Northern District of Oklahoma

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Shelly Annette McElroy, 53, for Drug Conspiracy. Judge Russell ordered McElroy to 292 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 driving the vehicle without a valid driver’s license and insurance. During the traffic stop, officers observed a large box containing small baggies of white crystal substance. While officers conducted their investigation, McElroy sped off. After a short pursuit, McElroy was detained. Officers found drug paraphernalia and discovered that McElroy had thrown the box out of the vehicle during the pursuit.

It was later determined that McElroy 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.

McElroy’s cousin and co-defendant, Gary Don McElroy was in the vehicle during the traffic stop and was also arrested after the pursuit. He pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

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 Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Katrenia Hartman, 55, of Sand Springs for Bank Fraud and Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return. Judge Frizzell ordered Hartman to be imprisoned for 30 months, followed by five years of supervised release. Additionally, Hartman is ordered to pay the IRS more than $177k in restitution and more than $735k to the church she defrauded.

According to court documents, Hartman was a church office manager for over 16 years. She was entrusted with various duties, including payroll, church bills, and bank deposits. In 2016, Hartman began abusing the trust bestowed upon her. As an authorized signatory, Hartman would sign checks she made out to herself and forge the additional signature needed. Hartman then tried to conceal her tracks by entering false descriptions into the church’s bookkeeping system.

While Hartman was receiving the fraudulent funds, she failed to report the increase in her income to the IRS. She also claimed more than $78k in fake medical and dental expenses in order to reduce her tax liability.

Hartman was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The U.S. Secret Service, IRS - Criminal Investigations, and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted it.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Justin Mark Boyce, 43, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime in Violence and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Boyce was ordered to serve 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

In August 2022, Boyce confronted the victim about an unpaid debt. During the argument, Boyce fired several rounds towards the victim and fled. While investigating the shooting, Rogers County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search warrant on Boyce’s home. Deputies found several firearms, ammunition, and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Boyce admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to sell and distribute.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher 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. – After a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Lee Holt, 60, of Collinsville. The jury found Holt guilty of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute after previously being convicted of a serious drug felony; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes.

Prior to trial, Holt’s co-defendant, Jennifer Charisa Harrington, 49, of Collinsville, pled guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.

“Guns, drugs, and felons are a volatile combination that hurt communities within the Northern District of Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This verdict is the direct result of the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors’ prioritizing violent crime prosecutions to help reduce crime and build safer communities.” 

In August 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant on Holt and Harrington’s home in Collinsville. Upon search of the home, agents found a firearm and ammunition, 110 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, scales, and cash. Laboratory testing determined the methamphetamine was 94% pure. During the trial, experts testified that 110 grams of methamphetamine could be more than 500 doses of meth with a street value of approximately $1,500.

Court records show that Holt was previously convicted of several felonies, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and unlawfully possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony.   

In Harrington’s plea agreement, she admitted to living with Holt and that they would distribute and use methamphetamine in their home. Harrington further admitted that they had a firearm, ammunition, scales, and cash from the proceeds of distributing methamphetamine.

Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Collinsville Police Department, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Flesher and Dennis Fries 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 August Federal Grand Jury 2023-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.

Scott James Berkshire. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Berkshire, 63, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to induce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Berkshire is charpged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Scott Dunn are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-275

Preston James Campbell. Assault of a Federal Officer. Campbell, 41, of Bristow and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon while the officer was performing his official duty. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-264

Jose Erlyn Carbajal-Soliz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Carbajal-Soliz, 30, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Sep. 2021 at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-266

Dominique Rashaad Delonia. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Delonia, 30, transient, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Jul. 2024 through the date of the Indictment. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-267

Markell Juanye Grass. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Grass, 31, of Jay and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with assaulting an intimate and dating partner by strangulation. The FBI and the Jay Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Flynn and Melissa Weems are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-269

Jose Ramon Guerra-Andrade. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Guerra-Andrade, 35, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Oct. 2013 at or near Harlingen, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-268

Drayle Montey Nelson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Nelson, 36, 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 Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-276

Danny Lawrence Newton. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Newton, 42, of Broken Arrow, is charged with attempting to induce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Skiatook Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua M. Carmel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-274

Sergio Ramirez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was unlawfully in the United States. He is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. Additionally, Ramirez is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Aug. 2022 at or near Laredo, Texas. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-270

Roger Lee Woolman. Arson in Indian Country. Woolman, 67, of Vinita and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with maliciously setting fire to Burroughs Manor and endangering the lives of several occupants. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vinita Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-265

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Victor Manuel Vallejo-Rivera, 34, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Vallejo-Rivera to 84 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

“Vallejo-Rivera did not believe the law applied to him,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This case shows that prosecutors in the NDOK will continue to advocate and seek justice for victims of domestic violence in our district. I hope the victim can move forward in healing.”  

After serving 24 months in prison for strangling the victim, Vallejo-Rivera was released in July 2023. Upon his release in 2023, he continued to remain in contact with the victim and violated several conditions of his supervised release. The court then ordered him back to federal prison to serve 18 months.

In November 2023, Vallejo-Rivera was indicted for assaulting the victim again. During a heated argument, Vallejo-Rivera flushed the victim's anti-seizure medication, took her cell phone and the keys to her car, slashed her tires, and threatened to kill her. When the victim tried to leave, Vallejo-Rivera cut her face. She managed to call 911, but Vallejo-Rivera hung up the call. When Officers arrived to check on the victim, Vallejo-Rivera was standing over the victim while she was having a seizure.

The victim is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Vallejo-Rivera will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Upon release, Judge Hill further ordered the defendant not to have contact with the victim.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Weems and Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Yesterday afternoon, a federal jury returned a verdict convicting Bobbe Gene Taylor, 25, of Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery) and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The jury found Taylor’s co-defendant, Walter Jay Johnson, 26, of Tulsa, not guilty. Three other co-defendants, Kemareay Ki’sean Green, 25, Lerontez Sherod Hill, 39, and Jeremiah Hamlin, 40, all from Tulsa, pled guilty to Conspiracy before the trial. One other co-defendant is still awaiting trial.

“During this trial, both victims, with the aid of a translator, courageously testified and described the horrible events that took place,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This verdict is a direct result of their cooperation and excellent police work.”   

“The victims in this case were just trying to earn a living working for a contracted cleaning service when they were physically assaulted and robbed at gun point,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Our community deserves to see that callous acts of violence will be met with serious consequences, and the verdict handed down today is the result of our commitment to that goal. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the FBI, the Jenks Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these defendants will now face justice for their crimes.”

In August 2021, the FBI was investigating an unrelated case and executed a warrant on a home in Bixby. The renter returned home, believing she had been burglarized, and contacted the defendants. The renter contacted the landlord and discovered that the FBI had executed a search warrant at the home and that a third-party vendor had removed items from the home, believing it was abandoned. The victims worked for the third-party vendor and were asked to return to the home.

Both employees are Dominican Nationals and testified at trial with the aid of a translator. They described that after they arrived, they were greeted by a defendant and told to back their truck into the driveway. After they put the items back, they were confronted by the armed defendants. The first employee testified that he was struck in the face twice, which broke his nose and orbital socket. The second employee testified that he attempted to take the gun of one of the defendants, but the defendant was stronger than him. They testified about being held at gunpoint while their pockets and truck were searched. The defendants took a debit card, identifications, cellphones, an Apple Watch, a business-related iPad, and several other items from the victim's vehicle.

Both victims were released and immediately drove to a local store, where law enforcement and medical personnel were contacted. Further investigation revealed that Taylor was seen with Hill, who used the stolen credit card. Video surveillance from the store led law enforcement to Hill and Taylor’s home. After a search warrant was conducted on their home, items belonging to the victims and firearms were recovered in the home.

The recorded interview between Taylor and law enforcement was shown to the jury. Taylor contacted and requested to meet with law enforcement to discuss the search warrant on his home. During the interview, Taylor admitted that the individuals were robbed and that he should have done more to stop the entire incident.

Further investigation by law enforcement led to Green, Hamlin, and Johnson’s involvement. After Johnson was arrested, he met with law enforcement. The recorded interview was played for the jury. After being read mirandized, Johnson explained that the renter contacted him. He told law enforcement that the victims did not speak English and were trying to say that the house was vacant. He further admitted that he pushed one of the victims and witnessed the assault of the other victim.

