Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kevin Stuart Pollard III, age 23, of Clayton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  Pollard was also sentenced to 24 months in prison each for two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.  All sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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

On August 10, 2022, Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian County and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.  At the hearing, Pollard pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor under the age of 16 years old.  Pollard also pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual contact through the clothing of the minor in 2019.  The crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Scott D. Palk, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Pollard 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.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark 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, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.

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 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.  Walker will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Bradley Jordan Eagle-Tate, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that on June 27, 2022, Eagle-Tate unlawfully killed the victim by failing to devote his full time and attention to driving.  According to investigators, Eagle-Tate drifted 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.  Eagle-Tate admitted during the plea hearing that he had multiple drugs in his system at the time of the collision.

The crime 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 Oklahoma Highway Patrol 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 in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  The Court permitted Eagle-Tate to remain out of custody pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Zack Parsons and Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zachary Carlton Ty Capps, age 28, of Idabel, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to charges in a Superseding Indictment related to the murder of an Idabel resident.

At the plea hearing, Capps pleaded guilty to one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  Capps admitted during the plea hearing he discharged a firearm to commit the murder.

According to investigators, Capps was seen with the victim in a white truck on November 15, 2022.  Later that evening, law enforcement located Capps at a house in Idabel.  During a search of the residence, agents located and recovered a revolver that was reported to be in Capps’s possession earlier in the night.  Two days later, the victim was discovered in the same white truck, having been shot in the head.  According to forensic reports, the revolver recovered from the Idabel residence fired the fatal bullet.  The crime occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, the Idabel Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office.

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.  Capps was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.

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 Crystal Marie Haworth, age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Pittsburg Country Sheriff’s Office.

On September 18, 2023, Haworth pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on July 15, 2020, Haworth stabbed the victim to death at a McAlester residence, drove to the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, waived her Miranda rights, and confessed to the murder.

The crime occurred in Pittsburg 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 appointment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Haworth 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.

Department of Justice Criminal Division Organized Crime and Gang Section Trial Attorney Christopher Usher and Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alejandro Marin-Gutierrez, age 44 and a foreign national, pleaded guilty to one count of Illegal Reentry of Previously Removed Alien.

The Indictment alleged that Marin-Gutierrez, who had been previously convicted of a felony and subsequently removed from the United States, was found again in the United States on or about June 2, 2022.

According to investigators, law enforcement observed and apprehended Marin-Gutierrez at a residence in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 2, 2022.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security—Enforcement and Removal Operations.

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.  Marin-Gutierrez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.

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 Gene Douglas Fleet, age 53, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 25 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Department.

On April 26, 2022, Fleet pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.   On June 23, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the I-40 corridor near Checotah after observing Fleet's truck exceeding 75 miles per hour and drifting off the road.  A search of the cab revealed a single package of more than 200 grams of pure methamphetamine.  At the plea hearing April 26, 2022, Fleet admitted to possessing the methamphetamine in order to distribute it.

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.  Fleet 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 Alyssa Lyn Turner, age 35, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release for Voluntary Manslaughter.

On June 10, 2022, Turner pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter.  According to investigators, on July 2, 2021, Turner and the victim got into a fight in Wilburton, Oklahoma.  During the fight, Turner shot and killed the victim.  The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that James Mounce, age 49, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Grand River Dam Authority.

On May 19, 2022, Mounce pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in Indian Country.  According to court documents, on September 8, 2019, Mounce got into a fight with the victim.  Mounce went to the home of a nearby acquaintance, obtained a shotgun, returned to the victim’s location, and shot and killed the victim.

The crime 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 sentencing hearing in Muskogee.  Mounce 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Christopher J. Wilson, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, will be available to the press regarding a scheduled Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) meeting & training event for law enforcement officers, security professionals, and school personnel who might find themselves in a first-responder role during an active-shooter event within their respective community or place of work.

