Eastern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Atoka Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hanna Jera Davidson, age 41, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Information charging her with Failure to Collect or Pay Over Tax, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.
The Information alleged Davidson, who exercised control over the financial affairs of Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery, willfully failed to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over trust fund taxes of $13,273.57 due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on behalf of the employees of Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery for the second quarter of the year ending in 2020.
In addition, as part of the plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Davidson admitted that between March 2015 and December 2020, Davidson willfully chose not to pay over to the IRS $158,527.00 in taxes collected from employees and that Davidson willfully chose not to pay over to the IRS $72,665.82, which represented Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery’s portion of the employment taxes owed.
The charge arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Davidson was released on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Alan Chastain, age 53, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Ardmore Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On December 16, 2024, Chastain pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 17, 2024, Chastain attacked an individual at his encampment in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Chastain chased the victim beyond the boundaries of the encampment, striking the victim multiple times with a machete. The victim fled but sustained serious injuries, including severe cuts to his limbs and a severed thumb. Law enforcement responding to an emergency call found the victim unconscious near the railroad tracks and a trail of blood leading back to the encampment. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Chastain will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nezjoneil Nikkolo Marris, age 28, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on March 26, 2022, Marris knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ardmore Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Marris will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Dean Burris, T. Cameron McEwen, and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Broken Arrow Residents Sentenced for Massive Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brad William Ritter, age 51, and Toby Le Mills, age 51, both of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, were sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Ritter was sentenced to 41 months of incarceration. Mills was sentenced to 33 months of incarceration. As part of sentencing, the Court ordered the defendants to pay $3,797,500.00 in restitution. In addition, the Court entered a money judgment against Mills in the amount of $1,059,958.00, ordered forfeiture of $697,863.67 in funds seized from Ritter, and entered a forfeiture money judgment against Ritter in the amount of $2,029,678.33.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Ritter and Mills each pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire fraud on April 3, 2024.
According to investigators, beginning in at least 2018 and continuing until January 2022, Ritter and Mills conspired to defraud an employee-owned business operating in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Ritter, who worked as an executive for the company, used his position to submit false invoices on behalf of a business set up in Mills’s name. The invoices billed the business for services that Mills’s company never performed, resulting in $3,797,500.00 in fraudulent payments made to Ritter and Mills during that time.
“The sentence imposed on these two defendants should serve as a stark reminder that criminal activity motivated by greed comes at a price,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The FBI is committed to ensuring those who engage in fraudulent activity are held accountable through the justice system.”
“Ritter and Mills went to great lengths to disguise a years-long scheme to siphon millions from an unsuspecting employer, using false invoices, shell companies, and layered financial lies,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., IRS-CI special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office. “Let this case serve as a warning: complex fraud schemes may be layered in lies and paperwork, but they are never beyond the reach of IRS Criminal Investigation special agents. IRS-CI will aggressively track illicit financial activity and dismantle criminal enterprises, no matter how sophisticated. Those who think they can get away with defrauding businesses or taxpayers should think again.”
“The wounds may not be physical, but the harm caused by fraudsters is still very real. I commend the investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to ensure that the defendants answered for their crime,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ritter and Mills were allowed to remain on previous bond with conditions of release and will self-report into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility by June 23, 2025, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster, Joshua Satter, and Clay Compton represented the United States.
Latimer County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Lee Harp, age 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment or Information.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.
On January 7, 2025, Harp pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between December 12, 2020, and December 9, 2021, Harp received a semi-automatic rifle despite being charged in the District Court of Latimer County, Oklahoma, for a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than a year.
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.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Harp was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ivone Monforte Leal, aka Yvonne Monforte, aka Ivonne Monforte Stefany, age 34, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.
