Northern District of Oklahoma

TULSA, Okla. – A Miami woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for conspiring with her sister to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Megan Nicole Hollenbeck, 29, to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.

“Whether an addiction or a vice, Megan Hollenbeck contributed to the methamphetamine problem in Miami. She conspired with her sister to deal meth for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “She will now spend the next 10 years in federal prison as a result of her criminal choices.”

Hollenbeck previously pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy. Her sister also pleaded guilty to taking part in the conspiracy and is set to be sentenced in February 2021. On Aug. 15, 2019, Hollenbeck and her sister Monica conspired to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, during a law enforcement “controlled buy” that was captured on video. The two were arrested in Miami, Oklahoma, as part of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation “Pullin’ Chains.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Miami Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Duncombe prosecuted the case.

A Tulsa man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a victim after multiple ‘Peeping Tom’ incidents made an initial appearance today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Jesse Thomas Moore, 18, was charged with attempted sexual contact and first degree burglary. U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul J. Cleary set Moore’s detention hearing for Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 1 p.m.

“Jesse Moore is alleged to have looked into two victims’ windows and then entered their homes, in one incident attempting to sexually assault a young woman,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The defendant is a danger to the Tulsa community. I am thankful for the Tulsa Police Department’s thorough investigative work and quick action to take Moore off our streets.”

According to court documents, Moore unlawfully entered a residence on Dec. 13, 2020, and attempted to rape a female victim. Video shows the suspect stepping onto the front porch, unscrewing the porch light then entering the residence at 6:36 a.m. then exiting the residence at 7:18 a.m. Moore was able to move around the residence without its occupants hearing him until the victim awoke to someone touching her. The suspect whispered, “Get the f**k up and don’t say anything or I’ll f**king kill you.” The suspect guided her to the living room where he attempted to rape the victim. As he covered her mouth, the victim bit the man’s right hand, causing him to let go and flee the scene.

The crime occurred after multiple Peeping Tom incidents earlier in the week at the same residence by the same defendant.

During the investigation, the Tulsa Police Special Victim’s Unit discovered that a second victim encountered similar incidents at her residence in South Tulsa, the latest occurring on Dec. 20, 2020, at 4 a.m.  The woman initially noticed an unknown male in her back yard near the end of October. Then on Oct. 25, 2020, the male unlawfully entered her residence, looked around then left. She stated that the male had continually returned to her home, looking into windows. In another incident, she stated that her 12-year-old son was home when the suspect entered the home through the back door. He fled when he heard the son scream to his mother.

Video surveillance from both residences where these incidents occurred show the same suspect arriving and leaving in a black Range Rover.

Tulsa Police Detectives eventually located the black Range Rover, which checked back to Moore. Officers obtained a search warrant for Moore’s residence and discovered a pair of shoes, a sweater, and pants that allegedly matched those of the suspect seen on surveillance footage.

The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case.

This matter will proceed in United States District Court in Tulsa, where the Complaint is currently pending. A Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A Bristow man pleaded guilty this morning to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Bobby Brian Thompson, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John F. Heil.

“Bobby Thompson beat his domestic partner with his fists before strangling her. Tragically, experience tells us that domestic abuse often begins with verbal threats and then escalates to extreme violence, such as this. I view domestic violence prosecution as homicide prevention,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The investigators and victim advocates at the Bristow Police Department and FBI worked together to both bring this domestic abuser to justice and provide support to the victim.”

In his plea agreement, Thompson admitted that on or about June 11, 2020, in Bristow, Oklahoma, he assaulted his dating partner. Specifically, he admitted to striking the victim with his fists and strangling her. The victim suffered substantial bodily injury as a result of his assault upon her. Thompson further stated in his plea that he is a member of the Cherokee Nation.

Thompson’s sentencing is set for March 22, 2021.

The FBI and Bristow Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case

Two men were charged this week after fraudulently applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Rafael Maturino, 40, of Broken Arrow, was charged with bank fraud after executing a scheme to defraud First Bank of Owasso when applying for a PPP loan under false pretenses on April 28, 2020. Adam Winston James, 44, of Tulsa, was charged with aggravated identity theft after he executed a scheme to defraud Regent Bank when he applied for a PPP loan under false pretenses on May 6, 2020. The two men were charged separately but worked together to carry out their schemes.

“The Paycheck Protection Program was developed to ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “It’s shameful to see this type of criminal conduct amid a pandemic when so many of our fellow citizens are struggling. Rest assured, my team is committed to protecting these federal dollars from fraudsters.”

According to court documents, Maturino applied for a PPP loan on behalf of a company he claimed to own and operate, Maturino Enterprises, Inc. Maturino submitted forms that misrepresented the company’s payroll expenditures, amount of taxes paid, and the number of people employed. As a result of his alleged scheme, he received $97, 800 from the bank.

James is alleged to have applied for a PPP loan on behalf of a company he claimed to own and operate, Velocity Innovations LLC. As part of the application, James used the identification of at least seven other people without their knowledge, fraudulently claiming they were employees of Velocity Innovations LLC.  James received $125,900 from the bank as a result the scheme.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set period and use a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.

Alleged violations of federal law must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Office of Inspector General; Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case.

 A Tulsa man was sentenced Thursday for various charges brought against him including wire fraud, illegally possessing ammunition, and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

U.S. District Court Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced William Drew Davis, 36, to 66 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release. The judge further ordered Davis to pay $51,740.55 in restitution representing the goods obtained by theft and fraud, and damage caused to property.

“William Davis, driven by a longstanding drug habit, pilfered people’s cars to get his hands on anything to make a quick buck,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Theft, stolen ammunition, and drugs are a combination that never leads to anything good. The nearly six-year sentence shows that my office will not allow our streets to be polluted with illegal activity, no matter the severity.  I want to thank the Tulsa and Jenks Police Departments, in particular, for the extensive work they put into the investigation of Davis’ wide-ranging crimes.”

Previously, Davis pleaded guilty to breaking into a victim’s vehicle and stealing a purse containing a debit card. He further admitted to fraudulently using the card to purchase items from various stores, spending approximately $1,350. Davis also admitted to breaking into a different vehicle and stealing 60 rounds of ammunition, knowing he was a convicted felon. He also pleaded guilty to possessing 130 milligrams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others.

In sentencing Davis, the Court also considered information concerning over two-dozen vehicle burglaries committed by Davis, in which he typically smashed car windows and grabbed purses, wallets, and other items such as laptops and personal papers, while the victims were dropping children at school, exercising at gyms, or going for a run at parks. Davis then used the stolen credit/debit cards to buy merchandise at stores across the Tulsa area. Davis was arrested by Tulsa Police officers in October 2019 while in possession of a stolen car and dozens of items taken during car burglaries.   

The U.S. Secret Service, Tulsa Police Department and Jenks Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Leitch prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Trent Shores today announced the results of the December 2020 Federal Grand Jury B.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Austin Lee Blaine Gingras, Savannah Mae Down O'Banion. Firearms Conspiracy; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Gingras, 26, and O’Banion, 23, both of Broken Arrow, are charged for conspiring together to possess and brandish a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Within a two-month span, these individuals were found brandishing a firearm on four different occasions after four different altercations, including: pointing a firearm at a group of individuals, shooting a round into the air at a bar, shooting into the home of an individual after he refused to let O’Banion inside, and firing into a group of people at the Hex House from their car and striking a victim. Aside from the conspiracy charge, Gingras and O’Banion are being charged for assault with a dangerous weapon after shooting into a victim’s home on Sept. 27 and after striking another victim in the drive by shooting on Oct. 24. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Sapulpa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Hector Manuel Hernandez. Murder-Second Degree in Indian Country. Hernandez, 36, of Tulsa is charged with second degree murder. On November 26, 2019, Hernandez was allegedly driving while intoxicated. He crashed his vehicle into another and then fled the scene. While attempting to flee the scene of the first collision, he directly crashed into another vehicle, killing the driver. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Dustin Kyle Marris. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Marris, 32, of Okemah, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Marris is a 4-time convicted felon. Further, Marris is being charged with intentionally possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during this alleged drug trafficking crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Claremore Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Marris was also charged recently in the Eastern District of Oklahoma with assault with intent to commit murder in Indian Country; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country; use, carry, brandish and discharge of a firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and felon in possession of a firearm.

Makita Auie McClish Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. McClish, 33, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Kel-Tec P-32, .32 caliber pistol and ammunition. Further, McClish is not only being charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, but also for doing so while possessing a firearm. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Joshua Kaleb Moles. Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery;  Robbery in Indian Country.  Moles, 31, of Sand Springs, is charged with robbing the Cowboy Corner convenience store in Jenks, threatening store employees with a hand gun in the process. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Brittany Michelle Russell. Robbery in Indian Country. Russell, 27, of Tulsa, is charged with robbery after she allegedly used force and violence to steal a cell phone, car keys, a debit card, cash, and a driver’s license from the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Marilyn Elaine White. Distribution of Methamphetamine. White, 53, of Okmulgee, is charged with intentionally distributing methamphetamine. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies.

An alleged drunk driver who struck and killed a woman in a 2019 collision was charged this week with second degree murder in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

According to the indictment, Hector Manuel Hernandez, 36, of Tulsa, is alleged to have hit another car, and as he fled the first accident, he hit the victim’s vehicle head on. The victim died from injuries sustained in the collision. The accident occurred on Nov. 26, 2019.

“Driving while intoxicated is both irresponsible and selfish. Far too many lives have been taken at the hands of drunk drivers. That’s why it is important to prosecute these types of cases,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Bish, a visiting attorney from Western New York, will be the lead on this case to pursue justice for the victim.”

The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

The Broken Arrow Police Department, FBI and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Bish is prosecuting the case. AUSA Bish is a prosecutor from the Western District of New York. He volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

A Tulsa man was sentence today for Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. 

Kevin Edward Swarthout, 48, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and 25 years of supervised release today in front of U.S. District Court Judge Gregory K. Frizzell. In addition, at least 5 victims who were abused during the creation of the pornography he downloaded and distributed will receive mandatory restitution as required by the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

Swarthout has both state and federal convictions for child pornography. Additionally, he has extensive state probation violations for further sexual misconduct and placing himself in proximity to children. Swarthout, a member of the Cherokee Nation, recently had state child pornography charges dismissed at the Tulsa County District Court due to the recent Supreme Court decision on McGirt v. Oklahoma.

“Multi-convicted child porn offender Kevin Swarthout is headed exactly where he belongs, behind bars. Our system of laws seeks to protect our children from men like Swarthout who are seemingly addicted to child pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “This is a supply and demand problem. We must attack both so as to weed out these child-preying criminals. I am thankful for the thorough work of our law enforcement partners, and I applaud Judge Frizzell for handing down this stern sentence.”

Swarthout admitted that between December 25, 2019 and May 12, 2020, in the Northern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, after he had previously been convicted of Possession of Child Pornography, he knowingly received more than 100 videos and distributed at least 21 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He further admitted to possessing and accessing with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct in multiple graphic image and video files. At least one of the files depicted a minor that had not attained 12 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The Tulsa Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case.

A Tulsa police officer made an initial appearance today in federal court for conspiring to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when purchasing a firearm.   
 
Officer Latoya Lisa Dythe, 26, and Devon Jamyll Jones, 27, both of Tulsa, were indicted this week for conspiracy to make a false statement to a firearms dealer and for false statement to a firearms dealer. Dythe lied on the required Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, specifically where the form asks the buyer if they are purchasing the firearm for themselves. The form then states “Warning: You are not the actual transferee/buyer if you are acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual transferee/buyer, the licensee cannot transfer the firearm(s) to you.” Dythe marked that she was purchasing the gun for herself, but instead was purchasing the firearm for Jones. Jones is also currently in custody facing state charges.

U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin and FBI Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement at a press conference today at Tulsa Police Department Headquarters.

“Police officers are entrusted with enforcing the law to make our city safer. When a police officer breaks the law, however, it does great damage to the public’s trust. This prosecution involves an allegation that an officer, Latoya Dythe, engaged in criminal conduct by facilitating a “lie and buy” transaction as a straw purchaser,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “In October, Chief Franklin and I launched the 2150 initiative, making a public pledge to investigate and prosecute these types of gun cases because they often lead to violent acts. In this case, Chief Franklin and his Department brought this case to federal agents and prosecutors and worked in partnership with my office as this investigation moved forward.”

“Our system of justice is based on the cornerstones of trust and accountability,” said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office. “It’s the trust that the community has in law enforcement – to do the right thing, in the right way, all day, every day. Without that trust, we have nothing.”

“Investigators within the Tulsa Police Department Crime Gun Unit received this case and immediately began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. We have worked in partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office throughout the duration of this investigation and will continue to do so as this process moves forward.

When the actions of an employee of the Tulsa Police Department bring ill repute to the Department, it tarnishes the good work done by the hundreds of other officers who wear the badge with honor.”

