Northern District of Oklahoma

TULSA, Okla. – The U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Marco Dionte Atkins and his mother, Sidney Brook Mayfield, after a jury found them guilty in September.

“Atkins acted recklessly and violently when he shot at someone outside of an occupied business, where children were present,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “After being arrested, Atkins and his mother relentlessly campaigned against witnesses, trying to evade being held accountable for their actions. I commend law enforcement for their hard work in pursuing justice.”

In Nov. 2023, Sidney Mayfield pulled into a convenience store directly across the street from a high school. Five teenagers were in the car, including Marco Atkins, Mayfield’s then 18-year-old son. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, were seen entering the store on video surveillance. After a few minutes inside the store, a verbal altercation began between the teens and the victim. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, left the store. The teens continued to argue with the victim outside. The video shows Atkins inside the vehicle, firing multiple rounds toward the victim, eventually hitting him in the stomach. Mayfield then sped off.

Shortly after Atkins was arrested in January 2024, Mayfield and Atkins began tampering with witnesses, obstructing the investigation, and commenting publicly about retaliation. Atkins’ original trial was set to begin in June of 2024 but was forced to be continued due to their obstruction and witness tampering. After the trial was continued in June, evidence showed Mayfield ranting on social media about a witness being a “snitch,” announcing the witness's full name and where the family resided. In the video played for the jury, Mayfield stated that she would “kill anybody” that went against her or her son and that she would “ride with Marco until the [explicit] wheels fell off.” Shortly after she posted that video, Mayfield was indicted and arrested, and Atkins was charged with additional counts.    

Atkins, 19, was sentenced to 180 months, followed by five years of supervised release. He was found guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

Mayfield, 39, was sentenced to 70 months, followed by three years of supervised release. She was found guilty of Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant; Corruptly Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and False Declaration Before a Grand Jury.

They were both found guilty of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion and Corruptly Obstructing the Due Administration of Justice.

Atkins and Mayfield are citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. They will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jeannie Rene Romero, 25, for Child Abuse and Child Neglect in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Jeannie to serve 60 months, followed by five years of supervised release.

In October 2022, Jeannie was taking care of her three-week-old baby. While changing the baby's diaper, Jeannie admittedly used unreasonable force, breaking the baby’s femur in half. She failed to seek medical attention for more than 48 hours. Doctors noted that the baby had additional injuries consistent with abuse.

In June, Judge Hill sentenced Jeannie’s husband, Jacob Alejandro Romero, 24, for Child Neglect in Indian County. Jacob was at work when the abuse occurred. However, the infant's injury was noticeable, and he failed to seek help. Judge Hill ordered Jacob to serve 24 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

The baby and its sibling were removed from the home and placed in the care of the family members. Jeannie and the baby are citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.  

Jeannie will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Jacob was previously released on bond and taken into custody following his sentencing in June. 

The FBI and Sapulpa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Ihler prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa woman was sentenced today for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Alexis Danielle Flanner, 26, to 240 months followed by five years of supervised release.

In July 2022, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched for shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found Estrella Mendoza, deceased from a gunshot wound. Officers watched security footage that showed Flanner and Estrella enter the store together. After the pair left the store, Estrella was seen crawling away from Flanner before she collapsed. Flanner was seen fleeing the scene.

A witness stated that he tried to help Estrella. Before going unconscious, Estrella said that Flanner shot her. Officers went to Flanner’s residence, where they found the vehicle she left in that had fresh blood splatter and the firearm used.

Flanner told officers that she was mad at her sister-in-law, Estrella because she would not return her marijuana grinder. 

Flanner is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Jolly and Valeria Luster prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Lucas Anthony Walker, 22, for two counts of Second Degree Murder in Indian County. Judge Russell ordered Walked to serve 420 months for each count, followed by five years of supervised release.

In January 2023, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies began investigating the disappearance of Deborah and Larry Dutton. After searching the Dutton’s home, deputies found Deborah and Larry deceased in a shallow grave in the backyard. Walker confessed to shooting and stabbing Deborah and stabbing Larry to death.

Walker is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.

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.

Bradley Andrew Friend. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Friend, 40, of Oologah, is charged with enticing and persuading a minor child to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with producing, possessing, receiving, and distributing materials that depict the sexual abuse of children. The Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-013

Gary Syd Goldberg. Possession of Child Pornography. Goldberg, 76, of Mannford, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Mannford Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-253

Shawn Ray Murnan. Bank Fraud (Counts 1 through 4); False Statements (Counts 5 through 8); Unlawful Monetary Transactions (Counts 9 through 14). Murnan, 56, of Windemere, Florida, is charged with fraudulently submitting 14 applications on behalf of his various businesses seeking more than $2.7 million in CARES Act Funds. Of those applications, Murnan received more than $1.6 million in PPP and EIDL loans. After receiving CARES Act funds, Murnan requested loan forgiveness. More than $1.3 million was forgiven. Two of the PPP loans were funded by a bank located within the NDOK. Each application submitted by Murnan contained false representations and inaccurate accounting regarding employees' wages, including that he owned no other businesses. The FRB-CFPB Office of the Inspector General, the SBA Office of the Inspector General, and TIGTA are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Whipple and Cheryl Baber are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-014

Xavion Eugene Paggett. Attempted Bank Robbery; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Paggett, 24, of Broken Arrow, is charged with using a firearm to rob a bank in Nov. 2024. He is further charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-012

Anthony Clay Russell. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (superseding). Russell, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with maliciously killing Tasha Shepard on Oct. 22, 2024. He is further charged with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and intentionally assaulting a second victim with a dangerous weapon. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-365

Marcos Javier Suazo-Otero; Marcos Javier Suazo-Mancilla. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 and 3); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Count 4); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 5 and 6); Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (Count 7); Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 8); Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms (Count 9) (superseding). Suazo-Otero, 46, and Suazo-Mancilla, 23, both Mexican nationals, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 2024 through Nov. 2024. They are further charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Suazo-Otero knowingly possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Aug. 2018. Lastly, Suazo-Mancilla knowingly possessed cocaine with intent to distribute, possessed firearms while drug trafficking, and knowingly did so while being an alien illegally in the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-397

TULSA, Okla. – Previously convicted by a jury in July, Adam Joseph King, was sentenced today for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country.

U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced King, 36, to life imprisonment on both counts.

“King took advantage of a child entrusted in his care and continues to show no remorse for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The only way to stop someone like King and protect the community is by giving him a lengthy prison sentence.”

“The victim in the case was just eight years old when King began abusing her. Despite the trauma she endured, she found the courage to tell her story in court, and as a result this dangerous predator will now live behind bars where he can never harm another child,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Her resilience is a powerful reminder of why we do this work – to protect the most vulnerable members of our community and hold violent offenders accountable for their crimes.”

Evidence presented to the jury showed that King repeatedly sexually abused his girlfriend's child from age eight through eleven years old. King exploited the child that was in his care and warned the victim not to tell.

The child victim testified about the sexual abuse she received and eventually reported the abuse to a school counselor. Experts further testified that the evidence collected from King’s bedroom matched the DNA of the child victim.

The investigation showed that King and his girlfriend, the victim's mother, denied any wrongdoing by King. Once the investigation began, the minor victim and sibling were removed from the home and placed in the custody of their grandparents, where they have remained.

