Eastern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robey Lee Butler, age 35, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Stolen Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on November 7, 2023, Butler knowingly possessed a stolen semi-automatic rifle, and had reasonable cause to believe that firearm was stolen.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
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. Butler will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman, Lewis Matthew Reagan, and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Spiro Resident Pleads Guilty to 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, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of An Unregistered Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on October 26, 2023, Underwood knowingly possessed one 5.56 NATO (.223) caliber, short-barreled rifle which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
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. Underwood will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Okmulgee County 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 Gabriel Lee Williams II, a/k/a Chi-Chi, age 26, of Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on or about April 27, 2024, Williams knowingly possessed one 9mm handgun and one .40 caliber handgun, despite having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Okmulgee 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. Williams will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.
Oklahoma City Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stephanie Leigh Rodgers, a/k/a Stephanie Larsen, age 40, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on or about August 19, 2024, Rodgers knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
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. Rodgers was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Pittsburg 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 Robert Charles Marshall, age 64, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 12, 2024, Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on November 15, 2023, Marshall knowingly possessed one Ruger .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one Ruger .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm caliber semi-automatic rifle, one Browning .270 Weatherby Magnum caliber semi-automatic rifle, along with six rounds of .45ACP caliber ammunition, two rounds of Aguila branded ammunition, four rounds of Winchester branded ammunition, and thirteen rounds of Remington branded .308 Winchester caliber ammunition. Marshall possessed the firearm and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Marshall 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 Jessica Bove represented the United States.
Pittsburg County 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 William Drew Sullivan, age 34, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Krebs Police Department.
On July 15, 2024, Sullivan pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 3, 2024, officers conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Sullivan in possession of two cell phones, a scale, and two baggies containing fentanyl, 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. Sullivan 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.
McAlester Resident Sentenced for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Arlo Christopher Jordan, age 26, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for illegal possession of ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 16, 2024, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition. According to investigators, on January 11, 2024, officers discovered Jordan in possession of 270 Winchester ammunition. Jordan possessed the ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Jordan 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 Robinson represented the United States.
Vian Resident Sentenced for Strangling Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucas James Blackbird, age 40, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangling or Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Vian Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 19, 2024, Blackbird pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on February 19, 2024, Blackbird strangled the victim, causing life-threatening injuries. The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Blackbird will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals 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.
Okemah Resident Sentenced for Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tanner Wayne Hicks, age 34, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police.
On June 11, 2024, Hicks pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 31, 2024, officers responding to an emergency callout discovered the victim bruised and bleeding after being struck by Hicks in the head and face with closed fists. The crime occurred in Okemah County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) 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. Hicks 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 Robinson represented the United States.
Okemah Resident Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Victor Wayne Andrew Artussee, age 31, of Okemah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that on or about May 11, 2024, Artussee assaulted an individual with a dangerous weapon intending to do bodily harm.
The crimes occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police.
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. Artussee was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Latimer County 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 Dustin Lee Harp, age 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment or Information.
The Indictment alleged that between December 12, 2020, and December 9, 2021, Harp willfully received a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle while under indictment or information for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cory Lamont Bostic, a/k/a Cory L. Neal, age 48, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 7, 2023, Bostic knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended to distribute.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
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. Bostic will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Pryor Resident Sentenced to 180 Months for Child Sexual Exploitation and AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucien Tyler Littledave, age 30, of Pryor, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, 180 months for one count of Coercion and Enticement, 180 months for one count of Receipt of Certain Materials Involving Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 180 months for one count of Distribution of Certain Materials Involving Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 180 months for one count of Rape in the Second Degree in Indian Country, and 120 months for one count of Sexual Battery in Indian Country. These sentences are set to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Broken Arrow Police Department.
On May 7, 2024, Littledave pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, between March 2023 and May 2023, while employed as a teacher and coach with the Coweta Public School System, Littledave knowingly enticed a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Littledave also used a cell phone to produce and distribute sexually explicit images of the victim.
The crimes occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, and in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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 on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 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 in Muskogee. Littledave 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.
Durant 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 Henry Tyler Allen, age 34, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on September 24, 2024, Allen possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The charge arose from investigations by the Durant Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Allen was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Ada Resident Sentenced for Assaulting Tribal OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Curtis Ray McClendon, III, age 41, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Ardmore Police Department.
On June 7, 2024, McClendon pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 6, 2023, McClendon struck a Chickasaw Lighthorse officer multiple times on the head with a flashlight, causing lacerations. The crime occurred in Pontotoc 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. McClendon 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.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lenard Ray Bond, age 31, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failing to register as a sex offender.