WHEN

9:30 am
Thursday, September 21, 2023

WHERE

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
300 W Martin Luther King St.
Muskogee, OK 74401

OPEN PRESS

NOTE: Press should arrive 30 minutes prior to appointment time to allow for camera set-up, etc. Press should also call the contact number (918) 684-5100 before making an appointment to confirm parameters of this press availability event.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darius Alexander Presley, age 22, of McAlester, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to charges related to a December 2022 shooting that left one dead and one seriously wounded.

At the plea hearing, Presley entered a guilty plea to one count of Murder in Indian Country, one count of Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

According to investigators, on December 2, 2022, Presley shot two individuals at a McAlester residence before leaving in a victim’s car.  Deputies responding to reports of gunshots arrived at the residence to discover one victim deceased and the second seriously wounded.  At the time of the offense, Presley, a felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a state court conviction.  The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

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

Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Michael Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donald Paul Griggs, age 56, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 194 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Department, and the Hughes County Sheriff’s Department.

On August 10, 2022, Griggs pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, on March 31, 2022, Griggs led law enforcement on a highspeed chase, forced another vehicle off the road, crashed, and attempted to flee on foot.  During the chase, Griggs discarded over 21 pounds of pure methamphetamine before he was apprehended and arrested by officers.

“Those who distribute drugs do so for one purpose, to make a profit,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez, who oversees operations in Oklahoma.  “Today, Mr. Griggs is being held accountable for his actions. The DEA will never stop seeking justice for those who prey on others’ addictions.”

“Methamphetamine continues to plague our communities,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Drug traffickers transporting and distributing illegal narcotics in the Eastern District will be investigated and aggressively prosecuted.”

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.  Griggs 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 Carl Robert Kannady, age 67, of Heavener, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, followed by mandatory registration as a sex offender and a lifetime term of supervised release, for the Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department.

On June 14, 2022, Kannady pleaded guilty to possessing certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.  According to investigators, LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerting them to images of child exploitation posted by Kannady.  A search warrant executed on Kannady’s home returned over 8,000 images depicting child sexual exploitation on DVDs, USB drives, and a computer hard drive.

The Honorable Judge 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, Oklahoma.  Kannady 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, 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.’

If you have information about the physical or online exploitation of children, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.  You can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE–LOST (1-800-843-5678) or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kaleb Thomas Linville, age 24, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

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

On May 10, 2022, Linville pleaded guilty to brandishing and discharging a firearm during a robbery.  According to investigators, Linville robbed an area fisherman in the early hours of March 4, 2022.  During the robbery, Linville brandished a semi-automatic rifle at the fisherman, ordered him into the water, fired a round, struck him with the rifle butt, stole his phone, wallet, and car keys, then drove off in the victim's car.

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

“You wake up bright and early to go fishing and meet the likes of Mr. Linville; it’s not the big fish story anyone should have to tell.  Mr. Linville’s behavior was violent and aggressive; two adjectives that don’t go well with firearm possession.  Because of his thoughtless actions, he gets to spend 10 years in federal prison,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.  “I would like to thank our partners at Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office for helping to put a stop to Mr. Linville’s violence.”

“This office is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who disrupt the safety and security of our communities, especially when defendants use firearms to perpetrate their 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 in Muskogee.  Linville 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 Donald Lamond Washington, age 40, of Ada, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

According to U.S. Marshals, Washington, a convicted sex offender, failed to alert authorities to his presence in the Eastern District of Oklahoma as required by law.  Washington, who received a felony conviction in the State of Texas in January 2023 for Indecency with a Child, knowingly failed to register in the State of Oklahoma despite traveling from Texas and residing in the state from January 2023 until his arrest on June 22, 2023.

The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Mapp will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve A. Ozark represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vince Harjo, age 35, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Material Involving Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

During the plea hearing, Harjo admitted to knowingly possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.

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

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

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve A. Ozark 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.’