The minor victim is a tribal citizen. King will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI, the Catoosa Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Matthew Cyran prosecuted the case.

If you want to make a report of child sexual exploitation, you can use the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Flint Donavan Luster, 36, was convicted of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

“This investigation shows the collaborative effort of law enforcement working together to keep the citizens in our communities safe by keeping drugs off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

In September 2023, Luster was pulled over by a Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation. The deputy learned the truck was stolen and took Luster into custody. Upon search of the truck, deputies found more than 400 grams of methamphetamine inside.

Evidence presented at trial showed a search warrant was conducted on Luster's home. Law enforcement found cash, scales, firearms, and additional methamphetamine. 

Luster will remain in federal custody pending sentencing at a later date.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Payne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Attila Bogdan prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, a federal jury convicted Denzil Austin Berryman, 38, of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country and Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country.

“The victim courageously testified about this horrible act against her,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to thank her and the prosecution team for bringing Mr. Berryman to justice.”

In June 2023, Berryman was with the victim at her apartment. Berryman became enraged when he saw that the victim had gummy bears that he believed were a gift from someone else. The victim testified that Berryman began screaming at her, punched the bedroom door, broke several electronics in the apartment, and threatened to harm her cat.

The victim further described that Berryman forced her into the bedroom and began sexually assaulting her. When the victim said no and asked Berryman to stop, he proceeded to strangle her. After passing out, the victim woke to Berryman forcibly raping her.

Berryman is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Previously released on bond, Berryman was taken into custody, pending sentencing at a later date.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Stephen Scaife prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.

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.

Vincent Delmarco Berry; Mateaka Mignon Mansker; Jessica Janay Baldwin; Michael Ray Crawley. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Berry, 35, of McAlester; Mansker, 31, of Broken Arrow; Baldwin, 41, of Hartshorne; and Crawley, 46, of McAlester, are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Additionally, Mansker, Baldwin, and Crawley are charged with possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The FBI, McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the Inspector General – Department of Corrections are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-005

Henry Jose Flores Mayorga. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Mayorga, 44, a Nicaragua national, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was illegally in the United States. Further, Mayorga possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute. The U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-004

Kolton Austyn Gene McAnally. Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country (superseding). McAnally, 22, of Vinita and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol and killing Madison Barnes in Feb. 2024. He is also charged with assault for causing serious bodily injury to another victim. The FBI, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Flynn and Matthew Cyran are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-324

TULSA, Okla. – Today, William Shane Garrow, 49, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Bank Fraud and Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return.

Garrow was hired by the Bank of Oklahoma in August 2007 and promoted to Senior Vice President. He served as a financial advisor and provided investment and banking services to wealthy banking clients until he was terminated in March 2024.

From September 2012 through April 2024, Garrow admitted to stealing from at least 16 client accounts. Garrow fraudulently transferred funds or issued cashier checks without authorization and consent from his clients and then deposited those funds into accounts that he controlled at other financial institutions. Garrow did not report this extra income to the IRS and falsified his true taxable income.

Garrow further admitted that his actions were wrong and that the funds were used to pay for his lifestyle.

While Garrow is permitted to remain on bond, a federal district court judge will determine his sentence later after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FDIC-OIG, IRS Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case.

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves of the U.S. Court of International Trade concluded 10 years of litigation by awarding monetary damages for both conversion and trespass. Further, Judge Choe-Groves ordered the Defendants to remove the wind farm from the Osage Mineral Estate and return it to its pre-trespass condition on or before December 1, 2025.

“This case demonstrates our commitment to preserving and defending tribal sovereignty,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “As Judge Choe-Groves emphasized, injury to the Osage sovereignty cannot be condoned or suffered. The Defendants disregarded cease-and-desist instructions with willful and wrongful intent.”

The Osage Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe and the Osage Reservation was originally established in 1872. In 1906, Congress enacted the Osage Act, severing the surface estate from the mineral estate in Osage County. The Osage Mineral Estate was placed in a trust for the benefit of the Osage Nation. With approval from the Secretary of Interior, the Act allowed the Osage Nation to issue leases for all oil, gas, and other minerals with specific regulations applicable to non-oil and gas mining.

As trustee of the Osage Mineral Estate (OME), the United States is charged with its administration and protection, authorized to litigate on behalf of the OME to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities of protecting its resources and maximizing economic benefit to its beneficiaries.

The Osage Minerals Council (OMC) is an independent agency within the Osage Nation, established by the Osage Nation Constitution. The OMC has several responsibilities, including the negotiation of leases for the development and extraction of minerals from the OME.

Beginning in 2010, Enel leased approximately 8,400 acres of surface rights in Osage County, Oklahoma to construct a wind farm (Osage Wind) ultimately completing 84 wind turbines and associate infrastructure. The excavation for 82 turbine involved explosives to create craters over 10 feet deep and 60 feet wide to install reinforced concrete foundations. Significant amounts of Osage minerals were engineered and used as backfill for, and positioned around, the wind turbine foundations.

In November 2014, the United States commenced this litigation by seeking a declaratory judgment, an injunction, and monetary damages for the unauthorized mining and excavation into the Osage Mineral Estate (OME), without a lease, by Defendants Osage Wind, LLC; Enel Kansas, LLC; and Enel Green Power North America, Inc. (collectively Enel). The United States brought two declaratory judgement claims and additional claims for conversion, trespass, and continuing trespass of the OME.

Judge Choe-Groves found Defendants liable for all five of these claims in December 2023. A non-jury damages trial lasted for eight days in May 2024 regarding monetary damages. As reimbursement for the lengthy prosecution of the case, the United States and the Osage Minerals Council received a substantial judgement for attorneys’ fees and costs.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cathryn D. McClanahan, Nolan M. Fields, IV, and attorneys from the U.S. Department of the Interior-Office of the Field Solicitor, Charles R. Babst, Jr., and Stuart P. Ashworth.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.

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.

Terrance Frank Buffalomeat. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Simple Assault. Buffalomeat, 20, of Hominy and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with breaking into Midwest Wraps with intent to steal. He is further charged with assaulting a victim. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goodrum is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-392

Mark Verron Callshim, Jr. Robbery in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (superseding). Callshim, 37, of Tulsa and a member of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, is charged with taking something of value by force, violence, and intimidation. He is further charged with brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-159

Tony Deanglio Davis. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Davis, 50, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-393

Keith Edward Enyart; Jennifer Barger Enyart. Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 1 & 4); Child Abuse in Indian Country (Counts 2 & 5); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Count 3). Keith Enyart, 52, a member of the Wyandotte Nation, and Jennifer Enyart, 44, of Wyandotte, are charged with willfully failing to provide appropriate medical care and supervision to protect a child under their care. They both are charged with willfully harming the safety and welfare of the minor victim. Jennifer is additionally charged with intentionally assaulting the minor child by tasing his testicles. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-394

Sarai Jamila Nyasha Freeman. Passing and Uttering Counterfeit Obligations and Securities (Counts 1 & 2); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 3 & 4); Failure to Appear (Count 5) (superseding). Freeman, 40, of Aurora, Colorado, is charged with forging and cashing counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks. She is further charged with using the victim's last name and social security number without lawful authority. Additionally, Freeman failed to appear for trial, knowing she was required under the conditions of her pretrial release. The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Treasury Inspector General are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-220