The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 8, 2024, Bond pleaded guilty to an Indictment of one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
On August 8, 2014, Bond was convicted in the State of Oklahoma for Second Degree Rape and required to register as a sex offender. Bond was advised of the requirement to register as a sex offender and to inform law enforcement of any change in residency. According to investigators, between April 14, 2019, and March 15, 2024, Bond repeatedly failed to register as a sex offender despite moving into and living at various residences in and around Indian country within 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. Bond 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 Emily Wittlinger and Jessica Bove represented the United States.
Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Adelby Isloa Martinez Mendez, age 35, of Honduras, entered a guilty plea to one count of Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien.
The Indictment alleged that on or about March 5, 2024, Martinez Mendez, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously deported and removed on two prior occasions.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
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. Martinez Mendez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
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 Michael Adrian Wrenn, age 36, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The Information alleged that on December 9, 2023, Wrenn knowingly possessed a semiautomatic 9mm caliber pistol, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Ardmore Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Wrenn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for ArsonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Aaron Welch Earley, age 42, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Arson in Indian Country. The Court also ordered Earley pay restitution in the amount of $130,268.91.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On March 28, 2024, Earley pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 14, 2023, Earley willfully and maliciously set fire to an insured Westville, Oklahoma, residence for financial benefit. The total reported loss exceeded $100,000.
The crime occurred in Adair 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. Earley 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.
Sequoyah County 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 Robert Carl Ward, age 69, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On June 3, 2024, Ward pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 2, 2024, agents discovered Ward in possession of possessed gallon-size baggies containing crystalline methamphetamine, two sets of digital gram-weight scales, and smaller plastic baggies filled with crystalline methamphetamine. In total, Ward possessed over 575 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended to distribute.
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. Ward 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 Rachel Geizura and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Muskogee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Thomas Edward Gailus, age 51, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The Indictment alleged that between April of 2018 and March 23, 2023, Gailus knowingly accessed and possessed visual depictions from the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that Gailus accessed the images intending to view them.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Judge 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. Gailus will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie Pippin and Dak Cohen and U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills represented the United States.
Stilwell 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 Clint Rogers Chuculate, a/k/a Clint Robert Chuculate, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 19, 2024, Chuculate knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended to distribute.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. Chuculate will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Muskogee Residents Sentenced for Child NeglectRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Allen Maher, age 33, and Azalee Louellen Maher, age 28, both of Muskogee, Oklahoma, were sentenced to five years supervised release for child neglect in Indian country.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 15, 2024, Andrew Maher and Azalee Maher each pleaded guilty to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country. According to investigators, on August 18, 2023, Muskogee officers responding to reports of an accidental firearm discharge at a Muskogee residence discovered a two-year old child with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the lower abdomen. EMS workers successfully resuscitated and stabilized the child, who was transported for life-saving surgery. As part of the plea, both defendants admitted failing to provide adequate supervision to the child in their care, resulting in the child accessing a firearm.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie Pippin represented the United States.
Tahlequah 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 Heath Tyler Bryan, age 34, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On May 15, 2024, Bryan pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on January 1, 2024, troopers discovered Bryan in possession of a loaded .38 special revolver and one round of ammunition. Bryan possessed the firearm and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Bryan 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 Edith Singer and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.
Muskogee 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 Rickey Everett Ballard, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
The Superseding Indictment alleged that between May 1, 2024, and May 29, 2024, Ballard knowingly possessed a semiautomatic .300 blackout caliber pistol and twenty-nine rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ballard will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to MaimingRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Ray McFadden, age 36, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Maiming in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2022, McFadden, intending to maim and disfigure, disabled the victim.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. McFadden will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Idabel 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 Teresa Leona Dean, age 55, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 6 years in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On June 5, 2024, Dean pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on August 17, 2023, Dean distributed over 5 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. Dean 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. Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Bartlesville 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 Luther Lee Taylor, a/k/a Luther Lee High, a/k/a Luther Lee Taylor High, age 44, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Atoka County Sheriff’s Department, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On August 27, 2024, Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 21, 2024, law enforcement intercepted Taylor approximately half a mile from the Howard-McLeod Correctional Center in Atoka County carrying two large duffel bags which were found to contain baggies 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. Taylor 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 Lorenz represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Alan Chastain, age 52, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea of one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2024, Chastain assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Ardmore 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. Chastain will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Matthew Staton, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 105 months in prison for one count of Attempted Robbery in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.