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Kenneth Reilly, age 34, of Kingston, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm.

According to investigators, on December 24, 2022, Reilly attempted to redeem a pawned firearm at the EZ Pawn in Durant, Oklahoma.  During that visit, Reilly intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 asserting he was not charged with a felony information or indictment at the time of redemption.  In reality, Reilly was subject to a two-count felony information in the Marshall County District Court at the time of the visit.

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

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, 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 Attorneys Joshua Satter and Michael Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Devin Nakedhead, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

According to investigators, on January 27, 2023, law enforcement officers conducting a traffic stop discovered Nakedhead in possession of a .22 caliber Rohm model RG Derringer pistol loaded with two rounds of ammunition.  Rohm, a convicted felon, admitted at the plea hearing that he knew at the time of the traffic stop that he was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm or ammunition, but did so anyway.

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.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service.

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 Morris Hulen Mapp, age 70, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

According to U.S. Marshals, Mapp, a convicted sex offender, failed to alert authorities to his presence in the Eastern District of Oklahoma as required by law.  Mapp, who received felony convictions in the State of Texas in 1992 for Indecency with a Child, knowingly failed to register in the State of Oklahoma despite traveling from Texas and residing in the state from May 2022 until his arrest on May 19, 2023.

The charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshal Service and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office.

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

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve A. Ozark represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Kyle Muskrat, age 37, of Bunch, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to kidnapping and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment filed on April 13, 2023, charged Muskrat with one count of Kidnapping in Indian Country and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

According to investigators, Muskrat kidnapped an individual from a Muskogee County residence on March 15, 2023.  Armed with a machete, Muskrat forced the victim into a car trunk and transported him to an Adair County residence.  There, Muskrat bound, assaulted, and threatened the victim.  Upon arrest, law enforcement officers found Muskrat, a felon, illegally in possession of a Ruger, Model LCP, .380ACP caliber, semi-automatic pistol and several rounds of ammunition.

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

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

Assistant United States Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Josh Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alexander Elias Clark, age 22, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of robbery.

The indictment, filed on August 9, 2023, charged Clark with one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, and one count of Robbery in Indian Country.

According to investigators, on June 14, 2023, Clark attacked an individual at an Ada residence, stabbing the victim repeatedly before fleeing.  Clark later entered a nearby convenience store, threatened to kill the cashier, and stole a 30-pack of beer.

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, the United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ada Police Department, and the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office.

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.  Clark was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney James Seaman represented the United States.

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, entered a guilty plea to five charges relating to a prolonged assault that ended at the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building in September of 2022.

The Indictment filed on June 14, 2023, charged Hollars with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, one count of Assault of a Dating Partner in Indian Country, one count of Attempt to Damage and Destroy by Explosive, one count of Making of a Firearm in Violation of the National Firearms Act, and one count of Carry Explosive During the Commission of a Felony.

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

At the plea hearing, Hollars admitted that on September 6, 2022, he 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 in order to injure her and cause damage to 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 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.  Hollars will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Cairl Glenn Hayes, Jr., age 48, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

During the plea hearing, Hayes, Jr. admitted to having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and to possessing a firearm and ammunition despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s 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.  Hayes, Jr. will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nacole Ryan Bain aka Nacole Ryan Spears, age 42, of Schulter, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 324 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force, the Henryetta Police Department, the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 28, 2022, Bain pleaded guilty in federal district court to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.  According to investigators, family members reported the victim missing in late June of 2018 after he failed to arrive as expected at his destination in North Carolina.  Law enforcement discovered the victim’s wrecked and empty vehicle in south Okmulgee County, and later confirmed the separate discovery of the victim’s remains on July 6, 2018. Under questioning, Bain, a five-time convicted felon, confessed to intentionally shooting the victim with a revolver at his Henryetta home, then removing his remains to a rural property, selling his personal property, and pocketing the proceeds.