Grant Stephen Goers. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (Counts 1, 3, & 4); Production of Child Pornography (Count 2). Goers, 23, of Greenwood, Arkansas, is charged with knowingly persuading and enticing three separate minor victims under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with enticing a minor victim to produce sexually explicit material. Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa Police Department, the Sand Springs Police Department, and the Tahlequah Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-395

Diana May Harjo. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Harjo, 39, of Tulsa and a member of the Sac and Fox Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim, which resulted in serious bodily injury. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-403

Ricky Troy Juarez. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Juarez, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with unlawfully killing Shane Thompson, Sr., with malice aforethought. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-404

Jose Jesus Lozano-Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Lozano-Gonzalez, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2022. Further, Lozano-Gonzalez unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies in Oklahoma. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-374

Stuwart Raymon Owens. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Owens, 39, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-405

Rudi Reyes-Rosales. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Reyes-Rosales, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2021. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-396

Kyle Thomas Smith. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Smith, 33, of Claremore, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-406

Ryan Blake Still. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Still, 33, transient, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from June 2024 through July 2024 after previously being convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in 
Indian County in 2021. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-407

Marcos Javier Suazo-Otero; Marcos Javier Suazo-Mancilla. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Suazo-Otero, 46, and Suazo-Mancilla, 23, both Mexican nationals, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 2024 through Nov. 2024. They are further charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Suazo-Otero knowingly possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Aug. 2018. Lastly, Suazo-Mancilla knowingly possessed cocaine with intent to distribute and possessed firearms while drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-397

Aristride Villatoro-Izaguirre. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Villatoro-Izaguirre, 32, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2018. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goodrum is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-398

TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Antonio Jerome Colbert, 37, a member of the Osage Nation, of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Carrying, Using, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

“I commend the witnesses and officers for reacting quickly to intervene on behalf of this woman. Without them, Colbert would not be held accountable for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This case exemplifies the effectiveness of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the federal initiative that brings together law enforcement for intervention and accountability.”

In September 2024, several witnesses called 911, reporting they heard yelling, a gunshot, or witnessed a man assaulting a woman. Tulsa Police officers responded to the shots fired call. Upon arrival, officers observed an SUV parked on the sidewalk with open doors. Officers immediately took Colbert into custody, and he adamantly denied any wrongdoing. 

One witness testified that they heard a lot of yelling and looked over the fence to see what was happening. He observed a woman walking down the sidewalk when an SUV crossed the ditch, driving towards the woman. Colbert barely missed the woman and got out of the vehicle, yelling at her. The witness saw Colbert pull a handgun and shoot at the woman. Colbert’s shot missed the woman, and in his fit of rage, he began assaulting her. Body camera evidence presented to the jury showed the woman was visibly shaken, crying, and in need of intervention.

Despite a witness reportedly seeing Colbert shot at the woman, Colbert claimed he did not have a firearm and denied shooting at the woman. After a search of the vehicle that Colbert was driving, officers found a loaded handgun wedged in the seat. The officer who recovered the firearm testified that the handgun was jammed with a shell casing that failed to eject. 

Further, the investigation revealed that Colbert was knowingly convicted of other felonies that prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, two men were sentenced for separate acts of domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Terrance DuJuan Reed, 23, of Tulsa, for Cyberstalking. He was ordered to 60 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Further, Reed was ordered to have no contact with the victim or her husband.

In 2021, Reed was convicted of assaulting and strangling the same victim, who is the mother of his children. At the time of this offense, the victim had a five-year protective order against Reed. While in the process of being released from prison, Reed violated that order and began threatening, harassing, and intimidating the victim.    

Judge Hill also sentenced Joshua Price, IV, 27, of Edmond, for Cyberstalking. While Price was detained, he admitted to harassing and threatening the victim. He was ordered to serve 60 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Price was ordered to have no contact with the victim, directly or indirectly, and to stay more than 100 yards away from her.

Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate and can happen to anyone in various ways. To learn more about signs of domestic violence and what to look for, how to make a plan, or get help, you can text “START” to 88788, or call 1-800-799-SAFE.  

Reed and Price will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and the Creek County Sheriff’s Office investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Attila Bogdan and Matthew P. Cyran prosecuted the cases.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson, City of Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, and Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen proudly announced a $2.5M grant from the National Sexual Kit Initiative. 

The grant will allow the Tulsa Police Department to continue working on the prosecution of unsolved sexual assault cases. This is critical to enhancing the response to sexual assaults and ensuring justice for victims. This funding will not only help link victims with advocates and services but also help implement best practices to prosecute offenders and increase public safety.

The National Sexual Kit Initiative is finding that a significant number of people who have committed multiple violent sexual assaults are being linked to other unsubmitted kits. Not only are those people committing sexual assaults, but they are frequently responsible for homicides and other violent offenses.

“This essential funding allows victims of sexual assault to receive long-awaited justice,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My hope is that this grant will enable the Tulsa Police Department to reopen unsolved cases and help the survivors of sexual assault move forward with closure.”

“Even with the strides made by the Tulsa Police Department in recent years to address cold cases and previously untested rape kits, there is more work to be done as we seek to do right by our neighbors and for the victims of these senseless crimes,” Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “I spent my career in the legislature working to ensure we ended the backlog on rape kit testing and I’m committed to doing so as mayor. Having the funding to be able to continue this testing will help us solve some of the most underreported crimes in Tulsa and make sure victims get the justice they deserve while removing these predators off our streets. I’m thankful for the U.S. Department of Justice for its help in making this a funding priority, and I’m eager to work with the Tulsa Police Department as we set the bar high and do all that we can to combat sexually based crimes in our community.”

Chief Dennis Larsen said, "This $2.5 million grant from the Department of Justice is a critical step forward in our commitment to justice for sexual assault survivors. It will enable us to process backlogged kits, potentially solve cold cases, and provide closure to victims who have waited far too long for answers. This funding not only supports our efforts to enhance the efficiency of our forensic services but also reinforces our resolve to ensure that no stone is left unturned in seeking justice."

In total, the Department of Justice, through its Office of Justice Programs, is awarding more than $4.4 billion in grants across the country. This funding will support state, local, and community-based efforts and evidence-based interventions that reduce violence, crime, and recidivism.

“BJA is pleased to award new SAKI funding to the city of Tulsa in support of its efforts to address unsubmitted sexual assault kits and to advance improvements in addressing sexually motivated crimes,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “This funding will prioritize the voices of victims and survivors, while providing essential resources to advance investigations into cold cases.”

More information about this award and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP FY24 Grant Awards site.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Bruce Mitchell Cass, 50, of Tulsa and citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, was convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

In July 2024, Tulsa Police Officers were dispatched to a shooting. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim, shot once in the abdomen. Medical personnel rendered aid and transported the victim to a local hospital for emergency surgery. Before surgery, the victim identified Cass as the shooter.

Witnesses testified that there was a heated dispute at the home earlier in the evening that led to someone being sprayed with wasp spray. Police officers were called, and a report of the incident was made. Witnesses further stated that later in the evening, Cass walked into the home wearing a mask and pointed a gun at several people, including a toddler, before he shot the victim once.