As part of the conspiracy, Dythe and Jones are alleged to have knowingly made false statements and representations to an employee of the Bass Pro Shop, a federally licensed firearms dealer, when Dythe allegedly lied on the ATF Form 4473. On April 11, 2020, the defendants approached a Bass Pro Shop employee. Dythe asked to handle the FN Herstal handgun. The employee asked Dythe if she was purchasing the handgun for herself rather than for Jones. She used her position of authority and replied that she was a Tulsa Police officer and knew the law. Dythe filled out and signed the required ATF FORM 4473, indicating the firearm was being purchased for her. She then paid for the firearm using cash provided by Jones. Dythe gave Jones the firearm once the two were in the establishment’s parking lot.

Count 1 and Count 2 of the indictment each carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a fine not to exceed $250,000.

The FBI conducted is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Snow is prosecuting the case.

The 2150 Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa Police Department, ATF, and all other local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime by focusing efforts on prohibited persons in possession of firearms as well as straw purchasers.

United States Attorney Trent Shores today announced the results of the December 2020 Federal Grand Jury A.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Joshua Michael Arneecher. Third Degree Burglary in Indian Country. (superseding) Arneecher, 33, of Tulsa, is charged with breaking into the victim’s vehicle with intent to steal items of value. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Samuel James Bray and Morgan Alexandria Guevin. Robbery in Indian Country; Attempted Robbery in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Bray, 32, and Guevin, 30, both of Tulsa, are charged with stealing and attempting to steal jewelry and a motor from the victim by force and intimidation. Further, they are both charged with brandishing a firearm during this crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Donta Keith Davis. Bank Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Davis, 38, of Sayre, is charged with robbing a bank by brandishing a firearm. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

David Allen Dean. Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Heroin With Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Short-Barrel Shotgun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Dean, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun with a 15 5/8in barrel and ammunition. Dean is a 4-time convicted felon. Further, Dean allegedly possessed heroin with the intent to distribute. He is also being charged with possessing the Mossberg short barrel shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Chaney Hair. Distribution of Methamphetamine. Hair, 28, of Hinton, is charged with distributing methamphetamine. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs is the investigative agency.

Grant N. Jackson IV. Child Abuse in Indian Country. Jackson, 40, of Tulsa, is charged with child abuse after allegedly burning the young victim with scalding hot bathtub water. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Floyd Twobears Joshua. Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Joshua, 20, of Sapulpa, is charged with intentionally possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is also being charged with possessing a Taurus Judge .45 Colt/.410 caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Jenks Public Schools Police Department are the investigative agencies. 

Sajjad Ali Khan. Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. Khan, 50, of Tulsa, allegedly touched the victim inappropriately without her consent. The FBI, Sapulpa Police Department, and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations are the investigative agencies.

John Kimble. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Kimble, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock, .22 caliber pistol and ammunition. Kimble is a 10-time convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Ryan Glen McClain. Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner and Dating Partner in Indian Country. (Superseding) McClain, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with 3 counts of assault. On Sept. 10, McClain allegedly assaulted his dating partner by striking and wounding her with his fists and a television. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Dominique Laron Morgan; Rontaysha Leann Cox; Treveon Marquise Cato. Sex Trafficking of Children; Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; Possession of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors. (Superseding) Morgan, 25, of Tulsa; Cox, 27, of Wichita, Kansas; and Cato, 23, of Tulsa, allegedly recruited, enticed, harbored, and advertised a minor to participate in sexual activity, profiting from her exploitation. Advertisements for the teenager were discovered on a website promoting prostitution and soliciting sex acts in exchange for money. Morgan is further charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.  Cox is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (added in this superseding indictment), coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. The Tulsa Police Department Vice-Human Trafficking Unit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.

Ryan Thomas Phillips. Strangulation of a Dating and Intimate Partner in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner and Dating Partner in Indian Country. Phillips, 28, of Mound, is charged with two counts of assault. On April 25, Phillips allegedly assaulted his dating partner by strangling her and striking her in the face. The FBI and Glenpool Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Jonathon Ray Scott. Robbery in Indian Country. Scott, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with robbery after allegedly taking money from the victim by means of force and violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

David Owen West. Mail Fraud; Engaging in Unlawful Monetary Transactions. (Superseding) West, 59, of Drumright, is charged with 27 counts of mail fraud and 5 counts of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. From 2013 to 2017, West allegedly devised a scheme to defraud his employer for the sake of monetary gain. According to the indictment, West oversaw the oil and gas sites for his company and was in charge of choosing vendors to assist in the maintenance and transport of production. West allegedly began stealing oil and selling it to another company. Further, West allegedly created an LLC so that the purchasers would pay him and his LLC for the stolen production. West not only defrauded his employer in this way, but also allegedly had his employer pay for the transportation and maintenance that were required for the sale of the stolen production. West had his employer mail company checks through the U.S. Postal Service; therefore, committing mass mail fraud and engagement in unlawful monetary transactions. The FBI and IRS–Criminal Investigation are the investigative agencies.

Jerry Paul Wright. Theft in Indian Country. Wright, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with stealing a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck from the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

On Dec. 4, 2020, a Tulsa woman admitted in federal court to assaulting her intimate partner during an argument in 2016 and to using force to steal a vehicle in 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Lakota Ray Scott, 33, pleaded guilty to domestic assault by strangulation in Indian Country and to robbery in Indian Country before U.S. District Gregory K. Frizzell.

“Domestic violence survivors are one of the most resilient groups of victims I’ve ever seen. I’m so thankful that the victim in this case spoke up so that we could help her. The abuser, Lakota Scott, acted recklessly and endangered the lives of others, beyond just her partner, during the two separate incidents to which she pleaded guilty. Thankfully all of the victims have recovered,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

During Friday’s hearing, Scott explained that on March 16, 2016, she had a verbal argument with her girlfriend then took off in her girlfriend’s car without permission. Her girlfriend called police to report the car stolen. When Scott returned to the apartment, a second argument ensued. When the victim tried to leave, Scott blocked the front door then slapped the victim’s phone out of her hand as she attempted to call 911. As the victim tried to flee the apartment, Scott tackled her in the living room and started strangling the victim. She then grabbed a flat screen television and smashed it over the victim’s head twice. Then as Scott ran to the bedroom, the victim fled the home where she was met by arriving police officers.

Scott further admitted to stealing a pick-up truck that was idling while the owner was just a few feet away on Jan. 31, 2019. When the owner saw the defendant in his truck, Scott locked the doors and put the vehicle in drive. The owner jumped into the bed of the truck and Scott drove off erratically and in a dangerous manner. The victim was thrown around in the truck bed during the ride and believed that Scott was trying to intentionally throw him out of the bed of the truck. The victim’s hands, legs, chest and head were injured. Scott then crashed the truck into a fence and ran away. She was eventually found in a parking garage, hiding from authorities.

As part of the plea agreement, the defendant and the United States agreed to a sentence of three years in federal prison. The government will also ask that the defendant take part in a drug and alcohol treatment program while imprisoned. U.S. District Judge Frizzell will make the final sentencing determination at a hearing set for March 9, 2021.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina S. Gilmore is prosecuting the case. Ms. Gilmore is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation has never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

A project manager employed by a major retailer was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma. 

Benjamin Hayford, 32, of Centerton, Arkansas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan.  Hayford pleaded guilty in August to an indictment charging him with fraudulently seeking millions of dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA from multiple banks by claiming fictitious payroll expenses.  To support his applications, Hayford provided lenders with fraudulent payroll documentation purporting to establish payroll expenses that were, in fact, non-existent.  In addition, Hayford admitted to making false representations to a financial institution concerning the date that a Limited Liability Partnership for which he applied for relief was established.  The lenders at issue declined to fund the loans that Hayford sought.

“Small businesses are vital employers to 60 million Americans. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses are treading water, and the Paycheck Protection Program is a lifeline to help keep employees on their payrolls,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Benjamin Hayford, and those like him, seek to enrich themselves at the expense of others in need during these uncertain times.  Across the United States, these fraudsters are being brought to justice, including Hayford who will spend the next two years in federal prison.”

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set period and use a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses. 

Deputy Chief Brian R. Young of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas provided valuable assistance in this matter.  

The Justice Department acknowledges and thanks the Federal Housing Financial Agency Office of Inspector General, the SBA Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General for their efforts investigating this matter. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

 

A Tulsa man was sentenced today in federal court for his role in a heroin trafficking operation with ties to Mexico’s New Generation Cartel, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Alphonso Caldwell, 27, of Tulsa, to 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

“One of the things I’m thankful for this month is that another major player in a heroin trafficking operation has been held accountable in a court of law. Alphonso Caldwell was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Caldwell was one of 30 defendants in an international heroin trafficking scheme that we took down as part of Operation Smack Dragon. I am proud of our multijurisdictional team and their combined efforts to confront this criminal organization. Kudos to the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. I would also be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the hard work and leadership of Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick, chief of my Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Job well done by all.”

“Drug traffickers and their illegal activity pose a significant threat to the safety of the general public and all of our communities,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge HSI Dallas. “One of our main priorities is to dismantle any transnational criminal organization that attempts to profit from manufacturing, smuggling, purchasing, or distribution of these illicit drugs that hinder public safety. We are committed to working with our federal and state law enforcement partners to keep illegal substances out of our communities and investigating the organizations responsible.”  

In his plea agreement, Caldwell admitted that from November 2017 to June 2019 he possessed with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin. Caldwell stated that he purchased ½ kilogram to 1 kilogram of heroin multiple times per week from both Jose Garcia and Edson Garcia-Velasquez. Caldwell purchased the heroin and redistributed it to third parties who redistributed the heroin to others. He relied on customers’ payments to purchase additional heroin.

Caldwell will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Treasury, IRS Criminal Investigation; the Oklahoma State Attorney General’s Office; and Tulsa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case. AUSA McCormick is the Lead Attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

An Arizona man pleaded guilty this morning to conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Anthony Ward Irving, 36, pleaded guilty this morning before U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan.

“Anthony Irving’s recipe for illegal profit was a combination of methamphetamine, cell phones, drug couriers, and electronic transfers. He lived in Arizona but facilitated meth trafficking in Northeastern Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Thanks to a formidable partnership of state, local, and federal drug agents, Irving’s operation was disrupted and dismantled.”

In his plea agreement, Irving admitted that from January 2018 to February 2019, he knowingly conspired with codefendants, to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. During the same time period, he knowingly conspired with the same people to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

Irving admitted that his role in the conspiracy included acting as a broker for the transfer of drugs between bulk distributors in Arizona and associates in Northeast Oklahoma and elsewhere. Irving admitted that he and his codefendants agreed to distribute the drugs to make money for themselves. Although Irving lived in Arizona during the conspiracy, he acknowledged that some overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy were performed in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Irving stated that he and his coconspirators coordinated drug deals from a distance through the use of cellular phones, drug couriers, and electronic transfers of cash.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Duncombe is prosecuting the case.

Today, U.S. Attorneys Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma and Brian Kuester of the Eastern District of Oklahoma launched a pilot project to implement a Tribal Community Response Plan with Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation, in accordance with Attorney General William P. Barr’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative.  Principal Chief David Hill of Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of Cherokee Nation joined the U.S. attorneys in making the announcement.

The goal for the Tribal Community Response Plan pilot project is to establish a collaborative response from tribal governments, law enforcement agencies, and other partners by implementing culturally appropriate guidelines when investigating emergent cases of missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies developed draft guides for developing a Tribal Community Response Plan in conjunction with tribal leaders, law enforcement and tribal communities.

Each plan will be composed of guidelines addressing at least four different areas in response to MMIP cases: law enforcement, victim services, community outreach and media/public communications.

Oklahoma’s U.S. attorneys are the first to launch the pilot project. Five other U.S. attorneys’ offices are slated to do so at later dates. Lessons learned from the pilot project will be used to improve the draft guides for developing a Tribal Community Response Plan before they are used in states across the country.

“The first step in achieving justice for missing and murdered Native Americans was acknowledging the injustice of any historical indifference to or neglect of these tragic cases. Now, it is time for action to tackle this crisis head-on,” U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said. “I am proud to partner with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation to announce the first of its kind pilot project to develop and implement protocols and community action plans for missing and murdered indigenous people cases. The Department of Justice continues to prioritize public safety in Indian country, especially when it comes to reducing the violent crime rates that seem to disproportionately impact Native American women and children.”

“ ‘Justice and liberty for all’ are not only the final words of our Pledge of Allegiance, they are at the heart and foundation of what the United States stands for. They create a standard that we must continually strive to achieve to preserve the critical principles they pronounce,” U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester said. “Tribal Community Response Plans will unite people, agencies, and sovereigns committed to justice and liberty for all. Together we will identify and implement the best practices for responding to and investigating cases involving missing and murdered indigenous people. I look forward to building upon the strong relationships the U.S. Attorney’s Office has with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Cherokee Nation and our law enforcement partners as we move forward together.”