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

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Bain 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 Ronald Wayne Yarbrough, Jr., age 45, of Lehigh, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The Information alleged that on November 24, 2022, Yarbrough instigated a fight outside the family home.  During the fight, Yarbrough stabbed the victim in the neck.  The victim was later declared dead at an area hospital.  The crime occurred in Coal County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by 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 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Yarbrough will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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 Rebecca Elaine Holloway, age 32, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging her with one count of Tampering with Consumer Products, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1365(a) and (a)(4).  Tampering with Consumer Products, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1365(a) and (a)(4) is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.

On August 17, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office filed an information that charged Holloway with tampering with consumer products that affected interstate and foreign commerce, specifically fentanyl and hydromorphone, between on or about March 2022 and April 22, 2022.

The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

At the plea hearing on August 31, 2023, Holloway admitted 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.  As part of her plea agreement, Holloway confessed she 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 L. 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.”

“Our healthcare system is built upon trust,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office will not hesitate to prosecute health care workers who abuse that trust.”

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

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

Anyone who was a patient in the Mercy Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Ardmore, Oklahoma, between March 1, 2022, and April 22, 2022, and believes that they may have received a tampered dose of fentanyl or hydromorphone can contact the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations at 214-790-7545.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nelson Onaro, age 61, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to one year of probation for unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances.  Onaro also surrendered his Oklahoma medical license and his DEA registration which formerly enabled him to dispense controlled substances.

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

On February 7, 2023, Onaro pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance.  At the plea hearing, Onaro admitted to prescribing Schedule II controlled substances to patients in amounts and for durations beyond the scope of legitimate medical practice.  Onaro also admitted to writing prescriptions for patients in dangerous combinations and dosages, thus creating a heightened risk of overdose and death, and to writing a prescription for a straw buyer in order to conceal his own drug use.

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

Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Daniel Griffin and Christopher Jason and Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Conway and Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Wayne Edwards Jr., age 49, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 35 months in prison for knowingly failing to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

On June 21, 2022, Edwards pleaded guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a violation of SORNA.

On March 15, 2022, law enforcement apprehended Edwards for failure to register as a sex offender based on a community tip.  Upon his arrest, Edwards admitted that he knew his mandated registration requirements but had nevertheless failed to register upon relocating from Wyoming to Tahlequah in July of 2021.

The charges arose from investigations by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

In 2011, Edwards received a felony conviction from the State of Wyoming for Third Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor.  Based on this conviction, Edwards is a Tier III offender with a lifetime reporting requirement: he must appear in person to register in every jurisdiction where he lives, works, or goes to school, and he must appear in person to verify and update registration information every 3 months for life.

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.  Edwards will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, where he will serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve A. Ozark represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elian David Vasquez-Lopez, age 23, of El Salvador, entered a guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Illegal Alien.

The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2023, Vasquez-Lopez, knowing he was an illegal alien unlawfully in the United States, unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition.

During a July 17, 2023, traffic stop, law enforcement discovered Vasquez-Lopez in possession of a 9mm C9 pistol and ammunition.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Kiowa Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, 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.  Vasquez-Lopez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ezzard Charles Onebear, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 324 months in prison for causing the death of a person with a firearm.

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

On July 28, 2022, Onebear pleaded guilty to one count of Causing the Death of Another Person with a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence.  On December 21, 2011, Onebear, who had accepted a contract to kill the target of a gang hit, approached the target’s residence, and in the ensuing struggle discharged a .380 caliber handgun into the home.  That bullet struck and killed a two-year-old child.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This needless tragedy is a stark reminder of why combatting gun violence is a priority of law enforcement and the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Onebear 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffrey Lyn Pierce, age 74, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 327 months in prison for one count of murder in the second degree in Indian Country.