The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Jolly and Ammon Brisolara prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.

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.

Malachi Bernard Carson. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Carson, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with engaging in a sexual act by fear, force, and threat. Further, Carson allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a minor child under 16 years old. The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-377

Adrian Hatfield. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Hatfield, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Flynn is prosecuting the case. 
24-CR-378

Jordan Shay Ryan Kelly. Robbery in Indian Country. Kelly, 34, of Miami and a member of the Shawnee Tribe, is charged with taking property of value from another person by force, violence, and intimidation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Miami Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-379

Roberto Lopez Manuel. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Manuel, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Apr. 2015. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-380

Mario Albert Ordaz, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Ordaz, 49, of Riverbank, California, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-381

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Terrall Lamar Johnson, 33, for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Judge Heil ordered Johnson to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in July 2023, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers pulled over Johnson on US Highway 69 near Big Cabin. Johnson allowed troopers to search his vehicle. Once inside the vehicle, Troopers discovered suspected cocaine in six individually wrapped bundles. Further investigation revealed that the six bundles weighed 15.3 pounds and tested positive for cocaine.

Johnson will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Former District Chief Learning and Talent Officer sentenced today for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud after defrauding Tulsa Public Schools and the Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Devin Darel Fletcher, 40, to 30 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Further, Judge Hill ordered Fletcher to pay his victims a total $593,492.32 in restitution.

“Fletcher’s embezzlement was methodical and a complete abuse of power from a person in a position of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Simply put, there is no justification for his actions. This money could have funded several teachers' salaries, which would have directly benefited students.”

“The defendant betrayed the trust of the citizens of Tulsa and intentionally stole funds meant for the betterment of students,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The sentence imposed today holds him accountable for his actions and sends a message that abuse of power for personal gain is not acceptable to the American people.”

Fletcher began working for Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) in August 2016, until he resigned as the District’s Chief Learning and Talent Officer in June 2022. While employed, Fletcher was responsible for human resources and educational performance issues throughout TPS. Fletcher was entrusted with limited hiring and firing authority for specific personnel, including consultants, for whom he also had expenditure approval authority.

In October 2023, Fletcher pled guilty to devising a scheme to defraud TPS and the Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools. Fletcher, who holds a master’s degree in professional accounting, skillfully and deceitfully abused his authority. He created and altered fraudulent invoices, purchase orders, and supporting documentation. From August 2018 through March 2022, a co-conspirator received more than $448k in fraudulent payments for fake services. Even with a generous annual salary of $167k, Fletcher stole for himself an additional $137k during that time.

Fletcher was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for three counts of second-degree burglary and four counts of third-degree burglary in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Mark Alfred Foreman, 38, to 70 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hill further ordered Foreman to pay more than $3,200 in restitution.

Between 5 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on November 16, 2023, Foreman admitted to committing seven burglaries around Tulsa. Foreman broke into two homes and four vehicles using various destructive methods. His final stop that morning alerted Tulsa Police officers. When officers saw Foreman, they pursued him until he crashed into a fence. From there, he took off on foot and was ultimately found by a K-9 officer and detained.

During Foreman’s string of burglaries, his girlfriend was assisting him. She was detained later that day. The Tulsa County District Attorney’s office prosecuted and convicted her for her role in the burglaries.

Foreman is a citizen of Sac and Fox Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.

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.

Tony Eugene Bahe. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Bahe, 37, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl, cocaine, and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He allegedly possessed a firearm while drug trafficking and was previously convicted of felonies that prohibited possession of a firearm. Additionally, Bahe is charged for maintaining two separate residences for drug distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-364

Clinton Dewayne Collins. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Collins, 56, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Cyran is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-366

Wilmer Henry Cummings, Jr. Failure to Disclose an Event Affecting Supplemental Security Income Benefit Payments; Theft of Government Property. Cummings, 66, of Tulsa, is charged with intent to receive unauthorized payments by failing to disclose the death of a spouse. Cummings is further charged with stealing and disposing of more than $4k in unauthorized payments from the Social Security Administration and the IRS. The SSA Office of the Inspector General is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-357

Justin Scott Graham. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Graham, 42, of Jenks, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-362

Kial Deawuan Logan. Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Logan, 43, of Muskogee, is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-373

Jose Jesus Lozano-Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lozano-Gonzalez, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2022. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-374

Francisco Luevanos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Luevanos, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2018. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-375

Angel Ruiz-Mosqueda. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ruiz-Mosqueda, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Mar. 2017. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goodrum is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-376

Anthony Clay Russell. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Russell, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with maliciously killing Tasha Shepard on Oct. 22, 2024. He is further charged with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-365

Devin James Woodis. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Woodis, 23, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity. He is additionally charged with knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-358

Zane Patrick Yargee. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Causing Death by Using and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Yargee, 30, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with maliciously killing Dusten Fuentes in Jun. 2016. He is further charged with causing death by discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen N. Scaife and Dennis Fries is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-359

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Sunday Daniel Ganyo, 38, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and transportation of stolen property. Judge Hill ordered Ganyo to 84 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Ganyo was further order to pay $2,829,878.40 in restitution.

Ganyo was the organizer of an expansive cyber fraud scheme that targeted numerous companies throughout the United States. Ganyo used fictitious email addresses to impersonate actual officials at large companies and place orders with technology suppliers and other vendors. He would then redirect the shipments to South Africa where the stolen goods would be sold. Investigators uncovered this scheme after Ganyo placed an order with a Tulsa company worth more than $400,000 that was determined to be fraudulent mid-transit. FBI agents were able to intercept the package before it was redirected overseas and placed a tracking device in the shipment, which led to a warehouse controlled by Ganyo in South Africa. Court records show that Ganyo attempted to steal nearly 8 million dollars worth of products and ship them to South Africa and was successful in obtaining at least $2,329,144.40 worth of goods.

Ganyo, who was arrested in South Africa in January 2021 and extradited to the United States in July of 2023, pled guilty in November of 2023 and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Following completion of his sentence, he will be deported back to his home country of Nigeria.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners from the South African Police Service to secure the arrest and extradition of Ganyo. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar and Thomas Buscemi prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Thomas Edward Petro, 32, of Ashtabula, Ohio, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Petro shared sexually explicit messages, voice recordings, pictures, and videos of himself with a 13-year-old minor child. The evidence further showed that Petro solicited the minor to take sexually explicit photos of their body and send the photos to him.

The inappropriate relationship was discovered when the minor child told a friend. That friend told the school resource officer, who immediately contacted the principal and reported the incident to the FBI.

When the lead FBI agent testified, he confirmed that the minor child did disclose that they were only 13 years old. After going over all of the sexually explicit evidence in front of the jury, the agent also confirmed that Petro never asked the minor child to stop engaging in sexual activity.

The FBI and Adair Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Brandon and Scott Dunn prosecuted it.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Preston James Campbell for Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Campbell, 41, was previously convicted in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. After being released from prison in 2024, Campbell violated his supervised release after testing positive for methamphetamine, failing to report at drug treatment, and failing to report to the U.S. Probation office, resulting in two federal warrants issued for his arrest.