The Indictment alleged that on March 26, 2025, Leal, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed twice without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Leal will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Former Tahlequah Teacher Sentenced for Attempting to Receive Explicit PhotosRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anthony James Deason, age 29, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for one count of Attempted Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
On December 11, 2024, Deason pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between October 26 and October 30, 2023, Deason, then a teacher and coach with Tahlequah Public Schools, used social media to contact two students he knew to be minors and requested they send him explicit images. Deason offered money and gift cards as an inducement. Deason also sent an unsolicited explicit image of himself to one of the victims. Both minors refused his requests.
The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“This case serves as a stark reminder for kids and parents that the internet is often used by persons with evil intentions to exploit and victimize,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Fortunately, the defendant’s sordid requests and offers of gifts were refused. I am grateful for the alert students and concerned families who reached out to law enforcement, and for the efforts of investigators and prosecutors who successfully stopped an online predator. Because of them, Deason will be held accountable for his vile crimes.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Deason will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara McAmis represented the United States.
Wilburton Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Henry Lawrence, aka Charles Henry Lawrence, Jr., age 57, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Latimer County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On November 25, 2024, Lawrence pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 11, 2022, law enforcement officers serving a search warrant on Lawrence’s Wilburton, Oklahoma residence seized one rifle and one revolver. At the time of the search, Lawrence had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
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.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Lawrence will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Muskogee County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anthony Lynn Brewer, age 67, of Warner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, and to 12 months for one count of Simple Possession of Methamphetamine, a misdemeanor. The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 4, 2024, Brewer pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, during a traffic stop on May 29, 2024, troopers discovered Brewer in possession of a shotgun and methamphetamine. At the time of the stop, Brewer had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
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.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Brewer will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Ada Resident Sentenced for Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jasmine Rae Valdez, age 26, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 33 months for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
On April 10, 2025, Valdez’s co-defendant, Brendan Kaleb Rains, age 26, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and 60 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, to be served concurrently. Rains pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2024.
On October 29, 2024, Valdez pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on August 29, 2023, Valdez and Rains forced entry into a Stonewall, Oklahoma residence. During the ensuing altercation, Valdez participated in Rains’ attack on the occupants, actively assisting and enabling the attack, as well as acting to prevent another from coming to the victim’s aid or defense. The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Kansas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Valdez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Stilwell Residents Enter Guilty Pleas to Child Exploitation and Neglect ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Samuel Shane Allgood, age 36, and Shannon Rae Scraper, age 44, both of Stilwell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the exploitation and neglect of a minor in Indian country.
Allgood entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.
Scraper entered a guilty plea to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country, punishable by a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of $5,000.00.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in December 2016 and continuing until March 2024, Allgood employed, used, persuaded, enticed or coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and acted with the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.
The Indictment further alleged that beginning in December 2016 and continuing until March 2024, while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of a child under the age of 18, Scraper willfully and maliciously failed to provide the child with adequate nurturance, affection, and supervision, and failed to protect the child from sexual acts and materials that were not age appropriate.
The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted Allgood’s plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted Scraper’s plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The defendants will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Bove represented the United States.
Tulsa Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tommy Allen Winkler, age 37, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Theft in Indian Country.
The Information alleged that on November 16, 2022, and continuing until June 14, 2024, Winkler took and carried away, with intent to steal and purloin, money and personal property of three victims with a value exceeding $1,000.00.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Winkler was released on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Kenneth Barber, age 45, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On November 5, 2024, Barber pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 20, 2023, Barber killed the victim with a single intentional shot to the head fired at close range from a .22 caliber rifle. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Barber will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilbert Lamon Rivers, aka Wilbert Lamon Rivers, Jr., age 27, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Lighthorse Police Department, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On November 4, 2024, Rivers pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 4, 2023, law enforcement discovered Rivers in possession of forty rounds of ammunition and a semi-automatic pistol capable of accepting a large capacity magazine after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
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.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Rivers will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Wagoner Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Kent Leondis Honeycutt, age 44, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 84 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
On November 5, 2024, Honeycutt pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on January 24, 2024, Sequoyah County deputies conducting a traffic stop discovered Honeycutt in possession of 436 grams of methamphetamine, scales, baggies, a ledger, a semi-automatic pistol, and 56 rounds ammunition. At the time of the stop, Honeycutt had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Honeycutt will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Tulsa Resident Sentenced for Leaving the Scene of A Fatal AccidentRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gary Wayne Fraser, age 54, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Weleetka Police Department.