Court documents show that Green admitted to conspiring with the defendants to confront the victims. He further admitted to carrying a firearm and witnessed the co-defendants carrying firearms. Additionally, Green knew that carrying a firearm was a substantial step and that it was foreseeable that someone would get hurt.

In Hill’s plea agreement, he admitted to conspiring with the defendants to confront the victims. Hill further admitted to striking the victim in the face and using the victim’s credit card without permission. Hill also agreed to forfeit three pistols, one rifle, several magazines, and more than 50 rounds of ammunition.

Additionally, Hamlin admitted to conspiring with the defendants to confront the victims. Before the victims arrived, Hamlin saw the defendants carry firearms into the house. When he met one of the victims in the driveway, Hamlin admittedly had his firearm on him. Inside the home, Hamlin held one of the victims against the wall while the other defendants searched the victims. By carrying a firearm, Hamlin also knew this was taking the confrontation to another level and that someone could get hurt. 

Taylor, Green, Hill, and Hamlin will be sentenced separately at a later date.

The FBI and the Jenks 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. – This week, Dr. Azhar Shakeel, M.D. agreed to pay $619,994 to the government to resolve a pending lawsuit filed by the United States and the State of Oklahoma pursuant to their respective False Claims Act statutes.

“This case resolution demonstrates holding physicians and health care providers accountable for fraudulent billing of government health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Through our coordinated efforts with law enforcement partners, we will continue to protect these programs. As a result, fraud proceeds are returned to American taxpayers and the health care programs that support our most vulnerable population.”

“I appreciate the successful collaboration by multiple law enforcement agencies and the tremendous work by the Oklahoma Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to resolve this case and return the tax dollars that were wrongfully taken from Oklahomans,” said Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. “Healthcare providers have a responsibility to bill government healthcare programs fairly and I will always work to hold accountable anyone who tries to cheat the system.”

“Federal health care programs like Medicare rely on providers billing correctly and following the rules. Taxpayers who fund these programs deserve no less," said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that those who submit false claims to Medicare are held accountable and that the Medicare trust fund is restored."

Healthcare billing rules require the provider to ensure that the claims submitted reflect the services provided.  According to court documents, from March 2017 through October 2023, Dr. Shakeel submitted claims for payment to several federally funded health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, ChampVA, and FEHB. Records submitted during that period alleged that Dr. Shakeel saw and rendered services to patients; however, the investigation revealed that the doctor was out of the office and traveled for more than 175 days.

Dr. Shakeel owns and operates Urgent Care of Muskogee PLLC, Urgent Care of Checotah PLLC, and
Muskogee Medical Care PLLC.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Offices of Inspectors General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marianne Hardcastle handled the matter for the United States. State Assistant Attorney General Jamie Bloyd, of the Oklahoma Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, represented the State of Oklahoma.

To report health care fraud, call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or submit a hotline complaint online.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August 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.

Gabino Cabrera-Martinez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cabrera-Martinez, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2017 at or near El Paso, Texas. 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-247

Bruce Mitchell Cass. Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country (Count 1); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Count 2); Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 3); Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Count 4). Cass, 50, of Tulsa and a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma member, is charged with assaulting the victim with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and carrying, brandishing, and using a firearm while during a crime of violence. Additionally, Cass is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously been convicted of felonies. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Carmel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-257

Jeffrey Alan Clain. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Clain, 57, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly attempting to coerce and entice another person he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-248

Leonardo Garcia-Martinez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Martinez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jul. 2003 at or near Calexico, California. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-247

Anderson Jaleth Gomez-Ayala. Alien Unlawfully in United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Gomez-Ayala, 19, a Honduran national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was unlawfully in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-241

Bryce Tyler Pyle. First Degree Burglary 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. Pyle, 26, of Bixby and a Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, is charged with breaking into an occupied home with intent to commit a crime. He is further charged with using a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Pyle discharged a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-249

Eder Francisco Ramirez. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 2 and 3). Ramirez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Apr. 2023 through Jul. 2024. He is further charged with knowingly distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and 50 grams of methamphetamine, on separate occasions. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-246

Juan Carlos Rincon-Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rincon-Castro, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Mar. 2023 at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-245

Ladarion Deontrae Ladrue Tibbs. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Tibbs, 22, of Tulsa and a Seminole Nation of Oklahoma member, 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 Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-255

Matthew Lee Wilkins. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Wilkins, 35, of Galena, Kansas, and a Cherokee Nation member, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-256

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Leslie Ann Ameen, 63, of Tulsa, for Wire Fraud. She was ordered to serve 49 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Ameen to pay $8,293,611 in restitution.

“Ameen significantly harmed a hospital that serves our community and is funded by tax-payer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “We are committed to pursuing those who defraud and steal from taxpayers in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”

According to court documents, Ameen devised a scheme to defraud her employer while employed as a telecommunications specialist at Oklahoma State University Medical Center (OSUMC). For approximately nine years, Ameen arranged for OSUMC to purchase laptops, phones, and tablets from Techsico Enterprises Solutions, LLC. The electronic devices were not sought by OSUMC nor required for operating the medical center. Ameen forged signatures on more than 2,200 invoices emailed to her, absconded, and then sold the devices to fund her gambling addiction.  

Ameen was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.

The Justice Department announced today that, as of Aug. 2, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma has entered permanent injunctions that bar three Tulsa, Oklahoma-area men and two companies from running a fraudulent medical debt collection scheme that targeted current and former servicemembers and older Americans.

In its civil complaint, the United States alleged that Christopher Parks, 63, Christopher Noah Parks, 31, and Stephen Miller, 39, sent thousands of fraudulent debt collection notices on Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC letterhead to consumers nationwide. The letters demanded thousands of dollars in payment purportedly for medical devices that some consumers received for past medical procedures, such as leg compression devices used to prevent blood clots after surgery. The United States alleged that defendants had no authority to collect any debt from those consumers and that the debts for which defendants sought repayment were in many cases illusory — i.e., consumers did not actually owe the money, but many paid it anyway. The complaint further alleged that Christopher Parks and his co-defendants knew that the debt collection notices were fraudulent yet continued to harass consumers and demand payments. 

According to court documents, Christopher Parks directed significant aspects of the scheme while spending time in prison on other healthcare fraud charges. For example, recorded telephone calls obtained from the facility where Parks had been incarcerated revealed that Parks directed Stephen Miller to switch names and operate under Assured Financial LLC instead of Assured Collections LLC after numerous consumers filed Better Business Bureau complaints accusing Assured Collections LLC of fraud.   

Under the terms of their civil consent decrees, defendants agreed to be permanently enjoined from, among other things, engaging in any future billing and debt collection activities and accepting any future payments from any consumer who received a debt collection notice from Assured Collections LLC or Assured Financial LLC. Additionally, defendants agreed to disclose the consent decrees to any current, prospective and/or future employee, employer, business partner, client or associate engaged in the healthcare or debt collection industries.

“The department is committed to preventing vulnerable consumers from being harmed by false claims about debts they purportedly owe,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “I am thankful for the tireless efforts of our investigative partners who were integral to our success in this case.” 

“Christopher Parks, a former attorney, devised a scheme to defraud Northern District of Oklahoma citizens of millions of dollars while he was in prison for a previous healthcare fraud scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “Defendants were brought to justice for their brazen scheme through a collaborative effort between the department and our investigative partners. My office will zealously pursue fraudsters who swindle citizens of their hard-earned money.” 

“Protecting the integrity of the healthcare system for our military members and their families is a top priority of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Settle of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and the Justice Department to hold fraudsters accountable for their illicit activities and to ensure America’s service members are not victimized.”

“Preserving veterans’ access to world-class health care is a priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG), and we will investigate anyone who would seek to exploit VA’s programs and services,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the VA OIG’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and our law enforcement partners for their efforts to achieve justice in this case.”

In an unrelated case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Christopher Parks was sentenced in October 2023 to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to offer and pay health care kickbacks as part of a scheme where consumers were steered to obtain prescriptions from Parks-controlled compounding pharmacies. Parks is also currently awaiting trial in the Eastern District of Texas on other federal criminal healthcare fraud charges stemming from his billing practices as the principal of a company called USA Medical.