“We are unquestionably at our strongest when partnering with agencies and tribes working toward our shared goal, and that is enhancing public safety and protection for those who need it most,” Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill said. “Unfortunately, we know all too well the challenges we face and the trends we must reverse regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. We feel these types of collaborations, in which our input is sought and utilized to craft culturally specific guidelines, are the best path forward and we can’t wait to get started.”

“Today’s new Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Pilot Program is an important partnership with the United States Department of Justice, and will further a goal that we all share: to protect Cherokees on the reservation and bring missing Cherokees home to their families and communities,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “When one of our Cherokee citizens is hurt or missing, it’s an emergency. And now this pilot program will help pool our focus and resources on these cases with immediate, coordinated and professional response plans.”

“An effective strategy to combat violent crime on tribal lands can only be successful with a united front of our law enforcement partners working with the communities we serve,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the Oklahoma City Field Office said. “This program unites all of us in our shared goal of creating a safer community with a focus on solving crimes affecting missing and murdered indigenous people in Oklahoma.”

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

A Tulsa man pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country after killing Barry James Harrell during a brief altercation in downtown Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

At his plea hearing, Harlan Frank Hardiman, 51, admitted that on Sept. 3, 2020, he punched Harrell in the head at the downtown Tulsa Transit bus terminal located at 319 S. Denver Ave. As a result of the punch, the victim fell and hit his head on the concrete sidewalk.  The defendant stated that he walked away from the victim as he lay motionless on the ground. Harrell subsequently died of a massive head bleed, called a subdural hematoma.

“Harlan Hardiman acted recklessly when he punched Mr. Harrell then walked away while the victim lay unresponsive on the sidewalk. Sadly, Mr. Harrel lay there 15 minutes before aid was rendered and died the following morning,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Hardiman has now been held accountable for his actions, and a federal judge will sentence him at a hearing on Feb. 26, 2021.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Fletcher is prosecuting the case. AUSA Fletcher is a prosecutor from the Northern District of Iowa. He volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

United States Attorney Trent Shores announced today the results of the November Federal Grand Jury B.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Sheila Marie Brewer. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Brewer, 29, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Springfield 12-gauge shotgun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies.

Oscar Manuel Cabrera-Westerheidy. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under Twelve Years of Age in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact With a Minor Under Twelve Years of Age in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact With a Minor Between Twelve Years and Sixteen Years of Age in Indian Country. Cabrera-Westerheidy, 37, of Tulsa, is being charged with engaging in sexual acts and sexual contact with a young female under the age of 12. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Roger Cervantez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of an Unregistered Weapon Made From a Shotgun Having a Barrel of Less Than 18 Inches in Length. Cervantez, 35, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of an unregistered Remington 20-gauge shotgun and 23 rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Kyle Marche Williams and Marcus Layvon Jackson II. Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition; Conspiracy to Obstruct, Delay, and Affect Commerce by Robbery; Conspiracy to Carry, Use, and Brandish a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. (superseding) Williams, 29, of Dallas, and Jackson, 28, of Desoto, Texas, is alleged to have unlawfully took packages from an employee of UPS by means of actual and threatened force, including threatening him with a firearm if he did not comply. They are both being charged with possessing firearms, a Glock .375 SIG caliber pistol and a SSCY 9mm luger caliber pistol, during and in relation to a crime of violence. Jackson is a 4-time convicted felon; therefore, he is being charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock, .375 SIG caliber pistol and 31 rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Owasso Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Brannon Michael Jefferies. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Jefferies, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service are the investigative agencies.

Stephanie Ann Manning. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Simple Assault in Indian Country (Misdemeanor). Manning, 30, of Broken Arrow, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Rock Island Armory .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Manning is further being charged with assault after hitting a man with a baseball bat. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Michael Osage Moses. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Moses, 35, of Sand Springs is charged with being a felon is possession of a Sturm & Ruger semi-automatic 9mm pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. Moses is a 4-time convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police are the investigative agencies.

David Gene Randle. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Randle, 50, of Mannford, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Winchester .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, a Stevens 20-gauge shotgun, and ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies.

Christopher Scott Smith. Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute.  Smith, 31, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Kerri Jo Stevens. Theft Over $1,000 in Indian Country; Aggravated Identity Theft; Bank Fraud. Stevens, 37, of Tulsa on Sept. 27, 2020, allegedly stole the victim’s wallet, containing cash and other items of value, with the total property value exceeding $1,000. On Sept. 28, Stevens then used the victim’s debit card issued by the Bank of Oklahoma, to obtain funds, credits, assets, securities, and other property owned by the Bank of Oklahoma. The FBI and Sand Springs Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Dustin Thebeau. Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute. Thebeau, 33, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, is charged with knowingly attempting to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Clayton Jacob Waldon. Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Waldon, 50, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing and distributing material that contained images and videos of child pornography involving a minor who had not attained the age of 12. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Tulsa Police Department, and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations are the investigative agencies.

Nicole Deon Williams. Felony Murder in the First Degree in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country. Williams, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with causing the unlawful killing of another individual. Williams allegedly aided in coordinating a robbery and during the robbery attempt, Williams’ accomplice killed the victim by shooting him in the chest. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Candelaria V. Yazzie. Child Neglect in Indian Country. Yazzie, 24, of Jenks, is charged with three counts of child neglect. According to the indictment, Yazzie left a female victim, who is under the age of 18, unsupervised within a locked car in a liquor store parking lot. Further, Yazzie also allegedly neglected to adequately provide for two other female victims, under the age of 18, left unsupervised in an apartment. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Cody Lloyd Youtsey. Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. Youtsey, 28, of Oilton, is charged with knowingly engaging in non-consensual sexual contact with the female victim. The FBI and Oilton Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Twelve individuals were arrested today for allegedly taking part in methamphetamine trafficking operations, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. The arrests were part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (ODETF) operation.

The takedown resulted from an indictment filed this week charging 22 individuals for two counts of methamphetamine drug conspiracy and other charges. Twelve indicted defendants were arrested and three others were already in custody.

The alleged crimes involved couriers and distributors of methamphetamine transported from Mexico. The deadly drug was brought up to Tulsa and then provided to distributors who sold the methamphetamine in the Northern District of Oklahoma

“Today’s takedown of another drug trafficking operation is a reminder that even in the midst of a pandemic, illicit drugs are making their way into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “In the last two weeks, federal prosecutors have charged more than 50 defendants for their roles in heroin or methamphetamine distribution networks. I’m thankful for the diligent work of the hundreds of law enforcement officers who made these arrests happen.”

Count 1 of the indictment charges 14 defendants, including couriers and distributors, with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

In Count 2 of the indictment, six defendants are charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine. The accused distributors named in Count 2 allegedly worked together to mutually benefit from the illicit drug sales. The remaining counts involve drug deals made on different dates by multiple defendants.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles 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.  

Thursday’s law enforcement action was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs in partnership with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Tulsa Police Department, Thursday’s law enforcement action was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs in partnership with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, Rogers County District Attorney’s Office, Miami Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and in Kansas- the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Parsons Police Department and Labette County Sheriff’s Office.Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case.

A Tulsa woman was sentenced today for destroying post office boxes at a U.S. Post Office station located in south Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. 

Hillary Ginn was sentenced to 5 years probation this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jodi F. Jayne. Ginn will also be responsible for paying $281.20 in restitution to the U.S. Postal Service.

“As Americans, we rely on the U.S. postal system for so many things. From personal finance to personal correspondence, we regard the mail as sacred,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “It is our job as prosecutors and law enforcement to stop criminals like Hillary Ginn who would raid mailboxes and destroy receptacles all for her personal gain.”

On Aug. 26, 2020, Ginn pleaded guilty to destruction of federal property. Ginn admitted that from Aug. 18, 2019 through Sept. 22, 2019, she damaged letter boxes, mailboxes, and other receptacles located in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sheridan Station.

The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Leitch prosecuted the case.

A Tulsa man who sexually abused a child for more than two years pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Joshua Dale Armstrong, 33, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 years old in Indian Country and abusive sexual contact of a minor under 12 years old in Indian Country. At the plea hearing, Armstrong admitted that from January 2018 to April 2020, he knowingly engaged in sex acts with a child, including rape.

“There are forces for good in this world who are ever vigilant against the threat of child sex predators. I’m so thankful the FBI and Tulsa Police Department teamed up to investigate Joshua Dale Armstrong. The criminally perverse acts that Armstrong inflicted upon a helpless child were sickening,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Make no mistake, we will bring the full weight of federal law against every pedophile who harms Oklahoma’s children in our jurisdiction.”

At the time of sentencing, set for Feb. 25, 2021, Armstrong faces a minimum sentence of 30 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  He also faces a maximum fine of $250,000.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Snow, Christopher Nassar and Devon Lash are prosecuting the case. AUSA Lash is a prosecutor from the Eastern District of New York. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

A Tulsa man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country after he shot and killed a woman in Philpott Park on July 10, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

James Michael Landry, 29, committed the crime on the Creek Nation reservation. The victim was an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation.

“James Landry tried to explain away what happened the day he killed Crystal Bradley, but thanks to the coordinated efforts of law enforcement, the truth came out. Today, Mr. Landry pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and will be held accountable for his inexcusable actions,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “In partnership with the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, my office has worked relentlessly to ensure every victim of violent crime experiences a measure of justice and that no case falls through the cracks. With three sovereigns – tribal, state, and federal – communicating and coordinating, I believe we have a blueprint for success in the criminal justice arena in the post-McGirt world.” 

In his plea agreement, Landry admitted that on July 10, 2020 without malice, but upon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion, he unlawfully shot and killed Crystal Bradley.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell set sentencing for Feb. 22, 2021.

The FBI, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

A Tulsa doctor was sentenced today for conspiring with others to unlawfully issue prescriptions for controlled substances, as well as maintaining a drug involved premises at his medical clinic, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Christopher V.  Moses, 67, of Tulsa, has been sentenced to one year of home confinement and five total years of probation. Moses will forfeit his medical license and not seek reinstatement while serving his sentence. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell further ordered Moses to pay $28,581 in restitution to two victims, a $200,000 fine, and a forfeiture amount of $1.8 million representing the proceeds he obtained as a result of his crime.  Moses will also forfeit his 2011 Mercedes-Benz.

“We must work free of the deadly grip that illicit opioids have on our nation. Doctors like Christopher Moses who operate “pill mills” should be ashamed of themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “It’s only right that Mr. Moses is now a convicted felon and has been stripped of his medical title. He is no different than any other drug dealer on the street spreading addiction for profit.”

This sentence comes as a result of his role in leading a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances without a legitimate medial purpose and outside the scope of professional practice, and for maintaining a drug involved premises. As a part of this conspiracy, Moses and his co-conspirators unlawfully issued prescriptions for controlled substances, many of which included deadly opioid prescription drugs such as Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Fentanyl. One repercussion of their unlawful distribution of such drugs, is the death of two individuals, one from acute fentanyl toxicity and the other from acute morphine and oxycodone toxicity. Moses and those working with him committed such acts with the goal of generating large profits from the prescriptions and taking those proceeds for their own personal use and benefit. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick prosecuted the case with assistance from AUSA Vani Singhal, AUSA Melody Nelson, and AUSA Reagan Reininger. AUSA McCormick is the Lead Attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

 U.S. Attorney Trent Shores announced that more than 30 individuals have been named in two separate indictments for their roles in heroin trafficking operations in Oklahoma. The indictments were unsealed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court after the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) along with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies arrested 23 individuals in an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. At least 18 of the 30 defendants named in the indictments are individuals known to be unlawfully in the United States.

“Two major indictments targeting organized crime and drug trafficking were unsealed in federal court today. Operations ‘Royal Flush’ and ‘Town Clown’ involved the takedown of massive heroin trafficking organizations in Oklahoma. Early this morning, the DEA orchestrated the simultaneous execution of search and arrest warrants at 14 different sites in Oklahoma, arresting 23 individuals and seizing approximately 4 kilograms of heroin and $120,000 in U.S. currency,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I commend the more than 200 law enforcement agents and officers who participated in today’s takedown and thank the DEA for their leadership throughout this investigation.”

“Today is another point in the win category for all Oklahomans who value safe and drug-free communities,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA operations in Oklahoma.  “These individuals who spent their days delivering heroin can now spend nights in jail while the men and women of DEA Tulsa and our Eastern Oklahoma law enforcement partners continue their efforts to keep heroin off our streets.”

In the first indictment, 25 members and co-conspirators of the Rivera-Serna Drug Trafficking Organization were charged for their alleged roles in a continuing criminal enterprise that allegedly distributed more than 1 kilogram of deadly heroin into Oklahoma communities and laundered the proceeds.

Eleven defendants were arrested during Operation Royal Flush and made initial appearances in U.S. District Court Tuesday. An additional six individuals were also arrested as part of the operation, who are not named in the indictment, and will be charged by Criminal Complaint.