On September 9, 2024, Fraser pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 15, 2023, Fraser caused a collision resulting in death, failed to render reasonable aid, and fled the scene of the accident in order to avoid prosecution. While driving a pickup truck outside Weleetka, Oklahoma, Fraser crossed over the center line and struck a pedestrian walking in the oncoming lane. Law enforcement investigating a possible collision found the victim laying on the side of the road with visible injuries and Fraser’s empty truck stranded in a ditch with noticeable damage to the front end. The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Fraser will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan W. Howanitz represented the United States.
Tulsa Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Demarrio Lee Hannah, aka Demario Hannah, aka Mario Hannah, age 36, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on June 22, 2024, Hannah knowingly possessed a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, despite having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Trae Allen Cordell, age 31, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 262 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 60 months for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
On November 6, 2024, Cordell pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on April 3, 2024, law enforcement serving a search warrant on Cordell’s residence seized two large bags containing smaller baggies amounting to 1,257 grams of methamphetamine, as well as two loaded semi-automatic pistols. At the time of the arrest, Cordell had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Cordell will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Seminole Resident Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucas Wayne Cullum, aka Lucus Wayne Cullum, age 26, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 17, 2024, Cullum pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 23, 2022, Cullum failed to devote attention to driving, causing the death of a passenger. While driving at a high rate of speed, Cullum crossed the opposing lane of traffic on State Highway 59 and left the roadway. Cullum abruptly swerved the vehicle back to the right, crossed both lanes of traffic, exited the roadway, and struck a tree. As Cullum fled the scene of the crash on foot, the car caught fire with two occupants inside. One passenger was seriously injured but was able to escape the vehicle. The other passenger was unable to escape and died from injuries sustained in the crash and the resulting fire.
The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Cullum will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Tyrone Dawson, age 35, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, and to 41 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police.
On October 8, 2024, Dawson pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on October 16, 2023, officers conducting a traffic stop on Dawson’s vehicle discovered an outstanding warrant for his arrest through the Muscogee Nation. Law enforcement subsequently seized 29 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded .40 caliber pistol from the vehicle. At the time of the arrest, Dawson had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Dawson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty to StalkingRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garrick Davaughn McCrary, age 29, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Stalking, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in April 2023 until January 16, 2025, intending to injure, harass, intimidate, or place a person under surveillance, McCrary used facilities of interstate or foreign commerce, including social media and internet websites, to engage in a course of conduct that caused substantial emotional distress to the victim and placed the victim in reasonable fear of serious bodily injury.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
McCrary will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Herman Will Sanders, Jr., age 40, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On November 18, 2024, Sanders pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 5, 2023, Sanders knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sanders will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
LeFlore County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jessica Marie Campbell, age 43, of Spiro, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by at least 5 years up to 40 years in prison and a fine of $5,000,000.00.
The Indictment alleged that on June 7, 2023, Campbell knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 27 Violent Crime Task Force, and the District 16 Drug Task Force.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Campbell was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Hugo Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffery Scott Pinkston, age 40, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
On November 14, 2024, Pinkston pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, from November 2022 until June 2024, Pinkston knowingly possessed visual depictions of a minor under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, which Pinkston accessed intending to view.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pinkston will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sean Paul Duer, age 58, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
The Information alleged that on May 12, 2024, Duer knowingly and intentionally possessed a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Durant Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Duer will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Wewoka Resident Sentenced to 27 Years for Second Degree Murder and Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Celdon Mullins, age 22, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree. Mullins was also sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The terms are set to be served consecutively.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
On November 6, 2024, Mullins pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators on June 20, 2023, Mullins pulled a 9mm pistol during an argument with a neighbor and fired twice. One bullet struck the victim, who died on the scene. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Mullins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - An Oklahoma man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Landon Joe Black, 25, of Stilwell, was sentenced for producing CSAM featuring two child victims that he shared on the “dark web.” Black would pose as a young girl on the internet to establish relationships with children and would then direct them to create CSAM. He would then share images of his victims along with their ages, as well as other CSAM images, on the dark web. He would refer to some of his victims as “baits.” Documents found on Black’s computers included a draft how-to guide for other offenders. Black also collected detailed information about one child, including information about their family, school, and daily movements. The pictures Black produced and shared continue to circulate, causing significant ongoing harm to his victims.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Broken Arrow Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony Assault and Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rafael Martin Sangines, age 29, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.00, and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 29, 2024, Sangines assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.
