 1365.

The charges arose from investigations by the Food and Drug Administration—Office of Criminal Investigations and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

On August 31, 2023, Holloway entered a guilty plea, admitting to stealing fentanyl and hydromorphone intended for intensive care patients while she was employed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  According to investigators, Holloway removed the pain medication from their vials, refilled the empty vials with tap water, and returned the tampered vials to the controlled storage locker.  Holloway admitted she did so despite knowing the pain medication vials were intended for patients in acute pain and distress, and that by depriving patients of the medication, she knew she was placing them at risk of death and bodily injury.

“Patients rely on the knowledge that they will receive FDA-approved medications to manage their pain,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Grinstead, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office.  “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who jeopardize patients’ health by tampering with their pain medications.”

“The defendant did not merely steal drugs from a hospital: she compromised the health, safety, and comfort of vulnerable patients when she tampered with their medications for her own self-serving ends,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office stands ready to prosecute those who would callously exploit medical patients, and we are grateful to the FDA and the OBN for their outstanding work in investigating this case.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Holloway will self-report on June 6, 2024, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster and Associate Chief Counsel Jason Chandler of the Food and Drug Administration represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cedric Jamara Cherry, age 42, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a felony offense.

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

On August 8, 2023, Cherry pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on March 15, 2023, Cherry possessed a loaded .40 S&W pistol after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term 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 hearing.  Cherry 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 Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bobby William Wells, Jr., age 33, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department, the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On June 8, 2023, Wells pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.  According to court documents, Wells admitted to having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and to possessing ammunition despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief 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 Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amya Elise Walker, age 20, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.

The charge arose from investigations by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

On September 25, 2023, Walker pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 13, 2023, Walker violently attacked an elderly woman at an Ada residence, leaving the victim with multiple bruises and lacerations requiring medical care.

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.  Walker 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lauren Ann Jackson, age 35, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for burning the body of a murder victim.

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

On June 8, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty in federal district court to one count of Desecration of a Human Corpse in Indian Country.  According to investigators, between November 15 and 16 of 2021, Jackson assisted in burning the body of a victim murdered by Dayan Banks hours before.  On January 29, 2024, Banks was convicted by a jury in state district court of one count of Murder in the First Degree—Deliberate Intent, and one count of Desecration of a Human Corpse.  Jackson was prosecuted in federal court because she is a member of federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Okmulgee 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.  Jackson 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Courtney Nicole Deatherage, age 28, and Dustin Keith Deatherage, 27, both of Wilburton, Oklahoma, were sentenced for their roles in a murder-for-hire plot.

On March 27, 2024, Courtney Deatherage was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Use of Interstate Facility in Murder-for-Hire, and Dustin Deatherage was sentenced to 97 months in prison for one count of Use of Interstate Facility in Murder-for-Hire.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wilburton Police Department.

In July of 2023, the Deatherages each pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 21, 2021, Courtney Deatherage contacted an individual to request a murder-for-hire and to negotiate terms.  Over text messages, Courtney Deatherage specified the target, gave instructions, and agreed to an upfront fee, with the same amount to be paid out after the murder.  On January 22, 2021, Courtney and Dustin met in person with the individual they believed they were hiring to perform the murder, paid a down payment on the contract, and produced a loaded 12-guage shotgun to be used in the murder.  Courtney and Dustin Deatherage were arrested by law enforcement shortly after completing their transaction, and the target of the murder-for-hire plot was unharmed.

United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson commended the OSBI and local law enforcement for their work in uncovering the defendants’ scheme.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Aaron Welch Earley, age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Arson in Indian Country.

On March 14, 2023, Earley intentionally and maliciously set fire to and burned down a family home in Westville, Oklahoma.  The total reported loss exceeded $100,000.