According to the indictment, Juan Carlos Rivera-Serna and Felipe Rios-Galicia are charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in Count 1 of the indictment. The two men worked in concert with other individuals and acted as principal administrators, organizers, supervisors and leaders of the enterprise. In Count 2 of the indictment, all 25 defendants are charged with drug conspiracy for possessing with intent to distribute and to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Thirteen of the defendants are further charged with money laundering in Count 3 of the indictment. The conspirators allegedly laundered the proceeds from heroin sales in order to conceal and fund their illegal drug operation.

In a second indictment, seven other defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute heroin and other violations. Six of the 7 individuals were arrested by law enforcement as part of Operation Town Clown. According to the indictment, the seven individuals are charged with drug conspiracy, allegedly conspiring to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin. Several of the defendants are also charged with distribution of heroin; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony.

The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Tulsa Police Department, Broken Arrow Police Department, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Rogers County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Miami Police Department, Sapulpa Police Department, Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Operations, Yukon Police Department, Moore Police Department, Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, El Reno Police Department, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma City Police Department, Duncan Police Department, District 18 Task Force, and from Arkansas, the Springdale Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office took part in the investigation and arrests today.

This case is part of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program.  The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy.  OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.  Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illicit drug supply.

A Tulsa woman made an initial appearance in federal court today for first degree felony murder and robbery in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores

Nicole Deonn Williams, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with murdering Curtiss Gaines on June 18, 2019.

“Time and again, guns and drugs prove to be a volatile combination. In this case, the defendant and her boyfriend allegedly shot and killed Curtiss Gaines when they tried to rob him during a drug deal,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “This case comes to our office because of the McGirt decision, and our victim coordinators will work with the victim’s family to ensure they understand we will aggressively pursue justice.”

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, responding officers at first suspected that Gaines died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound because a shotgun was found underneath his body, but detectives later determined Gaines sustained a gunshot wound to his upper torso from a pistol caliber bullet. Upon investigating Gaines’ death, detectives found that Gaines allegedly received a call from a female, believed to be Williams, at 3 am, the day of the murder. The call came from a phone number associated with William’s boyfriend, Barton Roy Vann.  Shortly after the call, Gaines told a friend he had to leave and indicated he was returning to his residence.

A second individual indicated that he picked up Williams and Vann and drove them to Gaines’ residence at approximately 3:30 am and waited for them in his vehicle until they returned. He assumed the couple were going to purchase drugs from the victim, as they had in the past. Later, Vann allegedly told the individual that he had produced a handgun and attempted to rob the victim.  At some point during the robbery, Gaines obtained a shotgun and was subsequently shot by Vann. Vann is currently scheduled for trial in January 2020 with the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office.

If convicted, Williams faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

This matter will proceed in United States District Court in Tulsa, where the complaint is currently pending. A complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Bish is prosecuting the case. Mr. Bish is a prosecutor from the Western District of New York. He volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

A Calera man pleaded guilty this morning to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. The defendant supplied the gun allegedly used in the murder of Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson.

Jakob Gerald Garland, 28, pleaded guilty this morning in front of U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan. Garland’s sentencing is set for Feb. 9, 2021.

“Experience tells me that bad things happen when a gun makes it into the hands of felons and drug dealers. Today, Jakob Garland pleaded guilty to providing a gun to a felon in exchange for heroin. As a result of this exchange, Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson died in the line of duty when that same gun was allegedly used by that felon to shoot him,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Our 2150 Initiative, named in honor of Sgt. Johnson, focuses on protecting our community from those who illegally possess guns or illegally provide them to others. From felons to domestic abusers to drug abusers, if they possess firearms then they will be brought to justice.”

In his plea agreement, Garland admitted that on June 19, 2020, he gave an individual a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun with serial number WKG380 in exchange for heroin. He admitted to driving to Tulsa and meeting the individual to give him the gun at his apartment located within the Northern District of Oklahoma. Prior to June 19, 2020 Garland admitted he had been convicted of several offenses that carried a penalty in excess of one year and was aware he was a convicted felon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Snow is prosecuting the case.

The 2150 Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa Police Department, ATF, and all other local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime by focusing efforts on prohibited persons in possession of firearms as well as those responsible as the “source” of the firearms to prohibited persons.

A Quapaw man has been indicted for sexually abusing a minor and illegally possessing feathers, talons and heads from seven bald eagles and seven golden eagles, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Carl Gene Ortner, 56, is charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country, abusive sexual contact in Indian Country, possession of parts of a bald eagle, and possession of parts of a golden eagle.

“The United States has charged Carl Ortner with crimes related to the sexual abuse of a child and the unlawful possession of bald and golden eagle feathers and parts. The underlying circumstances of this case involve the alleged use of Native American cultural heritage to exploit and groom the child victim,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Protecting children is a top priority for my office, and I’m thankful for our law enforcement partners who have teamed up to investigate this case.”

At a detention hearing held Friday, the United States alleged that Ortner fraudulently claimed to be a Native American spiritual counselor and healer and would give the feathers of bald and golden eagles to the minor victim and the victim’s family in order to gain their trust. At Ortner’s residence, officers allegedly found various parts of bald and golden eagles as well as a whole eagle carcass. Native Americans consider eagles to be sacred and only use the parts to make regalia or for use in cultural and religious practices. Evidence was presented that the defendant allegedly used his position of influence to groom the victim and force her into sexual relations with him, using her cultural beliefs and vulnerability against her. Ortner is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized tribe.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service vehemently condemns sexual violence of any nature,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “In this case, the defendant allegedly used eagles – our national symbol and a culturally sacred species – to prey upon a child who trusted him. These alleged acts go against everything our country stands for and will not be tolerated. We would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance with this case. Together, we can bring wildlife criminals and sexual predators to justice.”

“As alleged in this case, those who seek to prey on children will stop at nothing to lull their victims into a false sense of trust and security, but I’m grateful to the team of agents and analysts who stop at nothing to protect our children,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold. “This case represents the teamwork that the public has come to expect from law enforcement. I’m grateful that, after investigating the theft of these natural resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reached out to the FBI when they discovered the abuse allegations.”

During today’s detention hearing, prosecutors alleged there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225—5324).

U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank H. McCarthy set the detention hearing to continue Nov. 12 at 2pm.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department, FBI, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Roberts and Shannon Cozzoni are prosecuting the case.

A former Tulsa Police Officer who requested his Oklahoma manslaughter conviction be dismissed based on the Supreme Court’s McGirt decision was charged today in federal court with the first degree murder of Jeremey Lake, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Shannon James Kepler, 60, of Tulsa, is charged with first degree murder in Indian Country, causing death by using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence, and assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country.

“Nineteen-year-old Jeremey Lake’s life was senselessly cut short in 2014 when Shannon Kepler allegedly shot and killed him. A jury convicted Mr. Kepler in state court, but the McGirt decision has impacted his conviction. The need to pursue justice remains. The United States Attorney’s Office will now ask a federal jury to convict Shannon Kepler,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Our victim specialists are communicating with Jeremey’s family and will be with them every step of the way as this case moves forward in federal court. Our prosecutors have worked hand in hand with our partners at the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office to ensure this young man and his family experience a full measure of justice.”

According to the indictment, Kepler maliciously and with premeditation murdered Mr. Lake, his daughter’s boyfriend, by shooting him multiple times with a firearm. He is further charged with shooting at a minor male victim during the course of the crime. 

The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross E. Lenhardt and Sean J. Taylor are prosecuting the case. Mr. Lenhardt is a prosecutor from the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Taylor is a prosecutor from the Northern District of Texas. Both volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

United States Attorney Trent Shores today announced the results of the November 2020 Federal Grand Jury A.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Gilbert Bilal. Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Alien Illegally in the United States. Bilal, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with being an alien unlawfully in the United States who possessed a Glock 19, 9mm pistol and ammunition. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

David Samuel Boggs, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Firearm While Subject to a Domestic Violence Protective Order; Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, Dating Partner by Strangling, and Attempting to Strangle or Suffocate in Indian Country; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country; Interstate Violation of a Protective Order in Indian Country; Stalking in Indian Country; Carrying and Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (superseding). Boggs Jr, 34, of Tulsa, faces multiple charges including the violation of a protective order, stalking, attempted kidnapping and assault of a female victim. On June 10, 2020, the defendant allegedly assaulted his former dating partner by strangling her until she passed out and kicking her head and body with steel toe boots. From June 10-17, 2020, it is alleged that the defendant stalked the victim and attempted to kidnap her. Boggs Jr is also charged with being a felon in possession of an FMK 9mm pistol and ammunition. He was previously convicted of kidnapping and domestic abuse. He is also charged with possessing the firearm while subject to a protective order issued on April 3, 2019. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

James Jordan Buckley. Robbery in Indian Country; Burglary in the First Degree; Kidnapping in Indian Country. According to the indictment, Buckley, 21, of Tulsa, forcibly broke into the victim’s home, threatened the victim, and demanded the keys to her car. He then stole the car.  On April 1, 2020, Buckley kidnapped two other victims and attempted to steal their car. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Jeremiah Dylan Claxton. Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm.  Claxton, 42, of Sand Springs, is charged with being a user of a controlled substance in possession of a Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol.The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies.

Bradley Don Goodin. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor under 12 in Indian Country (Counts 1-3); Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child under 12 in Indian Country (Count 4); Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country (Count 5) Possession of a Firearm While Subject to a Domestic Violence Protective Order (Count 6)(superseding). Goodin, 46, of Sapulpa, is charged with four counts of engaging in sexual acts with two Native American children under the age of 12, occurring in 2019. He is further charged with abusive sexual contact of a different child between the ages of 12 and 16, allegedly taking place from the Fall of 2008 to the Spring of 2009. Goodin is also charged with being in possession of 21 firearms while subject to a domestic violence protective order. The Sapulpa Police Department, Creek County Sheriff’s Office and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Randy Alan Hammett. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Carjacking; Possessing and Receiving a Stolen Firearm and Stolen Ammunition; Possession of a Firearm While Subject to a Domestic Violence Protective Order; Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Domestic Violence in Indian Country; Interstate Violation of a Protective Order; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. (2nd superseding). Hamett, 63, of Choctaw, allegedly violated a protective order by breaking into his former spouse’s home, and assaulting and kidnapping her on April 25 and April 26, 2017.  He is also charged with brandishing a firearm during the crime, carjacking, possessing a stolen firearm and ammunition, and possessing firearms and ammunition while subject to a protective order. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Broken Arrow Police Department, Siloam Springs Police Department, and the Rogers State University Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Michael Charles Hicks Jr. Robbery in Indian Country; Larceny of a Motor Vehicle in Indian Country (superseding). Hicks Jr, 50, of Okmulgee, allegedly used force and violence to steal a 2015 Cadillac Escalade from its owner. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies.

Matthew Alan Joseph. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Theft Over $1,000 in Indian Country.    Joseph, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Colt .45 pistol and associated ammunition after three domestic assault and battery convictions. In this superseding indictment, Joseph is further charged with kidnapping, assaulting a female victim using a knife, and assaulting the victim by strangling her. He is also charged with stealing the victim’s Toyota Camry. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Jamie Lea Keahbone. Child Abuse in Indian Country; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Keahbone, 40, of Broken Arrow, is charged with abusing a female minor by striking, beating, strangling, and suffocating her on Oct. 14, 2020. Keahbone is further charged with assaulting the minor with a lamp base. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Shannon James Kepler. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Causing Death by Using and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Kepler, 60, of Tulsa, is charged with deliberately and with premeditation and malice aforethought murdering Jeremey Lake by shooting him multiple times with a firearm on Aug. 5, 2014. He is also alleged to have assaulted a second male victim by discharging a firearm at the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Derek Howard Long. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Long, 33, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Hi-Point,.380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. He is further charged with being a felon in possession of a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Benjamin Marcantel. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Marcantel, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting a male victim by striking him with a pick-up truck, resulting in a serious compound fracture of the victim’s leg. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Tyler Austin McGhee. Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country; Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country; Strangulation of a Dating and Intimate Partner in Indian Country. On Oct. 10, 2020, McGhee, 26, of Broken Arrow, is alleged to have sexually abused the victim. Then on Oct. 23, 2020, McGhee is alleged to have broken into the victim’s home and strangled and sexually abused the victim, causing her to fear for her life. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are conducting the investigation.