The Indictment further alleged that on September 29, 2024, Sangines possessed a rifle, a pistol, and multiple rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Broken Arrow Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sangines will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Soverly and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Marietta Resident Sentenced to Thirty Years for Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jukobie Allen Ramsey, age 22, of Marietta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, to be followed by a lifetime term of Supervised Release.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office.
On December 4, 2024, Ramsey pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, beginning in May 2021, and continuing until April 29, 2024, Ramsey engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor for the purpose of producing and transmitting visual depictions of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet, then transmitted those depictions onto the internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at http://www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ramsey will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Five Arkansas Residents Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five Arkansas residents were sentenced for federal drug crimes. The leader of the drug trafficking organization, Rito Alvarado Gomez, age 37, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for one count of Drug Conspiracy.
Alvarado Gomez’s co-defendants were sentenced at hearings held between March 25, 2025, and May 6, 2025. Three were sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine:
- Ricardo Villeda, age 26, was sentenced to 151 months in prison;
- Jose Alberto Alvarado Gomez, age 34, was sentenced to 68 months in prison; and
- Iris Yosellin Luna-Herrera, age 27, was sentenced to 41 months in prison.
Co-defendant Ana Isabel Frayre Barboza, age 38, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Misprision of Felony.
According to investigators, beginning in 2018 and continuing until March 2024, the defendants traveled from Arkansas into the Eastern District of Oklahoma to distribute methamphetamine. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants sold over 9 kilograms of methamphetamine. The defendants also traveled into the Eastern District of Oklahoma to collect money owed for methamphetamine sales.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration-McAlester Resident Office, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Texarkana Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations-Texarkana, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the 8th North Drug Task Force out of Hope, Arkansas, and the 9th West Drug Task Force out of Nashville, Arkansas. Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation, including the Arkansas State Police, the Hope Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Rito Alvarado Gomez, Jose Alvarado Gomez, Ricardo Villeda, and Iris Luna Herrera are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration. Ana Frayre Barboza was ordered to report to the U.S. Marshals on June 2, 2025, when she will begin serving a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Choctaw County Resident Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Karen Sue Freeman, age 64, of Grant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hugo Police Department, and the Durant Police Department.
On January 14, 2025, Freeman pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 13, 2024, Freeman knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Freeman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for ArsonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wesley Wayne Sutton, age 60, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Arson in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 23, 2024, Sutton pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 1, 2024, Sutton approached a Tahlequah residence, broke one window, attempted to break a second, then used gasoline to ignite the front door of the dwelling before entering the building and assaulting a resident. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sutton will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clint Rogers Chuculate, a/k/a Clint Robert Chuculate, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On December 18, 2024, Chuculate pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 19, 2024, Chuculate was stopped for a traffic violation while driving through Stilwell, Oklahoma. During the stop, law enforcement discovered approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, along with a 7.62x39mm caliber semi-automatic rifle loaded with a high capacity magazine and a 9mm caliber Luger semi-automatic pistol. During the ensuing investigation, Chuculate admitted to selling approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine in the month prior to the traffic stop.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Chuculate will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Spiro Resident Sentenced for Possessing an Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bryant Dewayne Underwood, age 36, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
On January 13, 2025, Underwood pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on October 26, 2023, deputies conducting a traffic stop in LeFlore County discovered Underwood in possession of a 5.56 NATO (.223) caliber, short-barreled rifle. The rifle had previously been reported stolen from a location in Arkansas and Underwood was not the registered owner of the rifle in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
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.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Underwood will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Murray County Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with A Dangerous Weapon and Eluding A Peace OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jayson Geoffrey Evans, age 50, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine, and one count of Eluding Peace Officer in Indian Country, punishable by not less than one year imprisonment and up to five years imprisonment, and a fine of not less than $1,000.00 and up to $5,000.00.