On July 1, 2024, the U.S. Marshals received a tip leading to Campbell’s location. Body camera video presented to the jury showed that when Marshals attempted to arrest Campbell, he ran towards a Deputy with a knife in his hand. The Deputy was able to block and deflect the knife, preventing serious injuries. Campbell further resisted and escaped into a wooded area. He was ultimately detained three weeks later.

Campbell is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He will remain detained while awaiting sentencing for assaulting the Deputy U.S. Marshal and the two pending revocation proceedings for his supervised release violations.

The U.S. Marshals, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, Bristow Police Department, and Kellyville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Jiang and Elliot Anderson prosecuted the case. 

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.

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.

Tayson Bautista-Ramos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Bautista-Ramos, 26, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Aug. 2020. The U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-351

Javier Lopez Canseco. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Canseco, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2024. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goodrum is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-349

Dakota Austin Clark. Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country (second superseding). Clark, 24, of Grove and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing visual images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including children under 12 years old. Clark is also charged with coercing and enticing a minor child under 18 years old to produce an image depicting sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, Clark attempted to engage in a sexual act with a minor child under 16 years old. The FBI and Grove Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-179

Brady Cort Dozier. Production of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Dozier, 21, of Collinsville, is charged with coercing a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce a visual depiction of the abuse. Additionally, Dozier received, possessed, and distributed visual depictions of minor children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-350

Jesus Alberto Sanchez Lugo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lugo, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Dec. 2016. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-345

Felipe Bautista Mora. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mora, 53, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Aug. 2002. The U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-352

Tanya Jo Purvis. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Purvis, 50, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Corrections, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-347

Ricardo Reza-Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Reza-Lopez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Aug. 2017. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-346

Yuri Patricia Martinez Rivera. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of a Fraudulent Immigration Document. Rivera, 22, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing she was unlawfully in the United States. Further, Rivera knowingly possessed counterfeit identification. The U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-348

Brendon Nicholas Thomas Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Thomas, 26, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with assaulting his dating partner by strangling her. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-355

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Byron Cordell Thomas, 37, of Wichita, Kansas, to 360 months imprisonment, followed by 12 years of supervised release.

In August of 2023, a jury found Thomas guilty of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, two counts of Witness Tampering by Corrupt Persuasion, four counts of Transporting an Individual for Prostitution, and two counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion.

Beginning in 2019 through December 2022, Thomas engaged in the recruitment of young, vulnerable victims to work under his direction as prostitutes. He targeted the victim's financial hardship or addiction issues and sold a dream of a safe or sober environment solely to lure them in. Thomas would transport the victims across state lines, train them to avoid the police, and how to recruit others for him. He kept complete control of the money earned with physical violence or physiological coercion.

Thomas will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa and Kansas offices, the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Shakema Onias prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Randal Dewayne Davis, 48, of Salina, for Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Davis to serve a total of 121 months of imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Davis will be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Davis to pay $44,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, investigators received several tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to Davis sharing sexually explicit content of children being abused under the screen names “OkieMalePerv007” and “randyman.” After a search warrant was served on his home, the investigation revealed that Davis possessed and distributed thousands of images and videos of minor victims being sexually abused and exploited. Davis admitted that some of the sexually explicit content was of infants.

Davis will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshals Service, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Jacob James McCord, 31, of Tulsa, for Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer in Indian Country and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Frizzell ordered McCord to 120 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in November 2023, McCord was driving a vehicle with fraudulent tags when Sand Springs Police officers attempted to pull him over. Instead of pulling over, McCord led several officers on a pursuit where he endangered the lives of others when he drove over 120 mph. McCord crashed into another vehicle, injuring one person. He was finally stopped and arrested once his vehicle became inoperable. During a search of the vehicle, officers found several loaded firearms.

Court records show that while McCord was on bond in state court for the November incident, he was pulled over again in December 2023. When officers asked if he had a firearm on him, McCord said no. When officers searched McCord, they found a loaded stolen handgun inside his jacket.

McCord is a citizen of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.  He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sand Springs Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments.

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.

Lawrence Francis Michael Bady. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Bady, 33, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-340

Paul Jimenez Diaz; Saul Peña Becerra. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (superseding). Diaz, 37, and Becerra, 20, Mexican Nationals, are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Diaz knowingly possessed more than 500 grams of fentanyl, 100 grams of heroin, and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. They also are charged with maintaining a residence for the distribution of drugs. Becerra is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine to distribute it and possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigation, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-323

Kourtney Dawn Haley. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Haley, 44, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-330

Joseph Matthew Hough.  Domestic Assault in Indian Country by a Habitual Offender. Hough, 48, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with domestic assault after receiving felony convictions for domestic assault in Tulsa County District Court. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Weems and Stacey P. Todd are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-331

Hilario Lucas Mendoza. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mendoza, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Dec. 2009. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-332

James Dernest Mims, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Mims, 26, of Virginia, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Additionally, Mims possessed a stolen firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-334

Jesse Lane Mitchell; Jacklyn Paige Roberts. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Child Neglect in Indian Country. Mitchell, 35, and Roberts, 32, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, both of Collinsville, are charged with knowingly engaging in a sexual act with a minor child under 12 years old between Jan. 2023 and Apr. 2024. Mitchell is further charged with coercing and enticing a minor child under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. From Jan. 2023 through Aug. 2024, Roberts willfully failed to protect and adequately supervise a child. Homeland Security Investigations and the Collinsville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Stephen Scaife are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-342

Brian Scott Perry. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Perry, 46, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Matthew Cyran are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-339

Arlando Maurice Williams. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Williams, 25, of Sapulpa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-333

Michael Brandon Williams. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; False Impersonation of an Officer or Employee of the United States. Williams, 43, of Bixby, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Additionally, Williams was charged with pretending to be an FBI agent. The FBI and Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-336

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach sentenced Thomas Lee Knox, 39, of Tulsa, for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. Judge Arias-Marxuach ordered Knox to 180 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on Nov. 20, 2023, Knox admittedly got into a heated argument with someone he considered his friend. During the argument, Knox pulled out a firearm, shooting Paul Schultz in the leg.

Video surveillance from the area showed the altercation. Knox was seen fleeing the area in a vehicle while Paul crawled away. Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call, where someone discovered Paul wounded. The medical examiner's report showed that Paul died as a result of the gunshot wound.

Knox is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Dennis Fries prosecuted it.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Brian Harris Carlile, 31, for Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Russell ordered Carlile to 121 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Carlile will also be required to register as a sex offender. Restitution for the victims will be determined at a later date.

From June 2023 through September 2023, Carlile admittingly used his cell phone to possess, receive, and distribute images and videos that contained minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Many of the images or videos that Carlile possessed included minors under the age of 12.

Carlile is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gustavo A Gelpi, Jr. sentenced Hank Sallee Williams, 24, for Distribution of Fentanyl to a Minor. Judge Gelpi ordered Williams to 360 months imprisonment, followed by six years of supervised release.

“Williams knowingly provided deadly fentanyl to a minor child,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This lengthy sentence demonstrates that those engaging in this type of act will face significant punishment.”

According to the plea agreement, Williams drove to a home in Tulsa, where he knowingly sold fentanyl to Xander Tewis. Williams was aware that Xander was a minor child. Xander died after taking the fentanyl provided by Williams.