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

The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair 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.  Earley 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 Amy Leann Hall, age 43, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to Life in prison for each of two counts of Murder in Indian Country, and 240 months in prison for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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

On November 28, 2022, Hall pleaded guilty.  According to investigators, during the early morning hours of November 1, 2018, Hall entered the room of her 18-year-old son and shot him in the head while he slept, killing him instantly.  Hall proceeded to the bedroom of her 16- and 14-year-old daughters and shot both in the head as they slept.  Hall’s 14-year-old daughter survived.  Hall’s 16-year-old daughter never regained consciousness and died from her injuries four days later at the hospital.  An Okmulgee County deputy dispatched to the scene spotted Hall’s vehicle and gave pursuit.  After a chase exceeding 110 miles per hour, law enforcement apprehended and arrested Hall.  The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This crime was gut-wrenching and there is no question the sentencing is just.  It is absolutely heart breaking to think a mother could be capable of shooting her own children while they slept,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray.  “The FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes in Indian Country and along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively pursue these cases.  We are committed to protecting all of the tribal communities we serve, helping victims, and ensuring that justice is met for violent offenders.”

“The horrific violence visited upon this family was unimaginable, and nothing will ever make things right,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Nevertheless, justice requires a careful consideration of all facts, including the interests of the surviving victim.  Based on these considerations, the United States recommended a life sentence be imposed in this case.”

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Preston Shawn Whittington, age 28, of Waurika, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a statutory maximum sentence of 180 months in prison for Carjacking.

The charges arose from investigations by the McAlester Police Department, the Davis Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 31, 2023, Whittington pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, Whittington was an inmate at the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester, Oklahoma, serving a state sentence for kidnapping.  On March 30, 2021, Whittington assaulted the victim, stole the victim’s vehicle, and escaped.  During the assault, Whittington threatened to kill the victim.  Officers with the Davis Police Department later spotted the victim’s vehicle at a local gas station with Whittington inside.  Whittington led police on a high speed chase, exceeding speeds of 100 mph before crashing the victim’s vehicle and fleeing on foot.  Whittington stole a second vehicle before being captured in Wichita Falls, Texas, one day after his escape from prison.

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

First Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Dennis Hebert, age 39, of Phenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to 360 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.

On May 17, 2023, Hebert was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury.

The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on July 21, 2021, Hebert engaged in a sexual act with a minor victim who had not reached 10 years of age.  The United States also presented evidence that Hebert had previously sexually abused another child under the age of 10.  The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, 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.  Hebert 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 Caila M. Cleary 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, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

The Indictment alleged that on August 30, 2022, Eagle knowingly possessed a .22 LR caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, namely, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

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

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.  Eagle was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rito Alvarado-Gomez, age 36, of Hope, Arkansas; Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez, age 33, of Hope, Arkansas; Ricardo Villeda, age 25, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera, age 26, of Hope, Arkansas; and Ana Isabel Frayre Barboza, age 37, of Hope, Arkansas; were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy,  In addition to the Drug Conspiracy charges, Rito Alvarado-Gomez, Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez, Ricardo Villeda, and Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera are charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine.  If convicted, defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences of not less than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $10,000,000 fine.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Indictment alleges that beginning in 2018, and continuing until March 2024, 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 States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.

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

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt.  A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant.  All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Earl Wilson, age 38, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for five counts of distributing methamphetamine.  The sentences are set to be served concurrently.

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

On July 6, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine.  According to investigators, in late 2021 and early 2022, Wilson distributed methamphetamine on five separate occasions from two houses located in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Colby Eric Dean Ballard, age 28, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner in Indian County.

The Indictment alleged that on or about April 4, 2023, Ballard assaulted the victim by strangulation.  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 Judge 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.  Ballard 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 Kevin Dale Luman, age 38, of Wister, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Causing Accident Resulting in Great Bodily Injury while under the influence of Alcohol and Intoxicating Substances in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 11, 2023, Luman pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on June 23, 2019, Luman was driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.189% when he crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 271 in Wister, Oklahoma, and collided into an oncoming Jeep.  Both the driver and the passenger of the Jeep sustained significant injuries in the crash.  The crime occurred in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Roslyn Melodie Haile, age 64, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of Bank Fraud and one count of Tax Fraud, to be served concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release.  In addition, Haile was ordered to pay $428,271.26 in restitution to The MORE Foundation, and to pay an additional $120,777.02 in restitution to the IRS.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigations.