Craig Alan Morrison and Amanda Lyn Walker. Child Abuse in Indian Country; Enabling Child Abuse in Indian Country (superseding). Morrison, 36, and Walker, 41, of Tulsa, are charged with enabling and committing acts of child abuse. Morrison is charged with abusing a child under the age of 18, while Walker is being charged with enabling and allowing the abuse to take place. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Emmanuel Nunez. Possession of a Firearm After a Conviction for a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence. Nunez, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm after a domestic violence conviction. Nunez, knowing he had previously been convicted of domestic violence, was found to be in possession of A Rock Island Armory, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Ronald Alexander Rodriguez-Paz and Eva Estrada Juarez. Obtaining Forced Labor; Benefiting From Forced Labor; Involuntary Servitude; Trafficking With Respect to Peonage, Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, and Forced Labor; Use of False Social Security Number; Use or Possession of False Immigration Documents; Aggravated Identity Theft (superseding). Paz-Rodriguez, 36, and Juarez, 29, of Tulsa, aided and abetted each other in obtaining the labor and services of a minor child through 1. force, threats of force, physical restraint and threats of physical restraint; 2. serious harm and threats to seriously harm; 3. the abuse and threatened abuse of the law and legal process; and 4. multiple schemes to cause the victim to believe she would suffer serious harm if she did not perform the labor and services. The two are also charged with benefiting financially as a result of the forced labor; holding the minor to a condition of involuntary servitude; and recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing and obtaining the minor child for labor and services. They are both further being charged with using a false social security card, Paz-Rodriguez listing a false SSN on a rent application, and Juarez falsely listing a SSN on an employment application. Paz-Rodrigues is also being charged for using a forged permanent resident card. Paz-Rodriguez and Juarez are both being charged with aggravated identity theft for using means of identification they knew belonged to another person. The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies.

Jose Pizana Ruiz and Brittany Paige Coffee. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. On Sept. 17, 2020, Ruiz, 44, and Coffee, 27, allegedly possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency.

Travis Dray Stewart. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Children in Indian Country. Stewart, 40, of Tulsa, knowingly engaged in sexual acts with a child under the age of 12. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Jaymz Joe Vann. Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. Vann, 26, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of ammunition. Vann is a 3-time convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Phillip Eugene Wallace. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Wallace, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock .40 caliber pistol, a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Wallace is a 6-time convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Kyla Morgan Westbrook. Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute. Westbrook, 24, is charged with possessing 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigate agency.

Kendall Ray Whitlow. Child Abuse in Indian Country; Child Neglect in Indian Country. Whitlow, 23, of Tulsa, physically abused a child under the age of 18. Further, Whitlow is also charged with child neglect after failing to provide adequate nurturance, affection, food, shelter, hygiene, sanitation, appropriate education, supervision, behavioral health care, and medical and dental care to the same child. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Sherman Herbert Wilde III. Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Wilde III, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with assault for discharging a firearm at the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Michael Douglas Williams. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Williams, 46, of Tulsa, knowingly failed to register as a sex offender after being convicted as such under Federal Law. The U.S. Marshals Service and Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office are the investigative agencies.

Sean Bonham Windsor. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Fugitive From Justice in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Windsor, 39, is charged with being a felon and a fugitive from justice in possession of a Ruger 5.7x28 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and various kinds of ammunition. Windsor is a 24-time convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Marshals Service are the investigative agencies.

Tarence Lavell Woods. Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition; Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Machine Gun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (superseding). Woods, 22, of Tulsa, is being charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock, 9x19mm caliber pistol and ammunition. He is also being charged with maintaining a space in order to use, manufacture, and distribute cocaine as well as use and distribute marijuana. He is further being charged for using his firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

A Norman man pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court for his role as a money launderer in a Nigerian romance scam that defrauded multiple victims, including elder Americans, of millions, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Afeez Olajide Adebara, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering before U.S. District Court Judge Gregory K. Frizzell. Adebara’s sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 3, 2021.

“Adebara organized and led a money laundering operation from Oklahoma in order to conceal the proceeds of a Nigerian Romance Scam. He and his co-conspirators defrauded an Oklahoman and two other victims of more than $1.5 million,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Romance scams inflict the highest reported financial losses yearly, totaling about $200 million in 2019, when compared to other online scams. Con artists like Adebara have no shame. They care not if their victims are elders, veterans, or hard working Americans living paycheck to paycheck. I commend the FBI agents and federal prosecutors who took down this international money laundering operation.”

In his plea agreement, Adebara admitted that he knew the money involved in the financial transactions involved the proceeds from unlawful activity. He further stated that he knew the financial transactions were designed, in whole or in part, to conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of the unlawful activity.

From 2017 through and November 2019, Adebara knowingly concealed the proceeds of a romance scam operation by moving money between and among multiple bank accounts that were opened under various aliases using fake passports and other fraudulent identification documents to obscure the source of the funds and the identities of the co-conspirators. Court documents state that he and his co-conspirators took further steps to conceal the source of the funds, took a commission, and directed the remainder of the funds back to the online romance scammers in Nigeria, including in the form of vehicles and vehicle parts. 

According to court documents, Adebara coordinated with overseas co-conspirators who had assumed false identities on online dating websites and social media platforms with the intent to defraud victims. Adebara opened multiple accounts using fraudulent identities then provided the account and routing numbers to the overseas co-conspirators.  The overseas co-conspirators told victims they were U.S. residents working abroad. In fact, the investigation revealed that these overseas co-conspirators were located in Nigeria.  As these online “relationships” continued, the overseas co-conspirators’ would request increasingly larger sums of money, claiming that the funds were needed to complete business projects or to return to the United States.  The victims were directed by the overseas co-conspirators to send funds to Adebara and others’ bank accounts, assuring the victims that he would allocate the money as needed.

Adebara was charged on Nov. 13, 2019, along with nine co-defendants.  John Oluwaseun Ogundele, 31, formerly of Norman, pleaded guilty on June 15, 2020.

The remaining defendants are Joshua Naandom Ditep, 25, Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman; Paul Usoro, 26, Nigerian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Norman; Chibuzo Godwin Obiefuna, Jr., 27, U.S. citizen residing in Long Beach, California; Tobiloba Kehinde, 28, Nigerian citizen residing in Norman; Jamiu Ibukun Adedeji, 24, Nigerian citizen, residing in Norman; First and last name unknown #1, who maintained an address in Brooklyn, New York; First and last name unknown #2, who maintained an address in Dallas, Texas; and First and last name unknown #3, who maintained an address in Dallas, Texas. Ditep, Usoro, Obiefuna, Kehinde, and Adedeji await trial while the three additional co-defendants remain fugitives.  These remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office conducted the investigation. Trial Attorney Babasijibomi Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar of the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes often based out of Nigeria that target U.S. citizens.  The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the FBI at https://www.ic3.gov/.   

A Tulsa man admitted today in federal court that he violated a protective order by sending harassing and threatening emails to a female victim.

Parris Deshaunte Evitt, 30, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Cyber Stalking. From Oct. 20, 2018 to Sept. 3, 2020, Evitt used email, Facebook messaging, text messages and phone calls to harass, intimidate and threaten the victim, thus violating a protective order issued against the him on July 5, 2017. During his plea hearing, Evitt admitted to using different aliases to harass the victim. In several messages, he threatened to publicly share personal information about the victim.

“This is the second cyberstalking guilty plea in our district in recent weeks. Obviously, it is a crime to which we are paying attention and about which people should be aware. Cyberstalking impacts the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of victims. In this case, Parris Evitt used threats and intimidation via Facebook, phone calls, text messages, and email to harass, scare, and violate the victim,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The Parris Evitts of the world will not be allowed to violate protective orders and threaten their victims from behind a keyboard. If they do, they’ll find themselves in a courtroom answering for their crimes.”

Chief U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell will make the final sentencing determination at a hearing set for Feb. 4, 2021.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and a maximum of three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. Ms.Dial is a prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington. She volunteered to assist prosecution efforts here in the Northern District of Oklahoma due to the increased volume of cases since the Supreme Court’s ruling which stated the Creek Nation Reservation had never been officially disestablished by Congress. The United States and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation have jurisdiction of all cases that occur on the reservation involving Native American victims or defendants.

       U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced more than $8.5 million in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime in Oklahoma. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

     “One of the fundamental missions of government is to protect its citizens and safeguard the rule of law,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will continue to meet this critical responsibility by doing everything within its power to help our state, local and tribal law enforcement and criminal justice partners fight crime and deliver justice on behalf of all Americans.”

      The funding announced today continues the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime and improving public safety. In the two years before President Trump took office, America had experienced a precipitous rise in crime, particularly in serious violent crime. The President elevated community safety to the top of his domestic agenda and crime rates have fallen steadily since. Recent data from the FBI and the Bureau of Justice Statistics for 2019 show a drop in crime and serious victimization for the third year in a row. However, a number of cities are experiencing conspicuous countertrends. Today’s grants will bolster crime-fighting efforts in those communities and in jurisdictions throughout the United States.

      “Violence has become a tragic reality in too many of America’s communities,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “Working with officials across the Trump Administration and with thousands of state, local and tribal crime-fighters across the country, the Department of Justice is leading the response to this urgent challenge. OJP is pleased to make these resources available to support innovative, tested and diverse solutions to violent crime.”

     “I’m thankful for the men and women of the Tulsa Police Department and District Attorneys’ Offices who are called to protect our communities and ensure the safety of all Oklahomans. They are great partners, and I’m proud to see the Justice Department support them with more than $5.6 million in grants,” U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said. “My hope is that this grant money will help Oklahoma officials fulfill their public safety mission by focusing on community outreach, mental health funding, violent crime investigations, research programs and more.”

       Of the more than $458 million awarded nationwide, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance made 1,094 grants totaling more than $369 million to support a broad range of initiatives, including efforts in enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention and rehabilitation.

       OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded more than $10 million across 24 jurisdictions to intervene in and suppress youth gang activity as well as $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to continue operating the National Gang Center. OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded $7.8 million to fund research and evaluation on the prevention and reduction of violent crime. OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics provided more than $69 million to strengthen the quality and accessibility of records within the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

     The following organizations received grant funding in Oklahoma:

BJA Community-Based Crime Reduction: CBCR leverages community knowledge and expertise to focus enforcement efforts on crime “hot spots” ‒ neighborhoods where crime is concentrated. To generate long-term impacts, the program addresses a range of challenges.

• City of Tulsa (TPD)-   $900,000

BJA Justice Reinvestment Initiative: JRI provides funding for innovative and research-based responses that address a range of problems within the criminal justice system. The Justice Reinvestment approach recognizes that every justice agency has a role to play in preventing crime, apprehending and prosecuting perpetrators, ensuring efficient and effective court and pretrial decision-making, facilitating appropriate sentencing and treatment and protecting community security.

• Tulsa County District Attorney $976,980

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP): NARIP provides financial and technical assistance to states and tribes to improve the completeness, automation and transmittal of records to state and federal systems used by the NICS.

• Oklahoma District Attorneys Council $2,795,947

National Criminal History Improvement Program: NCHIP enhances the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information to state, territory and federal systems used by the NICS and ensures the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background check systems

• Oklahoma District Attorneys Council $359,180

NIJ Research and Evaluation on Violent Crime ($7.3 million): The National Institute for Justice awarded grants to fund research and evaluation on the prevention and reduction of violent crime.

• Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences- Drugs and Crime $587,219

       “The Tulsa Police Department is thrilled to have been awarded the Community-Based Crime Reduction Grant. The Department worked in partnership with Tulsa Housing Authority to author the grant,” Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said. “The Tulsa Police Department plans to use these funds to assist with youth enrichment, crime prevention, community education and violent crime investigations.  Police departments rely upon funding from our federal partners to carry out existing programs as well as pilot programs and initiatives. TPD will build on our collaborative efforts with partners across the community!”

BJA Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant: Byrne JAG supports a broad range of initiatives that work to prevent and reduce violent crime. It also provides funds to help crime victims and assist efforts in enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention and rehabilitation.

• State of Oklahoma- $2,469,111
• Tulsa County-  $20,373
• Tulsa City Municipal- $322,587
• City of Broken Arrow- $11,382

BJA Project Safe Neighborhoods: The efforts of Project Safe Neighborhoods include addressing criminal gangs and the felonious possession and use of firearms. PSN collaborates with local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as the communities they serve, in a unified approach led by the U.S. Attorney in all 94 districts.

• Oklahoma Northern $103,782-  Oklahoma District Attorney’s Council

“As a prosecutor for the past 30 plus years, I have longed to tackle issues where the criminal justice system and those with mental health needs intersect. This award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance is certainly a positive step forward in our effort to develop innovative and research-based solutions to this expanding area of the law,” Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said. “We are partnering with Family and Children Services to examine and implement best practices so that individuals suffering from mental illness might be diverted away from criminal prosecution, and towards restorative treatment options. I am certainly appreciative of US Attorney Trent Shores and his tireless efforts to help secure this award on behalf of all citizens in the Northern District of Oklahoma. I am equally confident that the Tulsa County District Courts under the leadership of Judge William LaFortune are also appreciative of this allocation of resources to address this need in our community.”