The VA-OIG, DCIS, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Wesline N. Manuelpillai and Assistant Director Patrick R. Runkle of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marianne Hardcastle for the Northern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-ndok. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Deanna Rachel Long, 59, to serve twelve months and one day in prison for Bank Fraud and Tax Evasion. Judge Hill further ordered Long to three years of supervised release and to pay $278,257.54 in restitution to FCCC and $96,622 to the IRS.

In 2012, the Family Crisis and Counseling Center (FCCC) in Bartlesville hired Long as a manager. She was entrusted to handle many aspects of FCCC’s accounting and finance functions, including record-keeping for the financial books, paying bills, and preparing checks for business expenses. Within two years of being hired, Long began embezzling money to fund personal expenses and fuel her gambling addiction. Court documents show that Long embezzled more than $278k from FCCC. Additionally, Long failed to report the illegal income and failed to file tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2022 with the IRS. After leaving FCCC, Long further filed false tax forms with her new employer claiming numerous exemptions to which she was not entitled to avoid any personal income taxes being deducted from her paychecks.

State court records show Long has been arrested numerous times for passing bogus checks, pled guilty to bogus check charges, and pled guilty twice for embezzling from two prior employers.

Long was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

IRS Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced that law enforcement has indicted 25 defendants, and several others have been identified and are still being investigated after the launch of Operation Clean Sweep II in April.

Operation Clean Sweep II (operation) aims to hold accountable child predators throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma. This operation is partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force (TACETT), created by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). More than 15 federal, state, and tribal law enforcement partners helped prevent, identify, investigate, and ultimately prosecute child exploitation.

“Data collected by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows a 300% increase of online coercion and enticements of minors across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office is committed to working with law enforcement to help train, educate online safety, and actively pursue those who try to exploit children within the Northern District of Oklahoma.”

“The production and dissemination of child sexual abuse materials is a reprehensible offense that has no place in our society,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. “HSI, working alongside our partners in the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, will persist in our mission to apprehend those who seek to exploit our children via social media platforms.”

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) analyzed 476 missing children enticed online between 2020 and 2023. Fifty-nine percent of child victims were younger than 15 years old.  The offender made their first contact with the child through social media and gaming sites. It was most common for an offender to travel to the child. However, older teens went to the offender. Statics showed they were provided travel tickets, used rideshare apps, and sent funds through a money app by the offender. While many victims were female children, there has also been an increase in online sextortion of teenage boys. Sextortion can happen without ever meeting an offender. NCMEC has more information about sextortion here: NCMEC.org/sextortion. 

During this operation, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Mayes County Sheriff's Office conducted compliance checks on those required to register as a sex in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) provides a comprehensive set of standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. More than 525 individuals were checked, and law enforcement found that over 50 individuals were not compliant with SORNA standards.

Operation Clean Sweep II is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar and Ashley Robert. The law enforcement who participated in the operation are personnel from the HSI Tulsa office, the U.S. Marshal Service, the FBI, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Tulsa Police Department, Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Broken Arrow Police Department, Owasso Police Department, Sapulpa Police Department, Bristow Police Department, Mayes County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

If you or someone you know is a victim of child exploitation, confidential help is available. Resources and contact information for child exploitation are available through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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.

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

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Arnold Dean Howell, Jr., 31, of Sapulpa, to 360 months imprisonment for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Howell is ordered to serve five years of supervised release following release from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

“Howell will serve 30 years in prison for the harm he has caused,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office remains steadfast in its commitment to seek justice for victims affected by criminal violence.”

According to court documents, in April 2015, Howell was at the home of Michael Mondier, Sr. In a fit of rage, Howell stabbed Michael more than 90 times using two separate knives. After brutally killing Michael, Howell took Michael’s vehicle and several valuable possessions.  

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

The FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Creek County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Jolly and Timothy L. Faerber prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell ordered Shawn William Gossett, 34, to 360 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Gossett will be required to register as a sex offender. Gossett’s wife, Amanda Nicole Bynum, 36, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, was sentenced in May and ordered to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

In September 2023, Gossett pled guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 in Indian Country and Child Abuse in Indian Country. He admitted to having sexually abusive contact with two separate child victims who were under the age of 12. Gossett further admitted to physically abusing one of the child victims by kicking and choking the child.  

Bynum pled guilty in August 2023 to Child Neglect in Indian Country and Enabling Child Abuse in Indian Country. She admitted to not ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of the two child victims in her care. Additionally, Bynum admitted to enabling and witnessing Gossett sexually abusing the two child victims.   

Both child victims are citizens of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Gossett and Bynum will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and the Creek County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Stephanie N. Ihler 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.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July Federal Grand Jury 2023-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.

Pedro Balderas-Martinez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Balderas-Martinez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Aug. 2008 at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-234

Dakota Austin Clark. Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography (superseding). Clark, 23, 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. The FBI and Grove Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-179

Christian Douglas Cook. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 1, 4, and 7 through 10); Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country (Count 2); Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country (Misdemeanor) (Counts 3, 5, 6 and 11) (superseding). Cook, 24, transient and a citizen of Choctaw Nation, is charged with intentionally assaulting six different victims from May 2022 through Dec. 2023 with a dangerous weapon. He is further charged with intentionally assaulting a victim with intent to commit murder. Additionally, Cook is charged with beating or striking four more victims. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-005

Alejandro Martinez-Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Martinez-Lopez, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Dec. 2013 at or near Nogales, Arizona. 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-233

Abner Asael Rivas-Aristondo. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Fraudulent Immigration Documents; Aggravated Identity Theft. Rivas-Aristondo, 22, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly being an alien and unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. Further, Rivas-Aristondo knowingly possessed a counterfeit U.S. Permanent Resident Card and unlawfully used an identification belonging to someone else. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-232

Wendell Charles Roberson. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Roberson, 51, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-225

Patrick Nile Starkey. Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device; Use of an Explosive to Commit a Felony; Destruction of a Letter Box and Mail; Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Starkey, 57, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing an unregistered explosive device. He is further charged with knowingly using an explosive device on a mailbox and willfully destroying a mailbox. Additionally, Starkey is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua M. Carmel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-226

TULSA, Okla. – A jury deliberated less than two hours today prior to convicting Adam Joseph King, 35, of Pryor, for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country. The minor victim is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

“Today, a jury held Adam King accountable for his abusive actions towards an innocent child,” U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said. “This guilty verdict resulted because of the courage of the child victim and the collaborative work among local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, demonstrating a commitment to the Justice Department's Project Safe Childhood initiative.”

"A defenseless child suffered at the hands of Adam King. These cases are among the most difficult for the FBI, but they are also the most impactful,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Thanks to our partnership with the Catoosa Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this depraved individual will now face justice for his terrible crimes.”

According to evidence presented at trial, from Nov. 2017 through Aug. 2021, King knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor under 12. In 2017, King rekindled a relationship with a former girlfriend with an eight-year-old daughter. Shortly after the girlfriend moved in with King, he began sexually abusing the child while her mother was at work.

During the trial, the child victim described the sexual abuse she received and 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 mother of the victim,  denied any wrongdoing by King. Once the investigation began, the minor victim was removed from the mother’s home and placed in the custody of her grandparents. 

King will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

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.

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 California man who is on active duty with the Army and a former Marine Reserve was arrested at Fort Carson in Colorado. David Julian Mendoza Gonzalez, 26, had an initial appearance before a federal judge in the District of Colorado. He is charged in the Northern District of Oklahoma for Drug Conspiracy and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.

“The Northern District of Oklahoma is committed to disrupting and reducing the flow of deadly narcotics into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.  

“The arrest of Mr. Mendoza Gonzalez demonstrates the continued resolve of DEA Oklahoma to investigate organizations to the fullest extent possible,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Ivan Carrera.  “Local street dealers, dispatchers, transporters, bulk suppliers, and anyone in between should know DEA Oklahoma is committed to holding everyone in this organization, and others like it, accountable for selling drugs to our communities.”

According to the Indictment, from August 2021 through June 2024, Gonzalez knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He was additionally charged with maintaining residences in Tulsa for drug distribution.

If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to life imprisonment, up to $10,000,000 in fines, and up to five years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case.