On February 28, 2023, Haile entered a plea of guilty to an information of one count of bank fraud and one count of tax fraud.  According to investigators, from 2017 until mid-2021, while employed as Executive Director of The MORE Foundation, a nonprofit that funds continuing education scholarships to Carter County high school graduates, Haile embezzled over $428,271.26 from the foundation’s bank accounts for personal use.  During that time, Haile embezzled funds through multiple different means, including bank transfers to pay off her personal credit card, ATM withdrawals, and the issuance of fraudulent payroll checks to herself.  Haile also falsified a 2018 U.S. Individual Tax Return by underreporting personal income, resulting in a total loss of $120,777.02 to the U.S. Treasury.  Based on these crimes, the court assessed Haile a total restitution of $591,761.28.

“As Executive Director of The MORE Foundation, Ms. Haile had the fundamental responsibility of managing scholarship funds efficiently, ethically, and with the upmost integrity.  The students of Carter County and the generous donors deserve nothing less,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray.  “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

“The financial expertise of IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents was critical in detecting the illegal activity of Ms. Haile,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., IRS:CI special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office.  “She willfully stole money from an organization devoted to helping people obtain higher education and knowingly falsified her taxes to hide her ill-gotten gains.  I’m proud of the diligent work done by members of CI along with the FBI to uncover her illegal actions and hold her accountable.  Between what she embezzled from the non-profit and withheld from the IRS, she stole more than half a million dollars.  In addition to time in jail, she is also required to pay restitution as part of her sentencing.”

“Fraud is not a victimless crime:  Ms. Haile abused her position and plundered a fund she knew was intended to benefit Carter County’s students and greater community,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office stands firm in its commitment to prosecute those who engage in predatory schemes, and I commend the work of FBI and IRS-CI agents whose investigations uncovered Ms. Haile’s years-long theft.”

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.  Haile will self-report on May 1, 2024, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Kyra Jenner represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Erin Nicole Fixico-Mitchell, age 33, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to sixty-nine months imprisonment each for three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release.  The sentences are set to be served concurrently.

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

On May 10, 2023, Fixico-Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charges.  Between September and November of 2015, while employed as a coach and teacher at Ada High School, Fixico Mitchell sexually abused a student.  Fixico-Mitchell left her employment at Ada High School, and eventually joined on as a teacher and coach at Byng High School.  During her tenure at Byng, Fixico-Mitchell sexually abused a student between June and September of 2021.  The crimes 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.  Fixico-Mitchell 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 United States Attorneys Caila M. Cleary and Jessie Pippin represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyre Lowery Ford, age 34, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 120 months in prison for federal drug and firearm charges.  Ford was sentenced to 60 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and a consecutive 60 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

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

On November 10, 2022, Ford pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to court documents, on February 23, 2022, Stilwell police responded to the report of a stolen car.  Ford attempted to get out of the car and, in the process, made movements behind his back.  Police recovered a 9mm handgun from the driver’s seat and approximately 100 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine from Ford.

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.  Ford 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 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 AARON ISAIAH JOHNSON, age 36, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced for a home invasion robbery and subsequent fire station burglaries.  Johnson was sentenced to 184 months in prison for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery; one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm; one count of Robbery; one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm; and two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.

On November 12, 2021, Johnson was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial.  According to court documents, in December 2018, Johnson, masked and armed with a rifle, broke into and entered an occupied residence where he encountered the homeowner.  After striking and assaulting the homeowner with the rifle, Johnson stole cash, a firearm, and the victim’s vehicle.  On February 27, 2019, Johnson broke into and entered the Red Bird Fire Station and stole two fire trucks.  On March 14, 2019, Johnson broke into and entered the Liberty Fire Station and stole a fire truck.  At the time Johnson committed these crimes, he was wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor which placed him at all three locations during the time the crimes were committed.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timythy Jordyn Summers, age 19, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 11, 2023, Summers pleaded guilty to a single count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  According to investigators, Summers engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a minor on Instagram and arranged to meet at a local park.  Summers was caught by law enforcement leaving a public restroom at the park after sexually abusing the minor.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Summers 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 United States 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.  For more information about 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)'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 Hunter Lee Wallace, age 21, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police, the Hugo Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 11, 2023, Wallace entered a guilty plea to the sexual abuse of a minor in Indian country.  According to investigators, on September 12, 2022, Wallace sexually abused a minor he had previously met and conversed with on Snapchat, despite knowing the victim’s true age.  The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Wallace 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 United States 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.  For more information about 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)'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 Chase Lane Rocha, age 21, of Boswell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Lighthorse Police, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Oklahoma.