The Indictment alleged that on December 30, 2023, Evans assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm.
The Indictment further alleged that on December 30, 2023, Evans willfully attempted to elude a peace officer while operating a motor vehicle after receiving a visual and audible signal directing him to stop.
The crimes occurred in Murray County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Evans will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Hugo Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Mark McAnally, age 65, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Possessing Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He will serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release from incarceration.
The charge arose from an investigation by Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On December 12, 2024, McAnally pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, in July of 2023, McAnally knowingly possessed visual depictions from the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which McAnally accessed with intent to view.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McAnally will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
Durant Resident Sentenced to Thirty-Two Years for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kyle Hunter Laws Duffner, age 27, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 384 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On December 4, 2024, Duffner pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing a child with malice aforethought. According to investigators, on June 27, 2021, law enforcement responded to a 911 call of a non-responsive infant. The child was life-flighted for care but succumbed to injuries shortly after transfer. During treatment, medical professionals discovered signs of acute rib fractures, older rib fractures in various stages of healing, and a possible head injury. A post-mortem examination revealed a skull fracture symptomatic of blunt force impact in the early stages of healing, multiple contusions to the forehead, jaw, and chest, and rib fractures consistent with at least three events of blunt force trauma.
The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Duffner will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Wayne Shomo, aka Jerry Wayne Shomo, Jr., age 47, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Shomo with knowingly possessing one DSP Armory Model DSP-15, multi-caliber, semi-automatic rifle on December 9, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Shomo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia P. Staubus represented the United States.
Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Charles Riddle, age 35, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, each punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000.00 fine.
The indictment alleged that on January 6, 2025, Riddle knowingly possessed one round of .45ACP caliber ammunition, 18 rounds of .380ACP caliber ammunition, and one round of .22 caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Indictment further alleged that between January 17, 2024, and August 2024, Riddle knowingly possessed one .22 caliber pump action rifle, one 12-gauge pump action shotgun, one 6.5 Creedmoor caliber bolt action rifle, and 15 rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Riddle was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced to over 20 Years for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brett Wayne Pigeon, age 45, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 126 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The terms will be served consecutively.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
On January 6, 2025, Pigeon pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on November 27, 2023, law enforcement responding to reports of shots fired discovered the victim deceased from apparent gunshots to the back, head, and hip. Pigeon was identified as a suspect, and later admitted shooting the victim with a 12-gauge shotgun. The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pigeon will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Sentenced to Eleven Years for Maiming in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Cody Ray McFadden, age 36, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for one count of Maiming in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On December 16, 2024, McFadden pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 16, 2022, McFadden invited a visitor to his residence. Once inside, McFadden beat the victim, forced the victim into a cage, and padlocked the door. During the next 36 hours, McFadden proceeded to assault and torture the victim, threatening to kill the victim with a cross bow and intentionally striking at the victim with an axe. The victim, who sustained a head laceration, burns, bruises, and a broken arm, managed to break free, escape through a window, and run to a neighbor’s home. Law enforcement responding to the neighbor’s emergency call took McFadden into custody after a brief standoff. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“This defendant demonstrated a complete lack of humanity, subjecting the victim to an extended period of violence resulting in unimaginable physical and mental trauma,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out violent offenders through aggressive investigations and prosecutions.”