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

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten 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. – In June of 2023, a federal jury found Joel Richard Smith and Amanda Irene Smith guilty of Child Abuse in Indian Country and Child Neglect in Indian Country.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced the Salina husband and wife in separate hearings. Judge Hill ordered Joel Richard Smith, 49, a Cherokee Nation citizen to 180 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Amanda Irene Smith, 45, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Joel and Amanda Smith were legal guardians for the 9-year-old child victim. In April 2019, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a child who escaped to a neighbor's home, was hungry, filthy, and in need of medical attention.

At trial, the child victim testified about the abuse and neglect that she suffered at the hands of the defendants. She described being forced to do manual labor in the yard with her hands, like digging holes and moving large rocks. She would be locked outside for extended periods, even in poor weather. If the child was allowed to eat, she said it was usually a bottle, oatmeal, or baby food. At night, she would crawl into the kitchen to get food because she was hungry. After being caught, she stated she was handcuffed to the pack-n-play she slept in. She described being forced to wear diapers instead of being allowed to use the restroom, being hit with a broom that broke on her head, a belt, and a horsefly.

Testimony from medical professionals revealed that the child entered the home of the Smiths at age four and weighed 50 pounds. However, in April 2019, at age nine, the child victim only weighed 41 pounds. Medical professionals testified about the child's malnutrition, bruising, and infected handcuff wounds.

At sentencing, Joel Smith took responsibility for his actions and inactions. However, Amanda Smith continued to deny any involvement.

Joel Smith will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Amanda Smith was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Melody Nelson prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, a former TSA employee made an initial appearance before the federal court for leaving notes in the airport restroom, claiming there was a bomb in the airport. Sharon Jean Devine, 48, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of False Information and Hoaxes in an unsealed indictment.

“My office has no tolerance for threats of violence, especially bomb threats within an airport,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

“Every time a threat is made, a sophisticated law enforcement response is set into motion to ensure public safety,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Bomb hoaxes like the ones alleged to have been fabricated by the defendant put the community at risk and will not be tolerated.”

Statement from the Tulsa International Airport: “Tulsa International Airport Police received a report of a bomb threat on a handwritten note that was located in the pre-security side of the airport. Airport police immediately responded and secured the area and determined that there was no threat to public safety. Airport police then conducted an investigation where they identified a possible suspect and contacted the Tulsa FBI office. Tulsa FBI took over the investigation from that point forward and proceeded with their own investigation.”

As a result of the investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Oklahoma filed a criminal indictment. Court records show that Devine left a note in the restroom on March 5, 2024, and March 23, 2024. The notes stated there was a bomb located in the airport. If convicted, Devine faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. 

The FBI, Tulsa Airport Police, and the Tulsa Police Department are assisting in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case.

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

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July 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.

Joseph Scott Campbell. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Campbell, 54, of Jay, is charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor victim under 16 years old. The FBI, Cherokee Nation Marshall Service, and the Tahlequah Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-210

Rodney Eldon Hunter. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Hunter, 55, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with unlawfully shooting Darrick Orcutt in the back and killing him. 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. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-213

Aroldo Baudilio Miranda-Dionisio. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Miranda-Dionisio, 53, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Sep. 2017 at or near Dallas, Texas. 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-211

Feliciano Ortega-Banderas; Luis Enrique Rios-Soriano; Morgan Ashley Kirby. Drug Conspiracy; Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine; Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Ortega-Banderas, 21, of East Palo Alto, California; Rios-Soriano, 24, a Mexican National; and Kirby, 20, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Ortega-Banderas is further charged with intentionally attempting to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, Rios-Soriano and Kirby are charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Drug Enforcement Administration – Tulsa and Amarillo offices, the Texas Department of Safety, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-214

Arturo Procayo Rellanos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rellanos, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Mar. 2024 at or near Laredo, Texas. 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-209

Joseph Shane Simmons. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Simmons, 48, of Owasso, is charged with knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He is further charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The Owasso Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-212

Marcus Alexander Vasquez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Carrying and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Vasquez, 27, of Broken Arrow, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. Additionally, he is charged with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing and carrying a firearm while drug trafficking. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen N. Scaife is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-224

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jeffrey Wade Anderson, Jr., 35, of Tulsa, to 300 months imprisonment for Second-Degree Murder in Indian Country. Judge Hill further ordered Anderson to five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in June of 2023, Tulsa Police Department officers were dispatched in reference to a stabbing at a public park. Officers located Joe Burton, lying unresponsive with one stab wound to his upper torso. Bystanders were attempting to render aid. Once emergency medical personnel arrived, they pronounced Joe Burton deceased.

Multiple witnesses provided officers with a description of the suspect. Anderson matched that description and was detained. During his interview with detectives, Anderson admitted to officers that he “murdered that man” because he thought Joe said something disrespectful. 

Anderson is a citizen of the Cherokee 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. Attorney Scott Dunn prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – The last of nine defendants was sentenced today for the kidnapping and murder of Jolene Walker Campbell, an Osage Nation citizen, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. 

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Tre Robert Allen Ackerson, 30, Webb City, Missouri for Murder in the Second Degree. Judge Frizzell ordered Ackerson to be sentenced to 600 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

“I hope the family of Ms. Campbell can find some sort of healing knowing the person who murdered their loved one will likely die behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The Justice Department will continue its relentless efforts to seek justice on behalf of missing and murdered Indigenous people.”

According to court documents, Ackerson kidnapped and violently murdered Jolene in July 2020. The victim’s body was found in a remote field in Mayes County. The investigation showed that Jolene was robbed and kidnapped in Missouri and driven into the State of Oklahoma, where she was murdered by Ackerson.

Ackerson and several of the defendants used physical force or threatened the use of physical force against four witnesses in separate incidents. Various assaults on witnesses took place that included witnesses being kidnapped, restrained with zipties, blindfolded or having their eyes duct taped shut, being shot at, and being beaten. The acts were committed to prevent the witnesses from testifying or as retaliation for communicating to law enforcement about Jolene’s murder.

The additional defendants sentenced in this are as follows:

• Sarah Michelle Humbard, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Oct. 2023 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach sentenced Humbard to five years of probation.
• Chloe Louise Stith, of Carthage, Missouri, was sentenced in Nov. 2023 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Stith to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
• Breanna Lynn Sloan, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Jan. 2024 for Kidnapping Resulting in Death. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Sloan to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
• David William Morris, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Nov. 2023 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Morris to 65 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
• Morgan Lee Bowman, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Mar. 2024 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Bowman to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
• Megan Louise Detherage, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Mar. 2024 for Misprison of a Felony. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Detherage to time served, followed by one year of supervised release.
• Jacob Ryan Scribner, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Apr. 2024 for Conspiracy to Retaliate Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Scribner to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release.
• Lane Ryan Bronson, of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Mar. 2024 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Bronson to 228 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

The FBI, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Joplin Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Bish and George Jiang prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Jin Kai Chen, 51, to 18 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.

According to court documents, in Sep. 2023, Chen was pulled over by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, Chen had 244 individual packages of marijuana, totaling 268.4 pounds. Further search of the vehicle, officers found more than $100k in vacuum-sealed bags.

Chen is a Chinese national and a permanent resident of the United States. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Homeland Security Investigations, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Rogers County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Chad Alan Hudgins, 35, to 360 months imprisonment for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Additionally, Judge Frizzell ordered Hudgins to five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, in Dec. 2021, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office received a call requesting a well-being check of Britney Smith. Upon arrival, officers noticed blood on the exterior of the house. Upon entry of the home, the deputies found the victim, Britney Smith, deceased. According to witnesses, Hudgins was in a dating relationship with Britney Smith. Hudgins told a friend that he was arguing with Britney and shot her. Hudgins fled to Kansas, where he was arrested with a loaded 9mm pistol.

Hudgins will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The victim, Britney Smith, was a tribal citizen.

The FBI, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric O. Johnston and Julie Childress 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 Christine Fletcher, 62, for Bank Fraud and Tax Evasion. Judge Hill ordered Fletcher to serve 36 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. She is further ordered to pay $2,188,870 to the victim and $549,964 to the IRS in restitution.