       “As a prosecutor for the past 30 plus years, I have longed to tackle issues where the criminal justice system and those with mental health needs intersect. This award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance is certainly a positive step forward in our effort to develop innovative and research-based solutions to this expanding area of the law,” Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said. “We are partnering with Family and Children Services to examine and implement best practices so that individuals suffering from mental illness might be diverted away from criminal prosecution, and towards restorative treatment options. I am certainly appreciative of US Attorney Trent Shores and his tireless efforts to help secure this award on behalf of all citizens in the Northern District of Oklahoma. I am equally confident that the Tulsa County District Courts under the leadership of Judge William LaFortune are also appreciative of this allocation of resources to address this need in our community.”

         “As the state administering agency for the National Criminal History Improvement Project (NCHIP) and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP), the District Attorneys Council is elated to receive notice of these grant funds,” DAC Executive Coordinator Trent H. Baggett said. “In 2020, NCHIP funds were used to help fourteen (14) law enforcement departments obtain Livescan digital fingerprinting devices that allows the electronic transmission of fingerprints of criminal offenders to be used nationwide for criminal and noncriminal background checks.  The NARIP funds helped the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) with their Criminal Record Improvement Project.  That project is vital considering the OSBI is the preeminent agency in Oklahoma for the collection of criminal offender records.  The DAC is very appreciative of the efforts of everyone who played a role in seeing to it Oklahoma receives these funds.”

            For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

 United States Attorney Trent Shores announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Charles McLoughlin will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election.  AUSA McLoughlin has served as the District Election Officer (DEO) for over a decade in the Northern District of Oklahoma, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Free, fair, secure, and accessible elections are the foundation of our democracy. Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have their vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “My office will uphold its responsibility to protect this sacred right of every citizen in the Northern District of Oklahoma so that all citizens are guaranteed a voice within their communities and nationally,” U.S. Attorney Shores said.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, U.S. Attorney Shores stated that AUSA/DEO McLoughlin will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: (918) 382-2713.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Oklahoma FBI field office can be reached at (405) 290-7770.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

United States Attorney Trent Shores announced today the results of the October Federal Grand Jury B.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Sharilyn Rose Browning. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country.  Browning, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting a male victim with a knife. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Pedro Santiago Cabrera; Rolando Reyna Reyes. Conspiracy and Manufacture and Possession of over 50 grams of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute and Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises; Manufacture and Possession of Over 50 Grams of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises. Cabrera, 36, and Reyes, 34, both of Tulsa, are charged with knowingly manufacturing, possessing, and distributing methamphetamine and maintaining a drug involved premises to carry out the conspiracy.  The two allegedly manufactured and possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Alexander Choate. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Choate, 49, of Tulsa, is charged with failing to register as a sex offender and to update his registration. The U.S. Marshals Service is the investigative agency.

Jesus Herrera Diaz. Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute. Herrera, 29, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Craig Lamar Gonzales. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse in Indian Country; Assault in Indian Country (misdemeanor). Gonzales, is charged with kidnapping and sexually abusing a female victim. He is also charged with assaulting the victim by pulling her from a car by her hair, yanking her head back, and spitting on the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Coalton Payne Guinn. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Guinn, 25, of Kellyville, is charged with knowingly engaging in sexual acts with a child between 12 and 16 years of age. The FBI and Sapulpa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Rebecca Raye Jackson; Sabrina Rena Lee. Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  Jackson and Lee are charged with conspiring to communicate with the victim via Facebook and lure him to a Super 8 hotel room in Tulsa to engage in sex acts. As part of the conspiracy, the two allegedly surprised the victim with a 12-gauge shotgun and took his personal property, including money, keys, wallet, and a cell phone. The two allegedly split the money from the robbery. Jackson is also charged with robbery in Indian Country, and both women are charged with brandishing the shotgun during the robbery. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Tyler Jonathan Martin. Robbery in Indian Country. Martin, 28, of Tulsa, is charged with robbing a victim by force and intimidation. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Richi Keith McHenry. Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. McHenry, 42, of Broken Arrow, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Smith and Wesson, .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. McHenry was previously convicted of multiple felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency.

Casey Brandon Peterson. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child in Indian Country. Peterson, 35, of Sapulpa, is charged with sexually abusing a child under 12 years of age. The FBI and Sapulpa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 

Anthony Raul Proctor. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Proctor, 32, of Bristow, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition. Proctor is a 5-time convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, and Muskogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies.

John Earl Shugart. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in Indian Country. Shugart, 42, of Tulsa, is charged with failing to register as a sex offender and update his registration. The U.S. Marshals Service is the investigative agency.

Herchell Lee Timmons. Theft Over $1,000 in Indian Country; Burglary in First Degree in Indian Country. Timmons, 21, of Jenks, is charged with stealing an F-150 pick-up truck valued at over $1,000 as well as with breaking the outer door of a home with others in order to commit burglary. The homeowner was present when the crime took place. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

A Tulsa man made an initial appearance this week in federal court after being charged with Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country and Strangulation of a Dating Partner in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Tyler Austin McGhee, 26, was arrested on Oct. 23 by Broken Arrow Police officers after he entered the home of his former girlfriend and allegedly assaulted her.

According to the complaint, the victim stated that McGhee physically assaulted her by putting her in a headlock and attempting to cover her mouth with duct tape. She also stated that he later sexually assaulted her. The victim tried to calm McGhee down and eventually found an opportunity to text a friend to call 911 as she thought McGhee might kill her if she attempted to do so herself. When officers arrived, they found McGhee in the apartment and his backpack under the bed, which allegedly contained black duct tape, black latex gloves, handcuffs, a knife, condoms, and sexual lubricant. When officers questioned McGhee, he denied any assault to the victim and claimed he just wanted to talk to her.

“Survivors of domestic violence are a resilient group. Tragically, we’ve seen domestic violence cases on the rise during this global pandemic. These are often challenging cases to present, but this United States Attorney’s Office will not shy away from tough cases nor miss an opportunity to give a voice to victims of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “These allegations in the Complaint will receive the full attention and resources of my office as we seek to hold Tyler McGhee accountable for his alleged criminal acts.”

A Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni  is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Trent Shores wants Oklahomans to know how to rid their homes of unused and unwanted medications. Saturday, Oct. 24, starting at 10 a.m., the public can take those prescriptions to a DEA National Drug Take Back location in northeastern Oklahoma.

The DEA is holding its 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at locations across the country. The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

“Properly discarding old medications is not only smart, it can be lifesaving. Fortunately, the Drug Enforcement Administration is making it easier for all of us to safely dispose of these unused and expired medications, helping to protect friends and loved ones who may end up misusing them,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I appreciate the DEA and our law enforcement, business and community partners, who have teamed up to provide this important public service.”

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications.”

Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement. Collection sites in the Northern District of Oklahoma include:

• DEA Tulsa- MET Recycling Center, 3495 South Sheridan, Tulsa
• Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD)- Walgreens Pharmacy, 1438 N. Lewis Avenue, Tulsa
• OBNDD- Walgreens Pharmacy, 1438 N. Lewis Avenue, Tulsa
• OBNDD- Reasor’s, 4909 E. 41st Street, Tulsa
• OBNDD- Reasor’s 7114 S. Sheridan, Tulsa
• OBNDD- Reasor’s 3915 S. Peoria Ave, Tulsa
• Broken Arrow Police Department- Walmart Neighborhood Market, 1300 E. Albany St., Broken Arrow
• Sand Spring Police Department- 602 W. Morrow Road, Sand Springs
• Miami Police Department- 129 5th Avenue Northwest, Miami
• Miami Tribal Police Department, 3410 P. Street Northwest, Miami

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1.

DEA also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community.

For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site near you, visit www.deatakeback.com

A Virginia man who sent harassing and intimidating emails directed toward Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and his family pleaded guilty to cyber stalking, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Adam Maxwell Donn, 41, of Norfolk, Virginia, appeared today in federal court via video conferencing. At his hearing, the defendant admitted that he sent Mayor Bynum and his wife 44 emails and left 14 voicemails from June 11 through June 22, 2020, that were meant to harass, annoy, threaten and intimate the Bynum family. He also admitted that the threatening messages made numerous references to Bynum’s children and their home address. Donn believed the threats would coerce Bynum into cancelling President Donald Trump’s campaign rally scheduled for June 20, 2020.

“Cyberstalking can be a terrifying ordeal for victims. Adam Donn’s incessant harassment and threats to both the Mayor and his family more than crossed the line. They weren’t protected speech; they were criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Today, Mr. Donn admitted his guilt and will now face the possibility of federal prison time when sentenced. The Tulsa Police and FBI really did some top notch investigative work on this case. They identified the cyber stalker, protected the victims from harm, and ultimately arrested Mr. Donn in Virginia.”

U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan accepted Donn’s plea and set sentencing for Jan. 25, 2021. The date could potentially be accelerated.

Initial charges were filed against Donn in July. You can find the press release here.

The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar are prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced awards of nearly $3.7 million in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in Oklahoma. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.

“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”

Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.

“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”

“Drug addiction fuels criminal behavior and often devastates families, particularly affecting children whose parents abuse illicit and prescription drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Intervention programs are crucial to those struggling, whether in the criminal justice system or in our communities. The nearly $3.7 million in Justice Department grants will help fund important drug intervention programs that are a lifeline to Oklahomans suffering from addiction.”

Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

The following organizations in Oklahoma received funding:

Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Grants

- Tulsa County District Court, Fourteenth Judicial District: $431,618

- Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: $731,740

- Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: $547,533

Mentoring Opportunities For Youth Initiative

-Rogers County Volunteers for Youth, Inc.: $598,792 (previously announced in a press release on Oct. 9, 2020)

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program

-Oklahoma District Attorneys Council: $563,665

Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime

-Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences: $587,219

Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program

-Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma: $200,000

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

An Owasso man admitted his guilt Tuesday in federal court after striking and killing William Houseman while eluding officers at speeds exceeding 90 mph in 2019.

Michael Leon Johnson, 34, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country. Johnson admitted to leading officers on a chase through Tulsa streets in a stolen pick-up truck, running multiple red lights, driving into oncoming traffic and causing other drivers to divert off the road. Johnson struck the victim’s vehicle after running a red light at the intersection of 12900 East 11th St. Housman died as a result of his injuries.

“William Houseman lost his life because of Michael Johnson’s selfish and reckless choices. His death is a tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Johnson was in possession of a stolen vehicle and chose to run from police, rather than face the consequences for his criminal choices. On Jan. 12, 2021, a federal judge will hand down a sentence suitable for this senseless act.”

The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Tulsa Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark R. Morgan is prosecuting the case.

Today, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Trent Shores announced charges against more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.

“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.  The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”

“When we prosecute a person for illegally possessing a gun, we are often preventing a violent crime from occurring. That’s a victory for every Oklahoman and our business community,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “This past year my prosecutors charged over 100 defendants with firearms-related crimes in the Northern District of Oklahoma. These defendants included felons, domestic abusers, unlawful immigrants, and drug abusers who illegally possessed firearms and ammo. Moving forward, as part of our 2150 Initiative, we are focusing our efforts on criminals who use guns during crimes, individuals who lie on firearms transaction forms, and straw purchasers who acquire firearms for prohibited persons.”

Persons illegally possessing firearms not only threaten the public safety, but also threaten the officers who encounter them. At a press conference in September, U.S. Attorney Shores, ATF Assistant Director of Field Operations Thomas Chittum, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin, and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum announced the 2150 Initiative, which aims to hold accountable prohibited persons who possess firearms and those who help them acquire firearms. The initiative was named in honor of Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop by a multi-convicted felon who possessed a handgun. Also critically wounded in the June traffic stop was Officer Aurash Zarkeshan, who continues to recover from his injuries.  At the press conference, U.S. Attorney Shores also announced charges filed against defendant Jakob Garland who allegedly traded the gun to the shooter in exchange for heroin. 

In a separate case, defendant Jonathan David Kelley was charged in September with being a felon in possession of a firearm and with being a drug user (methamphetamine) in possession of a firearm. The charges stemmed from an incident where Broken Arrow Police Officers encountered the defendant allegedly disoriented and waving around a gun in public. The defendant also allegedly pointed the gun at two civilians earlier in the day. According to the affidavit, Kelley refused the officers’ commands to drop the firearm and continued walking away, cycling the firearm and telling officers he “had a round in the chamber.” Kelley also pointed his gun in the  direction of an officer who arrived during the incident. Officers were eventually able to apprehend and arrest the defendant safely and collect the Glock 17 pistol with a round in the chamber. In a separate incident involving Kelley and the Tulsa Police Department, officers answered a domestic violence call on Aug. 29, 2020, where the defendant allegedly made threats through the door to officers and walked around with a gun, working the slide to unload and load rounds.

In FY2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to charge defendants with firearms-related crimes. So far, 11 additional defendants have been charged. A second grand jury will convene the week of Oct. 19-23.

“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo.  “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions.  ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories, including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime.  It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense.  The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473

U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced that Volunteers for Youth in Roger’s County is being awarded $598,792 in Department of Justice funding to support mentoring services for youth in rural areas hit hard by the opioid epidemic. The awards were made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs.