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

On May 23, 2022, Pierce was found guilty of murder in the second degree at trial by a federal jury.  At trial, the Government presented evidence that Pierce fatally stabbed the victim multiple times during a dispute before calling a friend, who in turn called 911.   The victim sustained at least six stab wounds to the chest, neck, and face, and died on the scene despite attempts by paramedics to administer life-saving treatment.  The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Pierce 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.

Former Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS) Trial Attorney, Attorney Kristen S. Taylor and OCGS Resident Advisor Attorney Charles R. Walsh represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stetson Bruce, age 34, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for engaging in sexual acts with a child under 12 years of age.

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

On July 21, 2022, a federal jury found Bruce guilty at trial of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.  The crimes occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“The defendant in this case is a depraved predator whose actions robbed a young child of their innocence,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “He will always be a danger to the community and thanks to the work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, he will spend the rest of his natural life behind prison bars for his horrific crimes.”

“The defendant will spend the remainder of his life in prison, a fitting penalty for his atrocious crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Our office stands firm in its commitment to prosecute those who victimize the innocent and defenseless among us.”

The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, 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.  Bruce 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 Anthony C. Marek represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that that Nick Allen Mabray, age 37, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of all counts charged in the indictment, specifically: one count of Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, and one count of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.

The jury trial began with testimony on August 14, 2023, and concluded on August 15, 2023, with the guilty verdicts.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sherriff’s Department.

Nick Mabry, along with Gene Mabray and Odom Hoffman, was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2022.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on January 6, 2021, Nick Mabray had a confrontation with an agent of RCB Bank at a foreclosed property in Park Hill, Oklahoma. During the incident, Mabray drove his truck into the agent’s vehicle before beating him with a 22-250 rifle and holding the agent against his will.  The government also presented evidence that during the altercation, Gene Mabray took the victim’s cell phone to prevent calls for help, and Odom Hoffman removed the rifle from the scene to conceal evidence of the crimes.  These crimes occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

On January 17, 2023, Odom Hoffman, age 58, formerly of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of the felony offense of Misprision.  At his hearing, Hoffman admitted that on January 6, 2021, he arrived to find the victim on the ground, but failed to summon help, and that he removed the rifle Nick Mabray used in the assault from the scene of the crime.

On July 5, 2023, Gene Mabray, age 67, of Cherokee County, pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country.  At his plea hearing, Gene Mabray admitted that on January 6, 2021, he took the victim’s cell phone and firearm during the altercation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Nick Allen Mabray will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.  Odom Hoffman and Gene Mabray were granted conditional release from custody after entering their pleas and are awaiting sentencing.

Special Assistant United States Attorneys Robert F. Moody and Casey Richmond represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sammy Shade Allen, age 28, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

At the plea hearing, Allen admitted that on November 24, 2020, he knowingly possessed multiple firearms while also possessing heroin. He also admitted to possessing the heroin with the intent to distribute it in exchange for money, and that he possessed the firearms in order to protect both the drugs and drug proceeds.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the 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 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Allen was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Darian Ty Farris, age 27, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The Indictment alleged that on March 2, 2023, Farris intentionally shot the victim in the stomach with a firearm during a confrontation. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, on the Seminole Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wewoka Police Department.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Farris was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Justin Dale Killer, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on February 6, 2023, Killer possessed a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessed a firearm despite knowing that he was a convicted felon, having been convicted of a crime that has a term of punishment exceeding one year imprisonment.

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

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Killer was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 Stewart Wayne Coffman, age 60, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for one count of second degree murder and 120 months in prison for one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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

On June 16, 2022, a federal jury convicted Coffman of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  According to the trial testimony, on the night of October 5, 2017, Coffman beat the victim to death with a metal pipe.  The victim’s body was discovered by Idabel firefighters two days later when they responded to a house fire at Coffman’s residence.  The crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Stewart Wayne Coffman’s attempts to evade justice for his brutal crime are ended,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Coffman’s conviction and sentencing in federal court are additional proof that combatting violent crime in Indian Country remains a priority of this office.”