In 2024, the DEA seized more than 292 million deadly doses of fentanyl. Their laboratory testing shows that seven out of 10 pills seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. You can visit their website to learn more about how the DEA is trying to combat this threat.

Williams will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey prosecuted.

TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on all four counts of an Indictment filed in March 2024. Cameron Lynn, 34, was convicted of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.

“Our community is a much safer place due to Cameron Lynn’s conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to thank the Tulsa Police Department and the FBI for their hard work in solving this case and working collaboratively during this investigation.” 

According to evidence presented at trial on February 24, 2024, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched around midnight to a call where someone was shot. The caller was in a heavily wooded area near railroad tracks, flagged down officers and led them to the encampment. Officers found two victims in their tents that were shot. Medical personnel arrived on the scene and rendered aid to both victims. One victim was shot in the abdomen and transported to a local hospital. The other victim, Alcides Monroig, died at the scene.

The caller and surviving victim told officers that they were asleep when Lynn approached their encampment. They explained that Lynn started going through their belongings, stating he was trying to find his stuff. They told officers they shined a flashlight, trying to see Lynn, and asked him to leave. Lynn refused and shot several times at both tents before fleeing.

Several witnesses testified that they saw Lynn heading towards the encampment. After they heard several shots fired, Lynn ran toward the witnesses, telling them that they needed to leave the area and that he shot in self-defense. Before being detained, Lynn attempted to alter his appearance to avoid detection by officers. When interviewed by Tulsa Police detectives, Lynn claimed that his brother was the shooter.

Lynn is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He will remain in custody. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Stephen Flynn.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson announced that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Steven Briden will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSA Briden has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and in that capacity, is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, 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 interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act 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 inability to read or write in English).   

In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming elections, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Briden will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached at 918-703-7832 or by email at Steven.Briden@usdoj.gov

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 local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 405-290-3700.

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

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.

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Joseph McKinley Phillips, 34, of Tulsa, for Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Russell ordered Phillips to 188 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in Dec. 2023, Tulsa Police officers approached Phillips, and he took off running. After officers caught and detained Phillips, they found he had two loaded handguns and more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

Data shows that only two milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose. Seven out of ten contraband pills seized and tested by the DEA contained fentanyl.

Phillips will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McConney and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.

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.

Emmanuel Josiah Ahaisse. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Ahaisse, 38, of Tulsa and a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Aug. 2023 through Oct. 2023. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-309

Dakota Yek-C’e Bear. Assault of a Spouse by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country. Bear, 35, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting his spouse by strangulation and suffocation. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-308

Victor Becerra-Gaytan. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Becerra-Gaytan, 36, a Mexican National, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. The U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-319

Justin Earl Braziel. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Braziel, 31, of Quapaw and a member of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting the victim with intent to do bodily harm and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-327

Paul Jimenez Diaz. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Diaz, 37, a Mexican National, is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. He knowingly possessed more than 500 grams of fentanyl, 100 grams of heroin, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and cocaine with the intention of distributing. Diaz additionally maintained a residence to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigation, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-323

Nathan Alexander Gabbert. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do bodily Harm in Indian Country; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Gabbert, 34, of Glenpool and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting three victims with a dangerous weapon. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-310

Erik Garcia. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Garcia, 45, of Okmulgee, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-320

Christopher Michael Helton. 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. Helton, 47, of Coweta, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He knowingly possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Helton additionally carried a firearm while drug trafficking. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-311

Makale Kareem Lewis. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1 & 2) (superseding). Lewis, 22, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-288

Gabriel Acevedo Medina. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Medina, 39, of Marietta, Georgia, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He also kidnapped a victim and used a dangerous weapon to assault the victim. Further, Medina is charged with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-322

Clint Kyle Sutton. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Malicious Destruction of Property in Indian Country. Sutton, 43, of Spavinaw and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Additionally, Sutton is charged with willfully and maliciously destroying property not belonging to him. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-321

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Ray Alexander Villalba, 22, from Goodyear, Arizona, for Carjacking, Carrying, Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery and two counts of Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Villalba to 220 months imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release.

Villalba’s codefendant, Elijah Paul Titone, 26, of Sand Springs, was sentenced in August for the same counts. Titone was ordered to 190 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement.

On December 4, 2022, Villalba was messaging a male victim through a dating application and agreed to meet up. Upon arrival, the victim’s vehicle was rushed by two armed individuals, Villalba and Titone. They entered the victim's vehicle and zip-tied him. Villalba drove the vehicle away as Titone sat in the backseat with his gun pointed at the victim. Villalba threatened to kill the victim if he did not cooperate with their demands. They drove to several banks, attempting to withdraw funds from the victim's checking account, and left him on the side of the road.

During a second incident on December 6th, Villalba and Titone broke into a home in Broken Arrow. Armed, they demand money and weed. Villalba struck the victim in the eye with his gun, causing the victim to lose sight.

Villalba and Titone will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broken Arrow Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Brayden Kent Bull, 26, for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country, Production of Child Pornography, and for the Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Judge Russell ordered Bull to be sentenced to 600 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Bull will also be required to register as a sex offender.

“This 50 year sentence of imprisonment is direct consequence of the severity and depravity of Bull’s criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “To combat child predators it takes a community effort.  Parents, teachers, caregivers, and law enforcement are vital players in this effort. I want to commend all those that helped bring this sexual predator to justice.”

“Those who produce, share, and view images of child sexual abuse materials create a lasting cycle of trauma and victimization, making these offenses extremely harmful," said acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Picard HSI Dallas. "Identifying child predators particularly those involved in the sexual abuse of innocent children requires a collaborative effort in bringing them to justice. We greatly appreciate the strong partnerships we have with our law enforcement colleagues, ensuring this individual will never harm a child again."

According to court documents, Bull admittingly filmed himself sexually abusing a toddler he was babysitting. Bull then shared the video on social media. Law enforcement received several CyberTips that led them to Bull. After a search warrant was conducted, law enforcement found additional material that showed explicit videos of children being sexually abused.

Bull is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. –  Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Justin Ray Walters, 49, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Russell ordered Walters to be sentenced to 300 months of imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release. Upon his release, Walters will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents from November 2022 through April 2023, Walters professed his love and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a child victim he knew was under 16 years old. Walters pressured the child victim to produce and share sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, Walters possessed more than 600 images that depicted the sexual abuse of children. Several of the images showed the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12.  

Walters will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.

If you believe sexually explicit photos or videos of you were posted online, Take It Down can help. Take It Down is a free online website hosted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You can anonymously request help to remove or stop the sharing of sexually explicit content. Take It Down also provides services for victims, survivors, siblings and caregivers looking for mental health and peer support. Further, if you are being threatened by image sharing or other forms of online exploitation, you can submit a report online.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Bryon Alan Lee, 32, of Sapulpa, for Production, Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Russell ordered Lee imprisoned for 360 months, followed by ten years of supervised release. Upon his release, Lee will also be required to register as a sex offender and ordered to pay $6,300 in restitution.

“Online and sexual predators like Lee know how to manipulate their way into a child’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I cannot stress enough that parents and guardians need to know who their children are talking to online. This sentencing shows the unwavering commitment of our office and law enforcement partners to hold sex offenders accountable for their actions and to protect children.”