According to court documents, Fletcher was a trusted assistant for over 38 years and worked directly for the business owner. Fletcher had access to several bank accounts and was often included in family affairs. She took advantage of her deeply trusted position by repeatedly embezzling funds for nearly ten years. Fletcher deposited funds into her personal accounts and paid personal credit card bills by forging the owner's deceased spouse's signature on hundreds of checks. Fletcher admitted that her motives were based solely on greed. She further admitted to agents that until she was confronted by the owner and fired, she had no idea how much she had stolen.

Fletcher pled guilty in March 2023 and agreed that the restitution may not be discharged in any bankruptcy proceeding.

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

The IRS Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple and Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Nicholas Ryan Garrison, 25, of Tulsa, to 27 months imprisonment for Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Upon release, Judge Sippel further ordered Garrison to 3 years of supervised release and to pay $298,771.90 in restitution.

According to court documents, in Feb. 2021, the Tulsa Police Department (TPD) took a report of a burglary from a gaming and trading card store. The victim provided TPD with footage of the break-in. The footage showed Garrison breaking into the store, breaking several display cases, and taking thousands of trading cards. Garrison cut himself during the break-in, and his DNA linked him to several similar robberies in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas.

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

The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, Illinois State Police Department of Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Dallas Police Department – Texas, Crestwood Police Department – Missouri, Troy Police Department – Illinois, Great Bend Police Department – Kansas, McPherson Police Department – Kansas, and Bedford Police Department – Texas, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June Federal Grand Jury 2023-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.

Keith Alan Beets. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Beets, 47, 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 Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-199

Juan Cervando Cervantes. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cervantes, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in May 2011 at or near Del Rio, Texas. 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-202

Cesar Vera Eugenio. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Eugenio, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in June 2023 at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-201

Juan Jose Huerta; Miguel Angel Huerta; Carlos Pena-Villalba; Jose Fernando Flores Carillo; Roberto Carlos Valle. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 & 8); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Count 3); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts 4, 6, 9, 11 & 14); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 5, 10 & 13); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 7 & 15); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 12); Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Illegally in the United States (Counts 16 – 19) (second superseding). Juan Huerta, 57, a Mexican National; Miguel Huerta, 27, of Broken Arrow; Pena-Villalba, 53, a Mexican National; Carillo, 24, a Mexican National; Valle, 45, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, over 5 kilograms of cocaine, and maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. Juan Huerta is charged with allegedly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Miguel Huerta is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Pena-Villalba is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Carillo allegedly possessed cocaine with intent to distribute and possessed a firearm while drug trafficking. Valle is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Additionally, Huerta, Pena-Villalba, Carillo, and Valle are charged with possessing firearms and ammunition, knowing they were an illegal alien and unlawfully in the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-118

Dontae Domance Revels, Sr.; Latoyia Deswann Shelton. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 1); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Count 2); Attempted Manufacture of Cocaine Base (Count 3); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 4 & 5). Revels, 41, of Tulsa, and a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Shelton, 40, of Tulsa, are charged with possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with the intent to distribute. They both knowingly used and maintained a residence for the purpose of distribution of drugs. Additionally, Shelton knowingly attempted to manufacture cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-192

Mitchell Dean Twidwell. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Wade, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Additionally, he is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations – Houston, Tulsa Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-200

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Rahmon Lawrence Macon, Jr., 31, of Tulsa, to 480 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Macon was sentenced after pleading guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

“Macon was reckless and careless with his actions that led to the death of an innocent bystander, Aliza Crook,” said U.S. Attorney Clint J. Johnson. “I hope this conviction will bring some type of justice for Aliza’s loved ones who courageously spoke in court today.”

According to court documents, in November 2022, video surveillance showed Macon pulling into a gas station and exiting his car to argue with a man. The man got in his car, where 19-year-old Aliza Crook was seated, and drove off. Macon fired a handgun several times at the car, striking Aliza in the head and killing her. Several eyewitnesses identified Macon as the shooter. After his arrest, evidence revealed Macon Jr. attempted to dissuade witnesses from cooperating with the FBI.

Because of his criminal convictions, Macon served multiple terms of imprisonment in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and was eventually released in May 2022. Approximately six months after his release from imprisonment, Macon shot and killed Aliza Crook.

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

After the death of Aliza Crook, her family saved the lives of two people by generously donating her heart, kidneys, and liver.

The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niko Boulieris and Adam Bailey 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 Jesse Wayne Caughron, 38, to 144 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Caughron pled guilty to Assault of an Intimate Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian County; and Witness Tampering.

According to court documents, Caughron accused his partner of cheating on him. He then suffocated her with a pillow, hit her repeatedly, and strangled her until she lost consciousness, causing a life-threatening injury. When the victim obtained a protective order against Caughron, he violated it sending harassing and threatening messages. He further attempted to mislead the victim and prevent her from testifying.

Caughron is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He was previously released on bond and ordered not to have contact with the victim. However, Caughron violated the no-contact order and was detained for violating the conditions of his release. He 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. Attorney Stacey P. Todd and Stephen Scaife prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June 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.

Adam Alshekhly. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Alshekhly, 27, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of several felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-177

Ronald Buckley Jr.; Terrance Vohn Morrow. Robbery in Indian Country (Count 1); Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 2 & 5); Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery (Count 3); Hobbs Act Robbery (Count 4). Buckley, 38, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with taking property of value by force and using, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.  Buckley and Morrow, 40, of Kinta, are further charged with affecting interstate commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff's Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Flynn and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-174

Dakota Austin Clark. Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Clark, 23, of Grove and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing visual images depicting the sexual abuse of a child under 12 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

Fabian Cobos Carpena. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Carpena, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jul. 2013, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-173

Jacob Andres Gutierrez. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Gutierrez, 25, of transient and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with breaking into an occupied dwelling with the intent to commit a crime. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-176

Lerontez Sherod Hill; Bobbe Gene Taylor; Tashonna Leigh Anderson; Walter Jay Johnson; Kemareay Keishion Green; Jeremiah Hamlin. Kidnapping; Hobbs Act Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (second superseding). Hill, 38, of Tulsa; Taylor, 25, of Tulsa; Anderson, 36, of Bixby; Johnson, 26, of Tulsa; Green, 25, of Atoka; and Hamlin, 40 of Tulsa, are charged with kidnapping and robbery in Aug. 2021. They are further charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and in relation to robbery. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and John Brahser are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-318

Michael Vincent Martin. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling 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). 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

Eliseo Morales-Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Morales-Lopez, 28, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Mar. 2015, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-172

Lazaro Nonthe-Calvio. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Nonthe-Calvio, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Apr. 2020, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-181

Brandon Parada-Reyes. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Parada-Reyes, 27, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2023, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-182

Mateo Pinto-Gomez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Pinto-Gomez, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2019, at or near Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-183

Walther Fabian De La Cruz Rodriguez. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (Counts 1 & 2); Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country (Counts 3 & 4); Production of Child Pornography (Count 5). Rodriguez, 29, a Mexican national, is charged with coercing and enticing two child victims to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with engaging in sexual acts with two child victims under the age of 16. Additionally, Rodriguez coerced and enticed a child victim to record a video depicting sexually explicit conduct. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Kate Brandon are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-175

Clifton Clay Warren. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Warren, 35, of Lawton and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with strangling and suffocating an intimate dating partner. He is further charged with attempting to kidnap his victim. Additionally, Warren is charged with assault that resulted in serious bodily injury. The FBI and Delaware County Sheriff’s Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-171

TULSA, Okla. – After being convicted by a federal jury, today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Dakota Wayne Campus. Judge Heil ordered Campus to 204 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

In November 2022, Campus was convicted of Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle 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; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

Campus assaulted the victim who is a tribal citizen and was pregnant at the time. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Studies have found that domestic violence strangulation is a significant predictor of future attempted and completed murders, increasing the odds of death by more than seven times. While signs of strangulation are not always visible, strangulation can result in long-term psychological and physical injuries to victims, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, traumatic brain injury, strokes, and more. Timely intervention is critical to minimize the short and long-term negative effects of strangulation.

To find resources for domestic violence victims, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling
800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. In an emergency, always call 911. Confidential resources can be found on their website at thehotline.org.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey P. Todd and George Jiang prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2023-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.