On October 4, 2023, Rocha was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on January 24, 2023, after family members had twice disarmed him during a dispute at a Boswell-area residence, Rocha returned a third time, armed with a revolver.  During the third attempt to disarm Rocha of a firearm, Rocha shot and killed the victim.    The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Rocha 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 United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at trial.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert William Rainford, age 51, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country.  Rainford also received a consecutive sentence of 10 years for using a firearm to commit the offense.

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

On May 5, 2023, Rainford was found guilty at trial by a federal jury.  According to investigators, on December 12, 2021, Rainford intentionally shot his neighbor multiple times in the head and torso, killing him.  Law enforcement officers responding to the 911 emergency call encountered a bloodied Rainford, who directed them where to find the weapon.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Rainford 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 United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darrin Renay Kimble, a/k/a Darrin Latroy Kimble, a/k/a Darrin Renay Teague, age 58, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Robbery in Indian Country.

At the plea hearing, Kimble admitted that on February 21, 2021, he took a television from the person and presence of the victim by force, violence, and intimidation.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Coweta Police 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.   Kimble will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

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 announced that Andria Victoria Dowdy, age 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiring to violate federal firearms offenses, including unlawful possession of a silencer and unlawful possession of non-serialized firearm.

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

On June 1, 2023, Andria Victoria Dowdy and co-defendants Jemarcus Maquel Williams and Anfernee Deshon Sherrod each entered guilty pleas to one count of Conspiracy to violate federal firearms offenses.   According to investigators, the trio conspired to obtain firearms in the State of Oklahoma.  On December 29, 2021, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop on I-40 in Sequoyah County.  Law enforcement ultimately discovered Dowdy, Williams, and Sherrod in possession of six firearms with large capacity magazines and an unserialized silencer.  On February 21, 2024, Williams and Sherrod were sentenced to 60 months in prison for their role in the offenses.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over Dowdy’s sentencing hearing in Muskogee.  Dowdy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve her 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 Bradley Scott Sutterfield, age 43, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Bank Fraud.

The Information alleged that on March 28, 2023, Sutterfield knowingly executed a scheme to defraud The Bank N.A., a federally insured financial institution.  According to investigators, Sutterfield’s scheme involved submitting counterfeit savings bonds to the bank teller in exchange for United States currency.

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.

Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Floyd Joseph Ball, Jr., age 38, of Newalla, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for one count of kidnapping in Indian country.

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

On February 6, 2023, Ball pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping in Indian country.  According to investigators, late in the evening on May 5, 2018, Ball entered the back door of a Purcell, Oklahoma, Subway sandwich shop and threatened the lone employee with a knife.  Ball forced the victim into a waiting vehicle, and drove the victim two hours away to Checotah, Oklahoma, where Ball held the victim captive at an area residence.  On May 6, a McIntosh County deputy located the vehicle outside the residence, apprehended Ball attempting to flee the scene, and freed the victim.  The crime began in McClain County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Western District of Oklahoma, and ended in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David Cleveland Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Ball 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 United States Attorney Kyra Jenner represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy David Croley, age 47, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by one year of home confinement for each of two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian country.  The sentence for each count will run concurrently.  Croley was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On July 18, 2022, Croley entered a guilty plea to the charges.  According to investigators, on September 15, 2018, Croley crossed the center line driving southbound on Bell Road and crashed his dual rear wheel truck into a vehicle driving in the northbound lane.  Troopers arriving at the scene of the wreckage observed Croley unsteady on his feet, slurring his speech, and smelling strongly of alcohol.  Croley failed a preliminary breath test and returned just under 0.20 on a subsequent blood alcohol test, well over the .08 limit.  Data retrieved from Croley’s vehicle showed he had failed to brake in the eight seconds prior to impact.  Two passengers in the oncoming vehicle suffered severe bodily injuries from the impact.

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

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.  Croley will self-report to the U.S. Marshal service on March 11, 2024, prior to serving a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration at a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Matthew Carl Cripps, age 43, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On March 13, 2023, Cripps pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, Cripps sold 24 grams of methamphetamine on November 15, 2021, and was responsible for distribution of over 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma between November 2021 and February 2022.

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