“Protecting the next generation is key to ensuring the prosperity of our nation and its citizens. This is the goal of Volunteers for Youth. They are committed to helping vulnerable at-risk youth impacted by opioid addiction in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I applaud their efforts to reach out to children in schools, and I am proud to announce they will be receiving $598,792 to aid in their mission. This grant will help fund impactful mentoring strategies that will set Roger’s County youth up for success.”

“Volunteers for Youth is looking forward to working with all of our schools and local law enforcement agencies in Claremore and Rogers County to make a positive impact on the youth in these communities,” said Art Turpel, Executive Director for Volunteers for Youth. “Our primary focus for this funding will be countering the negative impacts of misused opioids and prescription drugs.”
 
Today’s award in Rogers County is part of more than $261 million going to organizations and agencies across the country. Grants from OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will allow national, state and local organizations to provide mentoring to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement. Mentoring programs supported by OJJDP help youth make connections with leaders and respected members of their communities, including law enforcement officers. Police and sheriffs’ departments have formed close and lasting bonds with young citizens, leading to greater trust and respect between law enforcement professionals and community members. 

“Young people in America face an array of challenges, from social and academic pressures to dangerous predators and lethal drugs. They are better equipped to meet those challenges with a model of care and compassion to guide them along,” said Sullivan. “These awards will support outstanding youth-serving organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and their local affiliates across the country as they help youth discover their talents, find their purpose and realize their full potential. We are incredibly grateful to our mentorship programs, both nationally and locally. Badges in Blue and Badges for Baseball are great examples of successful community partnerships through law enforcement and mentoring.”
 
In addition, more than 100 sites are receiving grants from OJJDP and OVC to help find missing children, investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, serve abused and neglected children, and assist minor victims of human trafficking.
  
For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here and here.
 
               Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage. 
                
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

 A fourth defendant involved in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy was arrested by U.S. Marshals Thursday in West Tulsa and made an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Tina Marie Tankersley, 33, of Tulsa, was one of five defendants named in an August 2020 indictment charging the defendants with drug conspiracy and other crimes.

Also charged with drug conspiracy were Charles Dean Studie, 36; Albert Douglas Parker, 35; Sydney Daloise Courtney, 28; and Marty Jay Foster, 52, all of Tulsa. The defendants allegedly conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine in the Tulsa area. Defendant Marty Foster remains at large and is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service.

“Drug traffickers should know that our team of prosecutors and agents will disrupt and dismantle their operations and bring them to account in a federal courtroom,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Keeping our neighborhoods safe is a top priority for all of us in the law enforcement community. I appreciate DEA Tulsa and Sheriff Regalado teaming up to take down these alleged meth-dealing criminals.”

“The Deputies that make up our Tulsa Housing Authority Community Enhancement Unit are dedicated to the safety and security of the families that live within the THA complexes,” said Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. “There’s no doubt in my mind the people who live in these complexes are safer now that this drug operation is shut down. We are extremely proud of the work of our Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Community Enhancement Unit.”

The indictment also charged Tankersley and Parker with maintaining a drug involved premises at 1503 West 59th St. South in Tulsa. Studie is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Studie and Courtney are also charged with maintaining a drug involved premises at 1622 West 59th Street South in Tulsa.

The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case.

 United States Attorney Trent Shores today announced the results of the October 2020 Federal Grand Jury A. The grand jury returned 26 unsealed and 3 sealed indictments.

Because of the large volume of cases the Northern District of Oklahoma has been charging since the Supreme Court’s McGirt decision in July, a second Federal Grand Jury B will convene the week of Oct. 19-23, 2020.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Joshua Aaron Attocknie (superseding). Possession of Stolen Vehicle in Indian Country; Endangering Others While Eluding Police Officer in Indian Country. (superseding) Attocknie, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle. Attocknie unlawfully and knowingly possessed a 2016 black Audi A5 and a 2020 black Chevrolet Silverado previously stolen from a dealership and rental company by unknown parties. In the superseding indictment, Attocknie is also charged with attempting to elude officers on July 13, 2020, by rapidly accelerating and endangering others when police tried to pull him over. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Scotty Lee Belcher. Possessing and Uttering Forged Security. Belcher, 31, of Talala, is charged with seven counts of possessing and trying to pass counterfeited checks with intent to deceive four motorcycle and car dealerships in August 2019.  The checks were written in the amounts of $37,800, $31,800, $2,240, $21,050, $28,600, $21,500, and $16,500. The Tulsa Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, and FBI are the investigative agencies.

David Samuel Boggs Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Boggs Jr., 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a FMK .9 mm pistol and associated ammunition after kidnapping and domestic abuse convictions. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Matthew Scott Boll. Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm. Boll, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with killing Antonio Morencio Velasco using a firearm. He is further charged with involuntary manslaughter and with possessing a Springfield Armory .9 mm semi-automatic pistol while being an unlawful user of methamphetamine. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Madelyn Abigail Brown. Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Brown, 26, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting a male with a dangerous weapon by repeatedly stabbing the victim with a knife. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Ibanga Etuk, Teosha Etuk, Olusola Ojo. Ibanga Etuk, Teosha Etuk, Olusola Ojo. Bank Fraud Conspiracy (count 1); Bank Fraud (counts 2-6); Aggravated Identity Theft (counts 7-9); Unlawful Monetary Transaction (counts 10-17). (2nd superseding). Ibanga Etuk, 40, and Teosha Etuk, 32, both of Tulsa, and Ojo, 41, of Owasso, allegedly conspired together and with others to commit bank fraud from April 1, 2020 to August 4, 2020. The three defendants created 12 fictitious business entities that would fraudulently apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under false pretenses such as the number of employees, payroll expenditures, taxes paid during previous months, details of business ownership, and a false representation of their relationship with one another. During this time, Ibanga Etuk, Teosha Etuk, and Olusola Ojo submitted multiple applications for the same businesses to more than ten different banks, without disclosing to those banks that they were submitting duplicative applications. They conspired to obtain loans in the total approximate amount of $5,430,585 and actually obtained funding from banks in the total approximate amount of $995,385. The three defendants are also charged with various counts of bank fraud. Teosha Etuk, Ibanga Etuk, and Olusola Ojo are each further charged with counts of aggravated identity theft. Teosha Etuk  and Ibanga Etuk are further charged with counts of unlawful monetary transactions. The Federal Reserve Board-Office of Inspector General (OIG); Small Business Administration-OIG, and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Matthew Alan Joseph. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Joseph, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a Colt .45 pistol and associated ammunition after three domestic assault and battery convictions in 2008 and 2017.  The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Johnathan David Kelley. Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition; Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm; Attempt to Manufacture Methamphetamine. Kelley, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic pistol after previously being convicted for DUI and for possessing a controlled drug. The FBI and Broken Arrow and Tulsa Police Departments are the investigative agencies.

Jason Gordon Kinnear; Brittney Lynn Kinnear.  Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes; Possession of an Unregistered Rifle Having a Barrel of Less Than 16 Inches in Length. Jason Kinnear, 20, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  He is also charged with leasing a premises for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing and using controlled substances. He is further charged with possessing a Del-Ton .223 short-barrel rifle and a Glock 9 mm pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. Finally, both Jason Kinnear and Brittney Kinnear, 22, of Tulsa, are charged with possessing a rifle having a barrel length of less than 16 inches and not registered to either of them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  The Tulsa Police Department, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.

Sergio Lopez-Ramirez. Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Illegally in the United States; Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.  Lopez-Ramirez is charged with being an alien illegally in the United States in possession of a Forjas Taurus 9 mm Luger and associated ammunition. He is further charged with reentry of a removed alien, having returned to the United States unlawfully after being deported Jan. 16, 2017, at or near Brownsville, Texas. The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), and ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) are the investigative agencies.

Tymalk Quane Love; Anthony Ward Irving; Casey Joe Eastwood. Drug Conspiracy (counts 1-2); Importation of a Controlled Substance- Fentanyl (count 3); Smuggling Goods Into the United States (count 4); Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility (counts 5-34); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (counts 35 and 36) (3rd superseding). From approximately January 2018 through February 2019, Love, 30, of Tulsa; Irving, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona; and Eastwood, 34, of Purdy, Missouri, conspired to distribute heroin and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (count 1). According to the indictment, Love organized the conspiracy using contraband cell phones from inside the Oklahoma Department of Corrections where he was an inmate. Other members of the conspiracy allegedly included a “Facilitator” who purchased drugs from bulk distributors and sold the drugs to mid-level drug dealers; a “Broker,” defendant Irving, who helped connect Love and the Facilitator with bulk distributors in Arizona; and a “Distributor,” defendant Eastwood, who bought drugs from the facilitator. Love profited by selling drugs to mid-level drug dealers at higher prices than what Love had paid the wholesaler.

     Love is further charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl (count 2); importing/smuggling fentanyl into the United States (count 3 and 4); using a cell phone to direct his illicit drug operation (counts 5-27); and possessing a Taurus 9 mm pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes on Jan. 31, 2018 and Feb. 7, 2019 (Count 35-36). Finally, Eastwood is charged with using a cell phone as part of the drug conspiracy (counts 28-34). The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Ryan Glen McClain. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country. McClain, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of assault. On Sept. 10, 2020, McClain allegedly assaulted an intimate partner by striking and wounding her. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Fernando Moreno. Possession of Cocaine With Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes; Possession of a Firearm by Alien Illegally in the United States. Moreno, age unknown, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute, one for cocaine and the second for methamphetamine. Moreno is also charged with being an illegal alien unlawfully possessing an Anderson AR-15, .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle and using that rifle during his drug trafficking crimes. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), ICE-Entry and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Michael Eugene Patterson. Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country. Patterson, 35, of Tulsa, on Jan. 11, 2020, broke into a home by breaking the door down with the intent to commit burglary. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Robert William Perry II. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country. Perry, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of child sexual abuse. From May 6, 2017 to May 15, 2018, Perry knowingly engaged in sexual acts and sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Zachary Thomas Price. Stalking in Indian Country. Price, 20, of Tulsa, from April 1, 2020 to Aug. 23, 2020 engaged in behavior intended to injure, harass, intimidate, and cause substantial emotional threat to two other males and their family members. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Timothy Alfred Reed Jr. Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. Reed, 49, of Mounds, on November 6, 2018, killed another male by striking him with a vehicle while allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine. The FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies.

Cain Reyes-Cruz. Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. Cruz, 42, an alien, was found in the United States after having been deported on March 14, 2013, near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Entry and Removal Operations is the investigative agency.

Darryl Lamont Sanders. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Sanders, 54, allegedly kidnapped a female victim on Jan. 30, 2020. Sanders then allegedly proceeded to rape the victim and threaten her with serious bodily injury or death. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Lakota Ray Scott. Domestic Assault by Strangulation in Indian Country; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country. Scott, 33, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting her girlfriend by strangling and suffocating the victim and then assaulting her with a television on March 16, 2016. 

     Robbery in Indian Country; Larceny of a Motor Vehicle in Indian Country. In a separate indictment, Scott is also charged with using violence and intimidation to steal a pick-up truck on Jan. 31, 2019. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies in both indictments.

Devin Charles Staller (superseding indictment). Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country; Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country; Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country. Staller, 23, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Montgomery Ward Savage 16 gauge pump-action shotgun. Staller is an 8-time convicted felon. Further, Staller is charged with assaulting a female victim by cutting her with a knife. Staller is also charged with two counts of burglary. He allegedly broke into two homes, one where no one was present and the other when the home owner was present and Staller was armed with a knife. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is the investigative agency.

Ernie Wayne Standing Soldier Jr. (written as Standingsoldier in the indictment). Assault of an Intimate Partner and Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle or Suffocate in Indian Country; Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner and Dating Partner in Indian Country. Standing Soldier Jr., 35, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting an intimate partner and by strangulation on Feb. 20, 2020. He is also charged with breaking into the victim’s home with intent to commit a crime. Finally on March 16, 2020, Standing Soldier Jr. is alleged to have punched the victim in the face and attempted to strangle her. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies.

Jeremy Ryan Wetch (superseding indictment). Stalking; Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Wetch, 33, of Akron, Colorado, traveled to Tulsa on Oct. 12, 2018, with the intent to harass and intimidate another individual, causing substantial emotional stress. Wetch is further charged with unlawfully using marijuana and knowingly possessing a Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum caliber revolver, a Beretta .22LR caliber pistol, a Beretta .45 Auto caliber pistol, and various types of ammunition. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.

Shane McClearan Wright. Attempted Possession of Heroin With Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin With Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Wright, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with possession of heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Further, Wright is charged with knowingly maintaining a residence for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and Tulsa Police Department are  the investigative agencies.