Antonio Deshawn Baker. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Baker, 18, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-160

Mark Verron Callshim, Jr. Robbery in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. 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 using 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

Ernesto Casrto-Sierra. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Castro-Sierra, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in May 2018, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-158

Leonel Limberg Hernandez. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Hernandez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly coercing and enticing an individual whom he believed was a minor child younger than 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-166

Juan Jose Huerta; Miguel Angel Huerta; Carlos Pena-Villalba; Jose Fernando Flores Carillo; Roberto Carlos Valle. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 & 8); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Count 3); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts 4, 6, 9, 11 & 14); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 5, 10 & 13); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 7 & 15); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 12) (superseding). Juan Huerta, 57, a Mexican National; Miguel Huerta, 27, of Broken Arrow; Pena-Villalba, 53, a Mexican National; Carillo, 24, a Mexican National; Valle, 45, a Mexican National are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. Juan Huerta is charged with allegedly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Miguel Huerta is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Pena-Villalba is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Carillo allegedly possessed cocaine with intent to distribute and possessed a firearm while drug trafficking. Valle is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-118

Tracy Eugene King. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. King, 44, of Sapulpa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of several felonies. The Homeland Security Investigations, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-156

Juan Daniel Rodriguez; Adrian Hernandez Barrios; Adolfo Jacobo; Jesus Ponce Alcaraz; Aureliano Rodriguez Hernandez; Felecia Martinez; Luis Martinez; Marco Antonio Monreal Lopez; Juan Luna; Bulmaro Martinez; Cesar Adolfo Gonzalez-Barrera; Jorge Mario Piedra Hernandez; Jaime Murillo. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Drug Conspiracy (Count 2); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 3); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 4 through 6); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 7); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 8); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 9 & 11); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 10, 12 & 14); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 13); Distribution of Cocaine (Counts 15 & 16); Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony (Counts 17 through 59) Rodriguez, 18, of Tulsa, Barrios, 29, of Tulsa, Jacobo, 28, of Tulsa, Alcaraz, 30, of Tulsa, Aureliano Hernandez, 38, a Mexican national, Felecia Martinez, 39, of Tulsa and a member of Potawatomi Nation, Luis Martinez, 37, a Mexican national, Lopez, 41, a Mexican national, Luna, 41, a Mexican national, and Jaime Murillo, 45, of Broken Arrow, are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Barrios, Jacobo, Alcaraz, Bulmaro Martinez, 38, a Mexican national, Gonzalez-Barrera, 28, a Mexican national, Jorge Hernandez, 28, a Mexican national, Felecia Martinez, and Jaime Murillo, are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine. In addition to being charged as part of the drug conspiracies, several defendants are charged with committing additional federal drug offenses. Barrios is separately charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of the charged drug conspiracies, distributing methamphetamine, and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Rodriguez is separately charged with distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Aureliano Hernandez is separately charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Felecia Martinez is separately charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Alcaraz is separately charged with distributing cocaine. With the exception of Felecia Martinez, each of the defendants is charged with using a telephone to communicate to facilitate the charged drug conspiracies and methamphetamine and cocaine distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Tulsa Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-078

Markell Demond Stanley. Bank Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Stanley, 28, of Tulsa, is charged with taking money belonging to another from a bank, by force and violence. He is charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence. Stanley is further charged with being in possession of a firearm knowing he was previously convicted of several felonies. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Flynn and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-157

Gabriel Urquiza-Urquiza; Leticia Garcia Salazar; Daisy Villanueva; Javier Rodarte; Ricardo Plateado-Martinez; Eliser Blanco; Adamaris Jimenez; Rosa Maria Olmos. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Firearms Conspiracy (Count 2); Firearms Trafficking (Count 3); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Count 4); Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity (Counts 5 & 6); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Count 7); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 8 & 9); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 10 & 17); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 11); Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms (Count 12); Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 13); Illegal Export of Firearms (Count 14); Smuggling Firearms from the United States (Count 15); Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (Count 16) (superseding). Urquiza-Urquiza, 26, a Mexican National; Salazar, 22, of Tulsa; Villanueva, 24, of Oklahoma City; Rodarte, 26, of Moore; Plateado-Martinez, 34, of Broken Arrow; Blanco, 26, of Oklahoma City; Jimenez, 22, of Oklahoma City; Olmos, 35, of Broken Arrow are charged with conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Urquiza-Urquiza, Salazar, Villanueva, Rodarte, Plateado-Martinez, and Olmos are charged with conspiring to conceal or disguise proceeds from the transactions of methamphetamine distribution. Urquiza-Urquiza is charged with two counts of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions that involved criminally derived property valued at more than $10,000. Salazar is further charged with intentionally distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. Villanueva is also charged with Salazar for intentionally distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Lopez, Jimenez, and Salazar are charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Salazar is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. Urquiza-Urquiza is also charged with possessing firearms knowing he is an illegal alien unlawfully in the United States and with possessing firearms in the furtherance of drug trafficking. He is additionally charged with willfully exporting and smuggling firearms from the United States to Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Oklahoma City Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-131

Robert Wallace; Marsha Clevenger. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Wallace, 52, of Tulsa, and a member of the Cherokee Nation, Clevenger, 66, of Tulsa, are charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute. They are further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.  The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam D. McConney is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-162

Dylan Ray Yahola. Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; Receipt of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Yahola, 32, of Kiefer and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with coercing and enticing a minor child under 18 years old to produce visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He is further charged with receiving visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The FBI and the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-163

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Alex Ray Scott, 28, to 540 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

“Alex Scott was sentenced for the murder and dismemberment of Robin Skocdopole” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This successful prosecution was the result of the exhaustive investigation and outstanding cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable.”

According to court documents, in January 2020, Scott walked into a police precinct in New York City and admitted to killing someone in an unrelated case. Members of the New York Police Department found identification and credit cards belonging to Robin Skocdopole in Scott’s possession. During an interview with law enforcement, Scott provided a prior residence in Broken Arrow and mentioned living with the victim. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by law enforcement to contact Skocdopole.

In February 2020, the Broken Arrow Police Department searched the residence of Skocdopole and found the house empty of all possessions. Forensic searches and cadaver dogs found multiple locations of blood spatter and a large pool of blood. DNA tests revealed the blood belonged to Skocdopole.

In May 2020, human remains positively identified as belonging to Skocdopole were discovered on the edge of a creek in Broken Arrow. The Medical Examiner’s report indicated two different saws were used during the dismemberment including a saw comparable to a chainsaw.

During the investigation, it was determined Scott was fitted with an ankle monitor in July 2019 awaiting trial on an unrelated case in Tulsa County District Court. The last time Skocdopole was seen alive was in August 2019. During this time, Scott was renting a room from the victim and told associates that Skocdopole abruptly left and moved to Dallas for work. Friends of the victim told law enforcement that when they attempted to reach out to him, they received vague and oddly worded responses. Scott later admitted to sending the email responses. Further analysis of Scott’s ankle monitor data showed where Scott traveled to dispose of the body parts. Scott’s ankle monitor data and bank history confirmed that he purchased and returned a chainsaw from a local retailer.

In May 2023, Scott agreed to be interviewed by the FBI. He explained the circumstances surrounding the murder of Skocdopole, as well as the dismemberment and disposal of the body afterward. Scott agreed to take the FBI to the last known location of Skocdopole’s head. Unfortunately, when Scott took FBI to the location, no additional remains were found.

Scott has entered a plea of not guilty in the pending case in New York.

Scott is a member of the Cherokee Nation. He will remain in custody while the New York case is pending. After the New York case is completed, Scott will be transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prison facility.

The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Nasar and Valeria Luster prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – A man was sentenced today for his lead role in organizing the drug trafficking of more than 100 kilos of pure methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Jabier Bustos, 35, to 324 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release for Drug Conspiracy.

“Today’s prison sentence puts criminals who bring dangerous drugs into the Northern District of Oklahoma, on notice of the cost of that activity,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “My office will continue to work towards disrupting and dismantling any criminal organization trying to operate in our backyards. With the collaboration of several law enforcement partners, more than 100 kilos of pure methamphetamine were stopped from being distributed into the Northern District of Oklahoma.”