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Coffman 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zion Alexander Canard, age 24, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was found guilty of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country following a federal bench trial.

The non-jury trial consisted of the presentation of evidence on August 14, 2023, and concluded with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on September 12, 2022, Canard abused an infant, resulting in cuts, bruises, and a brain hemorrhage.  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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Glenpool Police Department.

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 trial in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Canard was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

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 Timothy Ray Brown, age 40, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

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

The Indictment alleged that on March 10, 2022, Brown knowingly and intentionally possessed a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and knowingly possessed a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, United States 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.  Brown was remanded to custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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 Kiah John Pritchett, age 38, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

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

Pritchett was charged with unlawfully killing the victim without malice on July 4, 2021, and with unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

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

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

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 Brayden Zane Graham, age 18, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

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

The Indictment alleged that on December 29, 2022, Graham fired on a vehicle and its three passengers.  An investigation revealed that Graham attempted to overtake three passengers in a truck.  As the truck fled, Graham fired several rounds into the back of the vehicle.

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

The Honorable Magistrate Judge Gerald L. Jackson, 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.  Graham was remanded to custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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 Ralph Gene Carloss, age 71, of Welling, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on April 11, 2023, Carloss was in possession of a 7.62x39 mm Norinco SKS rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. At the time of the offense, Carloss had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knew of such conviction.

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

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

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 Cedric Jamara Cherry, of Idabel, Oklahoma, age 42, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on March 15, 2023, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Cherry possessed a firearm and ammunition, in and affecting interstate commerce, despite having been previously convicted of a felony.  Under federal law, individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

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.  Cherry was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Muskogee, Oklahoma, returned a three-count indictment, unsealed today, charging former Savanna Police Department (SPD) police officer Jeffery Scott Smith Jr. with a federal civil rights violation for sexually assaulting a victim while acting under color of law and obstructing justice.

According to the indictment, on Nov. 2, 2022, in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, Jeffery Scott Smith Jr., 35, while on duty as an SPD police officer, conducted a traffic stop on a car in which the victim was a passenger. Count one of the indictment charges Smith with depriving the victim of her right to bodily integrity when he sexually assaulted the victim during the traffic stop. That indictment alleges that Smith’s conduct resulted in bodily injury to the victim and included the commission of a nonconsensual sexual act with the victim. Counts two and three of the indictment charge Smith with knowingly altering, concealing, covering up and falsifying an SPD record by deactivating his SPD body worn camera and SPD dashboard camera during the traffic stop, with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence an investigation into his sexual misconduct.

If convicted, Smith faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the civil rights count and 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction of justice counts.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Compton for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that EARLY WILLARD WOODMORE, III age 36, of Haskell County, Oklahoma, was sentenced for his role as the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization operating in Haskell and Pittsburg Counties.  Early Woodmore, III was sentenced to life imprisonment for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamine and 240 months in prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy and Laundering Monetary Instruments.  The sentences will run concurrently.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McAlester Police Department, the Stigler Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

On April 7, 2022, Early Woodmore, III and his co-defendant, Calvin Woodmore, were convicted by a federal jury after trial.  From early 2018 until his arrest by law enforcement in 2020, Early Woodmore, III led a methamphetamine trafficking organization in which he arranged to have large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to addresses in Haskell County and Pittsburg County.  Once these packages of methamphetamine arrived, the Woodmores’ organization would break them down into smaller quantities for distribution into communities in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  In the course of their trafficking, Early Woodmore, III acted as an enforcer, retaliating with acts of violence against individuals suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.