“This is the stuff of nightmares, but unfortunately, it was sickeningly real,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the bravery of this survivor, the quick work of law enforcement in securing an end to this horrifying ordeal, and the steadfastness of investigators and prosecutors who ensured that McFadden spends the next decade in prison answering for his ruthless crimes.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McFadden will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Heath Lloyd Taylor, age 46, of LeFlore County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for Drug Conspiracy.
Taylor’s co-defendants were sentenced at hearings held between October 16, 2024, and April 25, 2025. Seven members of the drug trafficking organization were sentenced for Drug Conspiracy:
- Aaron Guy Key, age 47, of Poteau, Oklahoma (240 months);
- Travis Austin Powers, age 38, of Anderson, South Carolina (168 months);
- Mallory Nicole Laird, age 37, of Poteau, Oklahoma (130 months);
- Terri Angela Stroud, age 53, of Spiro, Oklahoma (70 months);
- Kandi Anne Hankins, age 43, of Idabel, Oklahoma (57 months);
- Tracie Ann Sells, age 55, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma (41 months); and
- Jeremy Paul Newman, age 47, of Poteau, Oklahoma (24 months).
Five additional members of the drug trafficking organization were sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances:
- Taylor Dain Parnell Caldwell, age 35, of Poteau, Oklahoma (151 months);
- Cody Wade Reece, age 34, of Poteau, Oklahoma (151 months);
- Heather Leigh Brown, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma (87 months);
- Whitney Marie Granite, age 37, of Spiro, Oklahoma (58 months); and
- Randi Shawn Gann, age 35, of Heavener, Oklahoma (57 months).
According to investigators, between August 2022 and November 2023, Heath Lloyd Taylor, who was serving time in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, led a drug trafficking organization operating in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. As part of that conspiracy, non-incarcerated members obtained, stored, and distributed over 25 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 465 grams of fentanyl from a base of stash houses. The stash houses also served as a base of operations where the defendants funneled drug proceeds, stored drug trafficking assets, and obtained and stored firearms.
This joint investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, working in cooperation with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed at various stages of the investigation, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Poteau Police Department, the Spiro Police Department, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Seminole Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service.
“There should never be any doubt that there are countless victims of drug trafficking, and the violence associated with it,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chavez, who oversees DEA operations in Oklahoma. “Defendant Taylor and his associates took advantage of individuals and showed no concern for those who stood in their path of destruction. Sentences of this nature are a win for our victims and a warning to drug traffickers.”
“Drug trafficking and the illegal activity associated with it continues to threaten the safety of the general public throughout our communities. Life in a federal prison should serve as a reminder to those who think they fly under the radar that they are and will continue to be our target. ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep illegal substances out of our communities and investigating those responsible,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims.
“This was an outstanding joint investigation with our state and federal partners to dismantle and prosecute a complex criminal organization,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “We want this to send a strong message that we will aggressively pursue those who think they can safely run their criminal network while behind bars.”
“The sentencings announced today conclude a months-long investigation and prosecution of a nefarious group that distributed large quantities of dangerous narcotics in and around the Poteau area,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Thanks to the cooperative work of federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, Taylor and his co-defendants are off the streets and their drug operation has ended.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and the Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by designation, presided over the hearings. Defendants are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Adair County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Darrell Porter Jr., age 40, of Westville, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.00.
The Indictment alleged that on August 4, 2024, Porter knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Westville Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Porter will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Howe Residents Sentenced to Life in Prison for Crimes Relating to Sexual Abuse of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Armondo Joseph Palma, age 23, and Brooklyn Elaine Wilson, age 28, of Howe, Oklahoma, were sentenced in federal district court for sexually abusing a child under the age of 12.
On April 24, 2025, Palma was sentenced to life in prison for one count of Transportation of a Minor.
On April 23, 2025, Wilson was sentenced to life in prison for four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and to 10 years in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations-Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, the District 16 Drugs and Violent Crime Task Force, the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Carl Albert State College Campus Police.