Damion Lamons Zachery. Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Burglary in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. (superseding indictment) Zachary, 28, of Tulsa, and others, collectively referred to as “the conspirators,” agreed to commit the following crimes. On March 31, 2020, they allegedly broke into the home of an individual, threatened the occupants with a firearm, and demanded property and money from those residing in the home. The conspirators allegedly used gang affiliation to intimidate the occupants and force them to comply. During this time, one of the conspirators put a firearm to the head of a female juvenile present in the home. They proceeded to steal the occupants’ personal property, including but not limited to a wallet containing identification, money and credit cards as well as a PlayStation console and controllers. When a neighbor arrived at the home, he was threatened and chased from the residence by the conspirators. After committing these alleged crimes, the conspirators fled together in a black SUV. Zachary is also charged with being a felon in possession of a Zastava Arms 7.62x39mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol and various kinds of ammunition. The FBI is the investigative agency.

 U.S. Attorney Trent Shores today announced more than $1.6 million in Department of Justice grants are being awarded to improve services for crime victims in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of $144 million distributed throughout the United States to enhance the response to victims of crime.

“The Department of Justice is steadfast in its commitment to protecting public safety and bringing justice to those who have been victimized,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The investments we are making today will support service providers as they work to secure the legal rights of victims and put survivors of criminal acts on the road to recovery.”

The awards made to organizations in the Northern District of Oklahoma will advance the use of technology, improve community preparedness and law enforcement training and provide emergency and transitional shelter to assist victims of crime. Programs will also support victims of child abuse and fund research projects related to perpetrators and victims of elder abuse. Approximately $64.3 million was awarded under Office for Victims of Crime grant programs; over $54.1 million was awarded under Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention programs; over $19.9 million was awarded under Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking grant programs; and nearly $5.7 million was awarded under two National Institute of Justice grant programs.

“My hope is that these grants will support and enable our law enforcement partners and victim advocates to fulfill their public safety mission. The collective work they do is critical for crime victims and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “These grants will provide restorative resources for victims of crime and their families so that they may begin the healing process and reclaim their lives. Funding is also being awarded to strengthen sex offender registration programs.”

“As lockdowns and lawlessness fuel crime in America’s homes and communities, more people are vulnerable to victimization and those who have been victimized face new hurdles,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving our victim service partners the tools they need to better serve their clients and protect victims’ rights.”

The following organizations in the Northern District of Oklahoma received funding to enhance their responses to victims of crime:

Receiving grants for emergency shelter and transitional housing for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking and their companion animals is:

• Delaware Tribe of Indians: $399,989

The Adam Walsh Act program provides funding to assist jurisdictions with developing or enhancing programs designed to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. SORNA was enacted to provide a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States.  In the Northern District of Oklahoma, the following entities are receiving funding for this program:

• Muscogee (Creek) Nation: $399,985
• Miami Tribe of Oklahoma: $213,755
• Oklahoma Department of Corrections: $399,047

Finally, the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma received $250,000 in continuation funding to provide services to Tribal children and youth who are victimized as the result of the opioid crisis.

Other Oklahoma entities receiving grant funding are the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City.

For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ovcvictimsfactsheet.pdf.

In addition to the grants listed above, OJP awarded nearly $101 million in funding to combat human trafficking and provide vital services to trafficking victims throughout the United States. For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive this funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ovchumantraffickingfactsheet.pdf.

More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

A Tulsa man pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Wesley Scott Stonebarger, 37, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy before Chief U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell. Stonebarger admitted that from October 2019 to February 2020, he conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine to others who then redistributed the drug to third parties in the Northern District of Oklahoma.

“Methamphetamine and fentanyl are two of the most notorious killers of our time. They wreak havoc through addiction and death. This drug dealer had both at the time of his arrest,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Sadly, methamphetamine remains the most widely abused illicit drug in Oklahoma, and we are seeing more and more fentanyl being trafficked into our communities. Thanks to the interdiction efforts of federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations, we were able to stop this dope from making it to the streets.”

“Homeland Security Investigations special agents will always partner with law enforcement agencies across Oklahoma and around the globe to arrest drug traffickers who pose a significant public safety risk to our communities. Anyone that distributes dangerous substances, such as methamphetamine, that destroys countless lives to make a profit has no place in our society, said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge, HSI Dallas. “Countering these type of threats is a top priority for HSI, and we are committed to holding those who take advantage of vulnerable consumers fully accountable.”

During a law enforcement operation, agents suspected that Stonebarger received methamphetamine and fentanyl from sources outside the Northern District of Oklahoma and that he received some deliveries through the U.S. Postal Service. Agents learned that Stonebarger was wanted on a series of warrants and arrested him on Dec. 19, 2019.

Chief Judge Dowdell set sentencing for Jan. 7, 2021.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case. AUSA McCormick serves as the lead attorney for the United States Attorney’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

The initial indictment press release can be found here.

Today, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 500 domestic violence cases involving firearms during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. A Department priority since 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr created the Department of Justice’s first-ever Domestic Violence Working Group, these charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made domestic violence firearms-related investigations a priority.

“Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminal offenders is one of the Department of Justice’s top priorities,” said Attorney General Barr. “This is especially important when it comes to individuals with prior domestic violence convictions. The statistics are clear that when domestic violence offenders have access to guns, their partners and their families are at much greater risk of falling victim to gun violence. In fact, in some communities across America, roughly half of the homicides are related to domestic violence. The Department of Justice is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them, and we will continue investigating and prosecuting all domestic violence firearms related crimes.”

“According to the CDC, data suggests that about one in six homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner,” said ATF Acting Director Lombardo. “Nearly half of female homicide victims in the U.S. are killed by a current or former male intimate partner. ATF is committed to aggressively pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and certain protective orders. It is another way we prevent violent gun crime within our communities.”

Of the more than 500 cases charged in FY2020, eight domestic violence-related firearms cases have been brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma, one resulting in the death of the victim, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, member of the Attorney General’s Domestic Violence Working group.

In August and September, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also charged 10 additional defendants in domestic violence cases not involving firearms, some resulting in homicide. Charges include assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault by strangling or suffocating, kidnapping and more.

“Domestic violence prosecutions are akin to homicide prevention. We owe it to victims of domestic violence to dedicate all available resources to stop habitual offenders and break the cycle of violence. Firearms are used in more than half of all intimate partner homicides in the United States, and that’s one area where my office can focus our prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Bottom line, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focused on keeping guns out of the hands of perpetrators with domestic violence convictions. We do this by prosecuting these abusers when they possess a firearm or ammunition, thus taking them out of the home so victims can feel safe and seek essential services to help them move forward.”

Under federal law, individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions, as well as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders, are prohibited from possessing firearms. The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a high risk of homicide. In fact, domestic violence abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners.

The Working Group, chaired by U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox, of the Northern District of Texas, disseminates legal guidance on keeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers using three federal statutes:

•          18 USC § 922 (g)(1), felon in possession of a firearm

•          18 USC § 922 (g)(9), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (misdemeanor crime of domestic violence) 

•          18 USC § 922 (g)(8), possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence protective order

Based on the Working Group’s guidance, in FY 2020, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide brought 337 domestic violence felon-in-possession charges, 54 possession while subject to a protective order charges, and 142 possession by a prohibited person charges.

For more information on domestic violence or to get help, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

A man who robbed two Tulsa banks, claiming to have a bomb and firearms, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Thomas Lawrence Dean, 51, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery using a dangerous weapon, conveying false information on hoaxes, and being a felon in possession of a .38 Special revolver and associated ammunition. According to the plea agreement, the United States and the defendant agreed to a sentence of 12 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell will make the final sentencing determination at a hearing set for Jan. 5, 2021.

“Think about being the bank teller who was handed a note by a robber threatening to have a bomb or to go on a killing spree. What a terrifying experience. Thankfully, the FBI and Tulsa Police teamed up to investigate the bank robbery and arrested Thomas Dean,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I am pleased to see Mr. Dean admit his guilt and accept responsibility for his actions, and I am thankful for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Raley who pursued justice for the victims in this case.”

In his plea agreement, Dean admitted to robbing an International Bank of Commerce (IBC) on July 1, 2019. Dean stated that he disguised himself and carried a black bag containing an apparatus that looked like an explosive device. According to court documents, Dean approached a teller and handed her a note demanding money. In the note, Dean indicated that he was in possession of a bomb and firearm. He left the bank with a total of $500 then discarded the black bag with the fake explosive device and two BB guns inside.

On July 10, 2019, Dean also robbed an Arvest Bank, handing the teller a note that stated, “This is a robbery….Don’t make this a killing spree.” Dean also indicated in the note that he had a firearm. The defendant left the bank with $1,250 but was later located by Tulsa Police Officers.

The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Raley is prosecuting the case. AUSA Raley is the National Security Anti-Terrorism (ATAC) Prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Trentin Anton Richardson, 20, of Beggs, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to one count of robbery and another count of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S.  Attorney Trent Shores.

“The Justice Department is reducing violent crime here in Tulsa and all across America. We’re doing that through our partnerships with local and federal law enforcement. Armed robber Trentin Richardson made a bad decision when he robbed a local store and discharged a gun in the process. Patrons feared for their lives. Now, he is facing the consequence for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

On June 4, 2020, Richardson used a Ruger semi-automatic pistol to rob a Dollar General in Sapulpa. Richardson, wearing a mask and gloves, entered the store, locked the door, fired one round into the ceiling, and ordered everyone inside to get on the ground. He then took money from the register and safe along with money and cell phones belonging to customers. Richardson was apprehended by officers shortly after he exited the store.

The Sapulpa Police Department, Creek County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case.

Three defendants made initial appearances in federal court Tuesday after being charged with the sex trafficking of children, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

Dominique Laron Morgan, 25, of Tulsa; Rontaysha Leann Cox, 26, of Wichita, Kansas; and Treveon Marquise Cato, 22, of Tulsa, were charged in an August indictment, which was unsealed yesterday after their initial appearances.

The trio allegedly recruited, enticed, harbored, and advertised a minor to participate in sexual activity, profiting from her exploitation. Advertisements for the teenager were discovered on a website promoting prostitution and soliciting sex acts in exchange for money.

“The targeted trafficking and exploitation of minors is despicable. I am dismayed that our community continues to see child sex trafficking ventures in operation, and I am sickened that there is a customer-base for such a venture to even exist. We must target the supply and demand,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “My office will do everything we can to protect our children from harm and exploitation. We will do so in partnership with agencies like the Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, who are indispensable in these types of investigations.”

Two of the defendants face additional charges. Morgan is further charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.  Cox is also charged with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

The Tulsa Police Department Vice-Human Trafficking Unit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Snow is prosecuting the case.

 A woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for embezzling $823,714 from her Tulsa employer. Leslie Michelle Clark, 53, of Tulsa, previously pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud on June 10.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Clark to 33 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. He further ordered Clark to pay $823, 714 in restitution to her former employer.

 “The U.S. Attorney’s Office white collar prosecution team won’t stand idly by while thieves like Leslie Clark embezzle from Oklahoma businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Fraudsters in this district can expect to find themselves in a federal courtroom and then in federal prison. On top of that, Leslie Clark will have to pay back the more than $800,000 of ill-gotten gains she embezzled.”

Clark was hired as a financial controller at a Tulsa company in 2014. As controller, she supervised all financial matters, including contracting, billing and paying vendors. In July 2018, Clark created a fictitious consulting company, opened an account for it, and caused her employer to pay for fabricated services never rendered. Clark falsely and fraudulently told colleagues at the company that the payments were for consulting services and presented false and fraudulent invoices from her fictitious company in support of her scheme.

Clark will report to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility on Jan. 6, 2021.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella prosecuted the case.

A man who robbed five Tulsa and Sand Springs businesses was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 300 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

John Michael McIntosh, 23, of Tulsa, will serve an additional five years on supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell further ordered McIntosh to pay $1,127.25 in restitution. 

“Let it be known that we will aggressively prosecute gun toting robbers like John McIntosh and seek lengthy federal prison sentences. After robbing five businesses in the Tulsa metro-area, McIntosh earned every day of his 25-year sentence,”  said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “The credit goes to our law enforcement partners and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Morgan and Robert Raley who collectively performed great work to bring McIntosh to justice.”“

On Nov. 1, 2019, McIntosh pleaded guilty to five counts of obstructing, delaying, and affecting commerce by robbery and three counts of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

In his plea agreement, McIntosh admitted that he robbed a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Sand Springs on Feb. 17, 2019; a Waters Liquor Store in Tulsa on Feb. 19, 2019; and a Liquor Mart in Tulsa on Feb. 21, 2019. He further admitted to robbing two QuikTrips, located in Tulsa and in Sand Springs, on Feb. 23. In all the robberies, McIntosh threatened employees while brandishing a handgun. During one of the robberies, the defendant pointed a gun at the cashier and demanded money from the register, threatening to “blow her f***ing face off” if she didn’t comply.

The Sand Springs and Tulsa Police Departments and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark R. Morgan and Robert T. Raley prosecuted the case.