“The importance of the defendant’s sentence cannot be overstated. He knowingly smuggled and distributed hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs across Oklahoma,” said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the HSI Dallas – Oklahoma Division. “Meth is a major concern affecting our society, with connections to violent crime, theft, addiction, and hundreds of overdose fatalities in the last few years. HSI will aggressively investigate any individual or transnational criminal organization seeking to jeopardize the well-being and safety of our communities through the illicit drug trade.”

“This investigation demonstrates the tremendous importance of state and federal partnerships working to identify and dismantle criminal drug trafficking organizations.   Oklahoma continues to see the devastating impact of methamphetamine and fentanyl on lives and communities. And my agency will aggressively target and help prosecute these traffickers who threaten the peace and safety of this state.”  — OBN Director Donnie Anderson

According to court documents, Bustos collaborated with his co-defendant, Abel Anthony Flores to get the pure methamphetamine from a drug trafficking organization. Once Bustos and Flores received the delivery they facilitated and escorted more than 101 kilograms of pure methamphetamine through Pawnee County. They both expected to be paid for their involvement in escorting the drugs. Agents not only seized the pure methamphetamine but also found cocaine, fentanyl pills, and several firearms during a search warrant.

Flores previously pled guilty to Drug Conspiracy and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David O. Nuffer in Feb. 2024. Judge Nuffer ordered Flores to 135 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

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

The Homeland Security Investigations, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick prosecuted the case.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten 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. – This week, the court sentenced Dawna Rochelle Sanders and Tracy Glenn Whyburn. Sanders and Whyburn are former employees of Premier Community Services (PCS).

“For several years, Sanders and Whyburn took advantage of their employer whose mission is to help people with special needs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This sentencing sends a clear message that those who defraud others for their own personal gain will be brought to justice.”

“Together Mr. Whyburn and Ms. Sanders embezzled more than $1.1 million from their employer and attempted to hide the money through various transactions,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “The financial expertise of CI Special Agents identified their illicit activity and, working with other agencies, brought them to justice.”

According to court documents, PCS provides community-based residential support services to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. From 2009 through 2016, Sanders conspired with her colleague, Whyburn to defraud PCS and the Bank of Oklahoma.

As the CEO, Sanders was entrusted with managing the daily business affairs for PCS. As the office manager, Whyburn reported directly to Sanders. Part of the duo’s elaborate scheme included “ghost employees.” Sanders would direct funds to Whyburn through the ghost employees. Whyburn would cash the check and split the proceeds with Sanders.

The duo’s scheme cost PCS more than $1.1 million.

• U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Sanders, 55, for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud. Judge Hill ordered Sanders to 33 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and to pay more than $999k in restitution.

• U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Whyburn, 64, for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud; and Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Income Tax Return. Judge Russell ordered Whyburn to 24 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and to pay more than $603k in restitution. 

Sanders and Whyburn were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The IRS Criminal Investigations assisted in the investigation of both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Lance Douglas Roark, 43, of Bluejacket.

After a three-day trial in January, where Roarke represented himself, a jury convicted him of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country and Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country. When the child victim testified, she was cross-examined by Roark.

Judge Frizzell ordered Roark to serve 235 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Roark will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Frizzell further ordered Roark to pay the maximum restitution of $5,000.  

Roark is a citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Craig County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia N. Hockenbury 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 Sara E. Hill sentenced Corey Allan Pickup, Jr., 33, for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Pickup to serve the maximum sentence of 180 months imprisonment, followed by 25 years supervised release. Upon his release, Pickup will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, in late 2018, a 12-year-old child victim was staying the night at a sleepover. While everyone was asleep, Pickup provided the child with alcohol and then sexually abused the child.   

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

The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel 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. – Following a two-day trial, a federal jury today convicted Mario Terrell McBee, 39, of Tulsa, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on April 23, 2021, McBee was taken to the hospital for a possible drug overdose by a family friend. McBee was unconscious by the time he reached Claremore Indian Hospital. Emergency room nurses removed McBee from the vehicle, placed him on a stretcher, and rushed him into the exam room. While nurses began lifesaving measures, a nurse noticed a firearm in McBee’s waistband. The nurses removed the firearms and administered several doses of Narcan to McBee and he regained consciousness.

The FBI and ATF took possession of the loaded 9mm firearm and discovered that McBee had previously been convicted of several felonies. State court records show that McBee’s previous felonies consist of drug-related offenses, assault and battery on a police officer, and eluding a police officer.

McBee is a member of the Chickasaw Nation and he will remain in custody until sentencing.   

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mandy M. Mackenzie and Thomas E. Buscemi 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.

A child predator and sex offender from Lawton was sentenced today for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Production of Child Pornography; and two counts of Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Justin Eli Muncy, 47, to 420 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Muncy will also be required to register as a sex offender.

“Justin Muncy is a predator who was using cell phone applications to find children,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The Department of Justice is committed to the safety and well-being of our children. The DOJ partners with programs like Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to help educate the public on tools and techniques to help fight against predators.”

State Court records show that in 2015 Muncy was convicted of Lewd or Indecent Proposals to [a] Child Under 16 and Enticing a Child Under 16 into a Secluded Place. Muncy was sentenced to a 15-year suspended sentence and required to register as a sex offender.

In 2019, Muncy was then convicted of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in State Court. In that case, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment. Muncy served three months and the remaining nine months were suspended.

Then in January of 2022, Muncy began contacting a person he believed was 14 years old to engage in sexual activity. The 14-year-old was an undercover Tulsa County Sheriff Deputy. Muncy sent several photos of his penis and requested nude photos in return.

After being arrested in 2022, the investigation revealed that Muncy persuaded and coerced a second child victim who had not attained the age of 16 years, to produce and share sexually explicit images. While in jail, Muncy directed another person to file false police reports and to hide his cell phone in hopes of misleading investigators.

Muncy is a citizen of the Comanche Nation and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Leah Paisner 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. For more information about Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, please visit their website.

TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa woman who led a large retail theft operation was sentenced today for one count of conspiracy; 165 counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 40 counts relating to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.  

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Linda Ann Been, 51, to 64 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Been to pay $43,197.76 in restitution.

According to court documents, Been was indicted with 23 co-defendants in January 2022 and pled guilty in July 2022. Operation Booster Buster was a national investigation targeting a retail theft ring and its conspiracy to distribute stolen property throughout the country. Been paid “boosters” to steal property from various retail stores, including Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, Walgreens, and others. She then sold and shipped the stolen property to various operations outside of Oklahoma, where they would be sold online.

Been recruited the boosters and coached them on what to shoplift. She would then pay the boosters for the stolen property. If a booster was arrested, Been would either pay their bond or put money on their jail account to ensure the person would not cooperate with law enforcement.

Twenty of Been’s co-defendants pled guilty and have been sentenced.

Been was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May 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.

Filiberto Almaguer-Estrada. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Almaguer-Estrada, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-149

Eduardo Agustin Barrera-Lopez; Marco Antonio Lopez-Damian; Dennis Manuel Salazar-Lopez. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute. Barrera-Lopez, 38, Lopez-Damian, 26, Salazar-Lopez, 22, all Mexican nationals, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin starting in Oct. 2023. They are further charged with intentionally possessing methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-148

Kelly Wayne Bolden. Distribution of Child Pornography. Bolden, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-146

Jeffery John Bowers. Arson in Indian Country. Bowers, 41, of Bartlesville and a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, is charged with maliciously setting fire to a dwelling in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bartlesville Fire Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-135

Kyle Jackson Fugate. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (Counts 1 & 4); Destruction of Evidence (Count 2); Attempted Production of Child Pornography (Count 3) (superseding). Fugate, 26, of Owasso and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with knowingly attempting to persuade two persons whom he believed were under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with the destruction of evidence. Additionally, Fugate coerced and enticed a minor child to share a photo depicting sexually explicit conduct. The Homeland Security Investigations and Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-101

Cory Lamar Jackson; Nicholas Ryan Ransom. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Jackson and Ransom, are both 34 and from Springfield, Missouri. They are charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-140

Amber Dawn Knight. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Knight, 36, of Collinsville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mayes Country Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-147

Misael Ramirez-Benitez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Benitez, 43, an El Savador national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Oct. 2019, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-139

Rayes Angel Sanchez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Receipt of a Firearm by Person Under Indictment for a Felony. Sanchez, 25, and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is further charged with possessing a firearm knowing he was under indictment. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-141

Ronna Marie Stone. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Stone, 46, of Tulsa and a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is charged with breaking into a residence with intent to steal property. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-142

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Leslie Ellen Mansfield, 61, of Tulsa, for Bank Fraud. Judge Frizzell ordered Mansfield to serve 18 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Mansfield to pay $137,240.95 in restitution.