“DEA McAlester is proud to stand with our numerous law enforcement partners in Eastern Oklahoma and champion the work that led to the dismantlement of the Early Woodmore, III drug trafficking organization,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas, which oversees operations in Oklahoma.  “Mr. Woodmore is being held accountable for the poison that found its way into our neighborhoods by his hand.  Whether it is a gram or a kilogram of methamphetamine, the DEA will never cease its efforts to rid these drugs from the streets of Oklahoma.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to have been part of this investigation,” said Claudia Angel, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division.  “Postal Inspectors remain committed to identifying and pursuing those who would misuse the U.S. Mail to distribute dangerous drugs to our communities.  We are thankful for the tireless efforts of our many law enforcement partners who assisted in dismantling this criminal enterprise.  We are also grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma for their commitment in prosecuting these cases.”

“This is an important victory for the American public. Not only is Early Willard Woodmore, III going to jail for his crimes, but this is a decisive blow against a drug trafficking and money laundering network,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Dallas Field Office.  “The special agents of CI are committed to taking the profits away from drug traffickers and putting those individuals in jail. The women and men of IRS-CI are proud to provide this financial expertise as we worked alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals like Mr. Woodmore to justice.”

“ATF is proud to have worked together with our partners to put Mr. Woodmore in the penitentiary for the rest of his adult life,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.  “Unfortunately for him, the law caught up with his armed drug trafficking ways. It should be a lesson to others in Oklahoma, crime only pays for so long.”

“The District 18 District Attorney’s Office commends the tireless efforts of the agencies involved, as well as the stellar level of collaboration among those agencies,” said District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan.  “The Woodmore crime syndicate has plagued the communities in both Pittsburg and Haskell Counties for far too long, flooding the streets with this poison and brutally terrorizing its citizens.  The sentence of life in prison for Early Woodmore, III is the only appropriate and just outcome to bring this investigation and prosecution to a close.”

“The sentencing of the Early Woodmore, III to life imprisonment is a fitting conclusion to a complex, multi-agency investigation,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Through the exceptional efforts of many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, Woodmore and his criminal associates were investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. This sentence sends a very clear message that distributing illegal drugs will not be tolerated.”

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 using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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 trial and sentencing hearing in Muskogee.  Both Calvin Woodmore and Early Willard Woodmore, III 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 Ryan Conway represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Timothy Mathis, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, age 41 and a felon, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on March 4, 2023, Mathis, who had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, was found in possession of a .38 SPL caliber Smith & Wesson Bodyguard Airweight revolver.  Individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

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

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea at the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Mathis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Pahl represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zachary Wayne Ray of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, age 36 and a felon, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On January 17, 2023, Ray pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  Individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

According to investigators, on February 5, 2022, a Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Officer encountered Ray at the Chickasaw Travel Stop on Latta Road in Ada, Oklahoma.  Ray, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a Ruger 9mm semiautomatic handgun with one round chambered and a fully loaded magazine.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the case in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Ray was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal at the conclusion of sentencing.  He will remain in custody pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edgar Rodriguez, age 35, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.

The charges arose from a traffic stop initiated by a Trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On June 21, 2022, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.  At the plea hearing, Rodriguez admitted that on May 22, 2021, he was driving eastbound on I-40 through Okfuskee County in possession of 16 kilograms of cocaine which he intended to distribute.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alexandria Nicole Nix, age 26, of Idabel, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea on July 27, 2023, to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On March 12, 2018, Nix drove her truck under the influence of alcohol and failed to stop at a four-way intersection where she collided with another vehicle. The other motorist died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Law enforcement’s investigation of the matter revealed Nix attempted to hide a box of beer she had in her vehicle at the time of the crash.  Data from Nix’s truck showed she never hit the brakes despite approaching the posted stop sign.  Toxicology tests of Nix’s blood revealed she had a .145 blood-alcohol content near the time of the crash.

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

The Honorable Gerald J. 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.  Nix was allowed to remain free on bond 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 Austin Cole Yanez, age 23, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, punishable by a minimum of five years in prison.

The indictment alleged that on or about June 21, 2022, Yanez possessed a semi-automatic pistol for the purposes of protecting the fentanyl he intended to distribute.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tahlequah Police Department, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.