“The lengthy sentence of this repeat offender sends a clear message to those who would attempt to exploit our most vulnerable citizens – our children,” said Travis Pickard, acting Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “HSI through the collaboration of all our law enforcement partners will use every available resource to hold child sexual predators like this defendant accountable for their actions.”     

According to court documents, in October 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received several CyberTips about an individual online uploading videos and images that contained the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The investigation revealed that Lee possessed or uploaded more than seven videos and 68 images to social media and file-sharing platforms. Further, Lee would “chat” about his fantasies of raping and abusing young children.

In April of 2021, Lee was convicted in State court of Using Technology to Engage in Sexual Communication with a Minor. Even after receiving a ten-year suspended sentence in state court and having to register as a sex offender, Lee continued to exploit minors and created sexually explicit images.

Lee is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Joshua Carmel prosecuted.

To learn more about the sex offender registries from all 50 states, please visit the National Sex Offender Public Website.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced the award of more than  $6.2 million in Department of Justice grants to assist tribal governments within the Northern District of Oklahoma. The grants were awarded by the Department's Office of Justice Programs.

“This funding allows Tribal Governments with the Northern District of Oklahoma to build, support, and advance the citizens within their tribe,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.  “In return, Tribal organizations, crisis centers, and law enforcement agencies benefit from these investments and make our communities safer.”

The Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program assists Tribal governments and authorized designees of Tribal governments to:

• Decrease the incidence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities;
• strengthen the capacity of Tribes to exercise their sovereign authority to respond to these violent crimes; and
• ensure that perpetrators of these violent crimes are held accountable for their criminal behavior.

The following organizations received funding from the Grants to Indian Tribal Government Program:

• Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma received $1,169,642
• Eastern Shawnee Tribe received $793,463
• Miami Tribe of Oklahoma received $792,148
• Quapaw Nation received $600,000
• Delaware Tribe of Indians received $282,632

The 2024 Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Tribal Victim Services Program is for implementing services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions. The following organizations received funding from the 2024 Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Tribal Victim Services Program:

• The Eastern Shawnee Tribe, the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, and the Osage Nation each received $441,989.
• The Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma received $394,653
• The Seneca Cayuga Tribe Oklahoma received $254,413
• The Shawnee Tribe received $229,973

The awards announced above are part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. The Office of Justice Programs grant page has more information about these and other funding opportunities.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The Awards in Action

The Miami Tribe Office of Public Health/Wellness, the Quapaw Nation’s Family Service Department, the Eastern Shawnee Haven Program, and the Peoria Shield are agencies of the Oklahoma Tribal Government that work to address violence against American Indian/Alaska Native women by providing survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking referrals to local agencies and Tribes operating programs to meet various identified needs.

The Miami Tribe Office of Public Health/Wellness will use the funding to engage in building activities to plan and implement a new, comprehensive domestic violence program that includes direct services and community outreach. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma has partnered with the Community Crisis Center of Northeast Oklahoma, a local non-profit, to plan this project.

The Quapaw Nation’s Family Service Department will use the funding to: 1) expand outreach and education activities, 2) they will provide victim advocacy and client assistance services, 3) they will provide legal assistance to victims. The Quapaw Nation has partnered with the Native Alliance Against Violence, a Tribal coalition, to plan this project.

The Eastern Shawnee Haven Program is using the funding to 1) provide transitional housing to victims, 2) provide advocacy and emergency victim assistance to victims, 3) provide community outreach and education, and 4) provide training and self-care for advocates. The Eastern Shawnee Tribe has partnered with an advisory committee, including women from the community to be served, to plan this project.

The Peoria Shield is using the funding to 1) expand victim services beyond crisis intervention services, 2) develop a housing assistance program for victims, and 3) develop and implement a supervised visitation/safe exchange program. The Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma has partnered with the Native Alliance Against Violence, a Tribal coalition, to plan this project. 

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Gary Don McElroy, 55, for Drug Conspiracy. Judge Russell ordered McElroy to 210 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in October 2023, Tulsa Police officers conducted a routine traffic stop due to an expired tag. McElroy was a passenger in the vehicle and the driver did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance. During the traffic stop, officers observed a large box containing small baggies of white crystal substance. While officers conducted their investigation, the driver sped off. After a short pursuit, McElroy and the driver were detained. Officers found drug paraphernalia and discovered the box was thrown out of the vehicle during the pursuit.

It was later determined that both McElroy and the driver had more than 110 grams of fentanyl and more than 2,760 grams of methamphetamine. McElroy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The driver is McElroy’s cousin and was charged as a co-defendant. Shelly Annette McElroy, 53, of Tulsa, was sentenced last month for her involvement in the Drug Conspiracy. Judge Russell ordered McElroy to 292 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McConney and Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Kaleb Joesph Scullawl, 20, for Robbery in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Scullawl to 108  months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Scullawl broke into a pawn shop in Bartlesville with two other juveniles. They stole several firearms from the store. A few weeks later, Scullawl messaged someone to buy marijuana. During the illegal drug purchase, Scullawl entered the vehicle and drew a firearm. He demanded the victim's money, wallet, and marijuana. Scullawl then forced the victim to drive home, where Scullawl stole marijuana. Prior to exiting the vehicle, Scullawl discharged the stolen firearm into the victim’s vehicle .

Scullawl is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bartlesville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Reininger prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Jacob Dean Rowell, 27, of Tulsa, for Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Judge Russell ordered Rowell to 181 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

“Distributors like Rowell are endangering the citizens in the Northern District of Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Our office is dedicated to stopping the flow of fentanyl into our district. This case is an example of the collaborative effort of law enforcement to prevent illegal narcotics from reaching the streets.”

According to court documents, while investigating a drug trafficking organization in the Northern District of Oklahoma, DEA investigators identified Rowell as a fentanyl distributor who possessed a pill press used to manufacture counterfeit pills. Rowell also previously sold to undercover officers counterfeit M30 pills that were pressed with fentanyl.

During a search of Rowell’s home in February 2024, Agents found cash, a loaded handgun, digital scales, a pill press, several cutting agents or chemicals for the fake pills, and a white powder-like substance that tested positive for fentanyl. After receiving his Miranda warnings, Rowell admitted that he produces up to 1,000 counterfeit Xanax pills at a time, depending on demand from his customers. Rowell also admitted that since November of 2023, he has purchased fentanyl twice a week. Finally, Rowell stated that he traded fentanyl for the handgun found during the search. While Rowell was speaking with the Agents, he received a call from a customer looking to buy pills. 

The DEA reports a dramatic rise in fake prescription pills. Officials say that 7 out of every 10 pills with fentanyl contain a lethal dose. Less than 2 mg of fentanyl can potentially be a lethal dose. The DEA reports that authentic M30 pills contain oxycodone, and many fake pills are made to look like prescription opioids or stimulants.

Rowell will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar prosecuted the case.

To fine more information about fake pills, go to DEA.gov/OnePill.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Bryan Stanley Monholland, 59, of Tulsa, for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Monholland to a term of life imprisonment, followed by lifetime term of supervised release. Upon his release, Monholland will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to Monhalland’s Petition to Enter Guilty Plea, and subsequent plea of guilty between July 2012 and March 2018, Monholland attempted to and knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor child victim who had not attained age 12.