According to court documents, Mansfield was a licensed attorney in New Mexico and Oklahoma. In 2011, she was asked to serve as trustee over supplemental needs trust (SNT) accounts for five adults with intellectual disabilities. The SNT accounts are established to protect clients’ Medicaid and Social Security disability benefits. Mansfield was entrusted to access these accounts for the sole benefit of the client. For example, she was authorized to withdraw funds to purchase a handicapped vehicle, clothing, dance lessons, and Special Olympic fees, and to prepay funeral expenses. 

From December 2011 through November 2017, Mansfield withdrew funds from the SNT accounts for her own personal use. She attempted to conceal her embezzlement by altering bank statements. One of the victims lost Medicaid benefits because Mansfield did not timely submit records on behalf of the client.     

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

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vani Singhal prosecuted the case.

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

In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced stepped up efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges like the fentanyl crisis which have had a disproportionate impact on Native Americans, exacerbating violence and addiction in already vulnerable communities.

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

“The Northern District of Oklahoma is committed to combatting violent crime in Indian Country, especially when it results in Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “We will use every available resource to hold violent offenders accountable, support Indian Country victims, and ensure MMIP remains a priority.”

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

This program will dedicate an MMIP Regional Outreach Program Coordinator (Coordinator) and an MMIP Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Northern District of Oklahoma. The AUSA will support and assist in MMIP cases and related crimes. The Coordinator will assist in promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, Tribal, local, and state law enforcement and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. Our victim services staff and support personnel will assist the AUSA and Coordinator's dedication to investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, organized crimes, and sex crimes in Indian Country.

The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian Country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 4053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. 

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System
In 2005, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) was created. NamUs is the only national centralized repository and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. Currently, there are 16 missing indigenous persons within the Northern District of Oklahoma.

• Rhonda Anderson – American Indian/Alaska Native, Tribe Unknown
• Lauria Jaylene Bible – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Tina Brashear – Member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
• Roley Butler – Member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
• Coolidge Cochran – American Indian/Alaska Native, Tribe Unknown
• David Allen Crabtree – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Lee Andrew Davis – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Aubrey Dameron – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Stephanie Jean Fuller – American Indian/Alaska Native, Tribe Unknown
• Anthony Hardy-Bear – Member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
• Robert Livers – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Kimberly Doreen Mullens – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Danielle Lea Prost – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Tracy Michelle Samuels – Member of the Cherokee Nation
• Jonas Albert Summers – Member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
• Crystal Dawn Wiggins – American Indian/Alaska Native, Tribe Unknown

Accessing Department of Justice Resources
Over the past year, the Justice Department awarded $2.8 million to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses in the Northern District of Oklahoma. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.

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

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

TULSA, Okla. – This week, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Justin Randall Gering, 30, of Fairland, and Tyler Levi Tavis, 23, of Miami for Arson of Property of an Institution and Organization Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. Judge Frizzell ordered both men to serve 60 months of imprisonment, followed by 1 year of supervised release.

According to court records, in Dec. 2022 Tavis and Gering were in Ottawa County Jail. They were caught on video surveillance wrapping a sleeping inmate in toilet paper and setting it on fire. The sleeping inmate was covered by a county issued fire-retardant blanket, which kept him from being severely burned. Other inmates at the jail responded quickly to put the fire out, keeping it from spreading further within the jail.

Gering and Tavis will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang prosecuted the case.

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Michael Joseph Moreland, 33, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Moreland to serve 121 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Moreland will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, between Jun. 2022 and May 2023, Moreland knowingly received, distributed, and possessed at least 2,947 images and 50 videos of child pornography on his computer. These included images and videos depicting infant/toddler abuse, bestiality, and bondage of minor child victims. In the days leading up to Moreland’s arrest, he was frequently in the top five and often the number one downloader of child pornography in Oklahoma.   

A federal statute for victims of child pornography allows defendants found guilty of child pornography trafficking offenses to pay restitution to known victims. The court in this case ordered $15,000 in victim restitution.

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

The Homeland Security Investigations, Edmond Police Department, and Owasso Police Department 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 John F. Heil, III sentenced Lee Finch, II, 49, of Houston, Texas, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Travel[ing] with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. Judge Heil ordered that Finch serve
180 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Finch will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court records, Finch started coercing and abusing the 12-year-old victim in Jun. 2016 during “sleepovers” at his house. In Sep. 2016, Finch moved to Houston, Texas. He would travel back to Tulsa to have sexual intercourse with the minor. From Jun. 2017 through Feb. 2018, the abuse continued while the minor victim lived with Finch and his family in Houston, Texas. When the minor victim relocated back to Tulsa, Finch continued the abuse through sexually explicit text messages that corresponded with flight records back to Tulsa. 

In Apr. 2018 the minor victim’s mother found the text messages. She reported the sexually explicit messages to the Tulsa Police Department (TPD). In Dec. 2018, Finch was charged in Tulsa County District Court with the State charge of lewd or indecent proposal to a child and ordered to not have contact with the minor. Despite the no-contact order, Finch encouraged the minor to lie to law enforcement and continue their “relationship.”  

Finch pleaded guilty in Jun. 2020 to a State charge of Using a Computer to Violate Oklahoma Statutes. He was sentenced to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, with all time suspended. Finch was ordered to not have contact with the victim but continued to contact the minor victim.

In Apr. 2021, the mother and minor victim returned to TPD. The minor disclosed the full extent of the “relationship” with Finch. The victim admitted to being dishonest with law enforcement and fully believed they were in a “relationship.”

Federal charges for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor were filed on Apr. 18, 2023. As the investigation continued, Finch was additionally charged with Travel[ing] with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. On Sep. 13, 2023, Finch pled guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Travel[ing] with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. At sentencing, he was ordered to serve 15 years in federal custody in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

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

The Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn 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 F. Heil, III, sentenced Garrin Michael Thompson, 50, of Catoosa. Thompson was found guilty by a federal jury in Sep. 2022 for the Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country; and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

Judge Heil ordered Thompson to serve life in prison. If released, Thompson will be supervised for life and required to register as a sex offender.

“One of the five essential components to Project Safe Childhood is accountability,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “Thompson knew his victims and exploited their trust. Life imprisonment ensures that Thompson is held accountable for his actions.”  

Four victims boldly testified at trial as to the molestation, abuse, coercion, or enticement they experienced as children in his care. Prosecutors showed during the trial that Thompson’s predatory acts went back to 2000 or 2001. He placed a video camera in his home and another in a vacation rental to record the victims. Thompson also abused and attempted to assault or molest a victim. Investigators further found on Thompson’s computer indicators that he may have been viewing child pornography or incest.

One of the victims is a tribal member. Thompson will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and the Catoosa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber 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. – A Delaware County man was sentenced today for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country and Sexual Exploitation of a Child, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Glenn David Nickols, 41, to life imprisonment. If released, Nickols will be required to register as a sex offender and will also be placed on supervised release.

 “Project Safe Childhood is our commitment to have our children grow up without fear of exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “This life sentence holds Nickols accountable for his predatory actions and puts him in prison where he cannot exploit another child.”

According to court records, from March 2020 through August 2020, Nickols knowingly engaged in repetitive and sadistic sexual acts with a 5-year-old child, whom he tied to a bed with restraints and filmed himself sexually assaulting on multiple occasions.  

Nickols previously received a 10-year sentence in Delaware County for Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography and Distributing Obscene Material, relating to possessing additional images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of other children.

The 5-year-old victim is a tribal member. Nickols will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney 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 F. Heil, III, sentenced Bradley Wade Wofford, 37, of Jenks, for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Judge Heil ordered Wofford to serve 235 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Wofford was driving under the influence of methamphetamine. He ran into a car driven by Scotty Dilbeck, killing him. Wofford was previously convicted of driving under the influence on four separate occasions. He is a citizen of Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI and Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case.