On November 12, 2024, Palma and Wilson pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, law enforcement became aware that Palma was sending images of a child being sexually assaulted to another person over the internet. The ensuing investigation revealed that between November 2023 and March 2024, Wilson and Palma sexually abused a child under the age of 12, often recording or photographing their abuse. On more than one occasion, Wilson and Palma transported the child across state lines, where the abuse continued. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement also seized electronic images from the defendants’ cell phones depicting the sexual abuse and the sexual exploitation of additional children.
The crimes occurred primarily in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“These defendants routinely abused an innocent child, showing a complete lack of concern for the life-altering physical and emotional damage their sexually exploitative behavior would inflict,” said Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge for HSI North Texas and Oklahoma. “The lengthy healing journey for this child's unwarranted trauma can now begin with these child predators incarcerated for the rest of their lives.”
“The sexual abuse the defendants perpetrated on the victim is sickening, and a prison cell is where they deserve to spend the remainder of their days,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Seeking justice for victims is a priority of the Department, and I commend the exceptional investigative work of HSI’s Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force and the other law enforcement agencies that assisted in this case.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Palma and Wilson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the United States at the sentencing hearings.
Choctaw County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joe Clay Harris, age 40, of Boswell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 56 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The terms were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hugo Police Department.
On December 2, 2024, Harris pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on April 6, 2024, law enforcement serving a search warrant on Harris’s residence discovered Harris in possession of methamphetamine, digital scales, and several small plastic baggies commonly used to package illegal narcotics for distribution. Law enforcement also seized one .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and five rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Harris was previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Harris will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Cherokee County Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven DeWayne Beard, age 51, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for First Degree Murder in Indian Country and to a consecutive sentence of 120 months for Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
On September 14, 2024, a federal jury convicted Beard on both counts. According to investigators, on March 29, 2023, Beard, who was a romantic rival for a woman’s affections, became angry and ordered the woman to remove her property from his residence while he was away. Knowing that the victim was the woman’s only ride and would accompany her to remove her items, Beard hid his vehicle from view, then waited inside his residence for the pair to arrive. When the woman arrived with Beard’s intended target, Beard shot the victim in the chest with a shotgun. The victim fell to the ground and Beard shot the victim in the chest again at pointblank range. The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Beard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft of Property from A Government InstallationRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garland Leon Seay, age 38, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Theft of Government Property, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a $250,000.00 fine, and one count of Entering a Military Installation for a Purpose Prohibited by Law, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to $5,000.00.
The Indictment alleged that on July 22, 2024, Seay willfully and knowingly stole property of the United States belonging to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in value exceeding $1,000.00, including an inert training missile, telescope spotlights, electronic tablets, tools, and a Nikon camera.
The Indictment also alleged that between July 2023 and September 4, 2024, Seay willfully and knowingly stole property of the United States belonging to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in value exceeding $1,000.00, including computer hard drives, spools of cable, bags of heavy machinery tools, and miscellaneous tools and equipment.
Finally, the Indictment alleged that beginning on July 11, 2024, and continuing until July 16, 2024, Seay knowingly and unlawfully entered the property of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, a military installation, in order to steal property belonging to the United States.
The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Police Department, Pittsburg County Sherriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Antonio Lamar Ford Jr., age 31, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On November 21, 2024, Ford pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 16, 2023, Ford crashed his Dodge Challenger into another vehicle on Interstate 35 while attempting to pass in the right lane of travel. The force of the collision ejected Ford’s passenger from the vehicle. That passenger died on the scene. Prior to the crash, Ford was driving at speeds in excess of 140 mph with a blood alcohol content above .08. The crime occurred in Love County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ford will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffry Gabriel Zamora-Pineda, age 33, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Seminole, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
The Indictment alleged that on March 19, 2025, Zamora-Pineda, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Zamora-Pineda will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Latimer County Resident Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tracy Ann Mannon, aka Tracy Ann Moore, aka Tracy A. Carter, age 52, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
The Information alleged that on February 26, 2024, Mannon unlawfully killed the victim willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice aforethought.
The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Wilburton Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Mannon will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.