According to court records, Monholland previously pleaded guilty to Lewd Molestation in 2004 and was required to register as a sex offender. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI, Catoosa Police Department, and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster, Stephanie Ihler, and Christian Harris prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Dai-Shad Le’Sai-Rio Lucas, 26, for Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, and Possession of a Short-Barreled Rifle in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Judge Russell ordered Lucas to 144 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

In October 2023, the Tulsa Police Department executed a search warrant on Lucas’ home. When officers entered the home, Lucas admitted to throwing pills, a short-barreled rifle, a machine gun, and a pistol out of his bedroom window. During an extensive search of the home, officers found cocaine, several pills that contained fentanyl, digital scales, cash, a bulletproof vest, and additional firearms. Further, Lucas admitted that he intended to sell the pills that contained fentanyl.

Lucas will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Last night, a federal jury found a son and his mother guilty of crimes related to a 2023 shooting.  

Marco Dionte Atkins, 19, of Tulsa and a citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation, was convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; and Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion.

Sidney Brook Mayfield, 39, was convicted of Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and False Declaration Before a Grand Jury.

They were both found guilty of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion; Corruptly Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and Corruptly Obstructing the Due Administration of Justice.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, shortly after 8 pm on Nov. 26, 2023, Sidney Mayfield pulled into a convenience store directly across from the street from a high school. Five teenagers were in the car, including Marco Atkins, Mayfield’s then 18-year-old son. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, were seen entering the store on video surveillance. After a few minutes inside the store, a verbal altercation began between the teens and the victim. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, left the store. The teens continued to argue with the victim outside. The video shows Atkins inside the vehicle, firing multiple rounds towards the victim, eventually hitting him. Another person was seen exiting the vehicle to grab something on the ground before Mayfield sped off.

Evidence presented to the jury showed that shortly after Atkins was arrested in January 2024, Mayfield and Atkins began tampering with witnesses, obstructing the investigation, and commenting about retaliation. Atkins original trial was set to begin in June of 2024 but was forced to be continued due to their obstruction and witness tampering. After the trial was continued in June, evidence showed Mayfield ranting on social media about a witness being a “snitch,” announcing the witness's full name and where the family resided. In the video played for the jury, Mayfield stated that she would “kill anybody” that went against her or her son and that she would “ride with Marco until the [explicit] wheels fell off.” Shortly after she posted that video, Mayfield was indicted and arrested, and Atkins was charged with additional counts.   

The victim testified that he was shot once in the stomach. He did have a firearm on him, but he did not pull the gun out of his pocket. After being shot, the victim believes he fell backward, and the gun fell out of his pocket. He testified about passing out on the way to the hospital, where it took several days for him to recover from the gunshot wound. Officers testified they did not find a gun on the victim.

During the trial, Atkins testified that the victim made threats towards him and his friends. Atkins said the victim pointed a gun directly at him, and that is why he shot. Atkins described the victim falling backward after being shot and dropping his gun. He said that someone from his vehicle grabbed the victim's gun before they drove off. At the trial, prosecutors questioned Atkins about his testimony and evidence presented regarding obstruction and witness tampering. Atkins denied any involvement.

Atkins and Mayfield will remain in custody until sentencing at a later date.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III, sentenced Cody Paul Miller after being found guilty by a Federal jury in January. Miller, 47, was found guilty of Sexual Abuse of an Incapable Victim in Indian Country. Judge Murphy ordered Miller to 138 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon his release, Miller will also be required to register as a sex offender.

In July 2023, the 18-year-old victim spent the night at Miller's house with two friends, both under 18. The victim and underage minors began consuming alcohol with the Miller. The victim testified that later into the night, she woke up to Miller sexually assaulting her. She repeatedly asked the defendant to stop, and he did not. After leaving Miller’s home, the victim went to a friend’s home to disclose what Miller did. After receiving encouragement from her friend, the victim contacted the police.

When police questioned Miller, he told officers that the victim “got drunk really fast that night” and even “fell off the bed” because she was so drunk. Miller stated that the sexual acts were consensual and that he stopped when the victim asked him to stop. 

Miller is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Collinsville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria G. Luster and Matthew P. Cyran prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments.

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.

Esteban Abarca-Calbario. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Abarca-Calbario, 45, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jan. 2023. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-281

Gerardo Becerra-Quiroz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Becerra-Quiroz, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in May 2020. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-282

Courtney Jamar Calamease. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1 & 2) (superseding). Calamease, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition in May 2024 and Aug. 2024, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-252

Raul Yepez Garcia. Assault of a Federal Officer; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Yepez Garcia, 46, a Mexican national, is charged with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon while the officer was performing his official duty. Additionally, Yepez Garcia knowingly possessed a firearm, knowing he was an unlawful alien in the United States. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-292

Michael Vincent Martin. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country (Count 1); Abusive Sexual Contact by Force and Threat in Indian Country (Count 2); Tampering with a Witness by Intimidation, Threats, and Corrupt Persuasion (Counts 3 & 7); Sexual Abuse Without Consent in Indian Country (Count 4); Cyberstalking (Count 5); Tampering with a Witness by Intimidation, Threats, and Corrupt Persuasion (Count 6) (superseding). Martin, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with assault by strangulation of an intimate dating partner, engaging in sexual contact by force or threat, and without consent. Martin is further charged with attempting to influence and prevent the tribal victim from testifying and communicating with law enforcement. Additionally, he is charged with cyberstalking. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-180

Victor Muniz-Nieto. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Muniz-Nieto, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2016. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-283

Steve Earl Perry, Jr. Escape from Federal Custody. Perry, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with escaping from federal custody while confined in the Turley Residential Center. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-284

Jerico Lee Reddell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Count 1); Kidnapping in Indian Country (Counts 2, 5 & 8); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 3, 6 & 9); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 4 & 7); Witness Tampering (Counts 10 & 11); Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice by Witness Tampering (Count 12) (superseding). Reddell, 41, of Bartlesville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He allegedly kidnapped two different victims, intentionally assaulted them with a dangerous weapon, and used a firearm in a crime of violence. Additionally, Reddell is charged with obstructing a federal Grand Jury investigation and conspiring with someone else to tamper with a witness. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michele W. Hulgaard and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-105

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced David Leon Strickland, 46, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Judge Russell ordered Strickland to 162 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Strickland will also be required to register as a sex offender.

“Child predators like Strickland target unsuspecting children through social media and gaming sites,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “With the increase of online access, child exploitation is at an all-time high. Take the time today to know who your children are talking to online.”  

Beginning in November 2017, Strickland admitted to using meth daily and knowingly began contacting a minor under 18 years old. Via text, Strickland repeatedly requested the minor victim to engage in sex. If the minor victim complied, Strickland offered to pay the minor.  

Strickland will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI, Verdigris Police Department, and Claremore Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly prosecuted the case.

If you believe sexually explicit photos or videos of you were posted online, Take It Down can help. Take It Down is a free online website hosted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You can anonymously request help to remove or stop the sharing of sexually explicit content. Take It Down also provides services for victims, survivors, siblings and caregivers looking for mental health and peer support. Further, if you are being threatened by image sharing or other forms of online exploitation, you can submit a report online.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.