On July 11, 2024, Staton pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 4, 2020, Staton attempted to rob a shopper at gunpoint in a Muskogee parking lot. When Staton’s target refused, Staton pistol whipped the shopper, then fired off two rounds in the shopper’s direction as the shopper fled. The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) 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. Staton 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.
LeFlore County Resident Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jada Marie Ray, age 33, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 6 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 16 Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On July 23, 2024, Ray pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 5, 2023, Ray distributed twenty pills containing fentanyl, 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. Ray 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.
Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty to MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bryson Noel Miller, age 19, of Fort Towson, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Murder in Indian Country.
The Indictment against Miller alleged that on December 23, 2020, Miller killed the victim willfully, deliberately, maliciously, with premeditation and malice aforethought.
According to investigators, on the afternoon of December 22, 2020, Miller, Ashlie Nicole Rose Martin, and Chad Jon’Dale Voyles planned the murders of Martin’s parents, then set their plan into motion. As part of that plan, Miller participated in bludgeoning Martin’s father to death. The crimes occurred in Choctaw 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, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, Oklahoma, accepted Miller’s plea, ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report, and remanded Miller to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced Federal Drug and Firearm Related CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Beau Don Morton, age 42, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a user of controlled substances, and 30 months for one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 3, 2024, Morton pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on April 6, 2022, deputies with the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office executing a search warrant on Morton’s Muldrow residence discovered two small plastic baggies containing white crystalline methamphetamine, a metal canister of heroin, a small plastic bag containing 43 amphetamine tablets, a plastic container containing fentanyl tablets, multiple baggies containing sealed syringes, a set of digital scales, and an AR-15-style firearm with twelve loaded magazines of ammunition.
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. Morton 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 Edith Singer and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.
Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty to 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, entered a guilty plea to one count of possessing certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Indictment alleged that in July 2023, McAnally knowingly possessed visual depictions from the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which McAnally accessed with intent to view.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police 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. McAnally was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.
Wagoner Resident Pleads Guilty to Child NeglectRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Salasha Fae Bosley, age 25, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Child Neglect in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that between September 2023 and June 16, 2024, Bosley failed to provide two children with adequate nurturance, affection, food, shelter, sanitation, hygiene, medical care, supervision, and sanitary living conditions while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the children.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Bove and Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charley Lee Buckhorn, age 50, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing firearms.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, the District 27 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On June 10, 2024, Buckhorn pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 15, 2023, law enforcement serving outstanding arrest warrants discovered Buckhorn in possession of a loaded AR-15 rifle, a loaded 9mm pistol, and assorted rounds of ammunition. Buckhorn possessed the firearms and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Buckhorn 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.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation CrimeRead 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, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The Indictment alleged that Deason attempted to use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting a visual depiction of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and Homeland Security 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. Deason was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Felon in Possession of A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Micco Harjo, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Stilwell Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On June 4, 2024, Harjo pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 3, 2023, a law enforcement officer discovered Harjo in possession of a .22 caliber revolver and over 100 rounds of .22 ammunition. Harjo possessed the firearm and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. After serving a term of imprisonment for a state sentence, Harjo will be delivered into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Flanigan and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Seminole Resident Sentenced for Murder in Indian Country and Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Coker Dean Barker, age 37, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country and 120 months for Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and Related to a Crime of Violence. The sentences are set to be served consecutively to each other and to a separate conviction for escape.
The charges arose from investigations by the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 10, 2023, Barker was found guilty by a federal jury at trial on one count of Murder in Indian Country and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. According to the evidence presented at trial, in April of 2019, Barker participated in brutally attacking, shooting, and killing the victim at a residence in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. An autopsy revealed that, during the fatal attack, the victim sustained 18 broken ribs, two punctured lungs, and multiple bullet and shotshell wounds. After attempting to burn evidence to evade prosecution, Barker fled to the Mexican border where he was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and returned to Oklahoma for prosecution.
The Honorable John Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Barker 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.
Seminole Resident Sentenced for Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Scott William Lanham, age 45, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On March 4, 2024, Lanham pleaded guilty to the charge. According to court documents, in April of 2019, after the murder of an area Seminole resident, Lanham knowingly helped one of the perpetrators cover up the crime, disposing of a murder weapon and destroying evidence in order to hinder and prevent arrest and prosecution. Despite Lanham’s efforts, the Government investigated and prosecuted the crime, and on April 10, 2023, a federal jury convicted Coker Dean Barker for murder.
The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Lanham 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.
Former Hulbert Schools Treasurer Sentenced for Theft of Federal Education FundsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leslie Shannon Mack, age 54, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term of 12 months and one day imprisonment for one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Mack to pay $372,808.09 in restitution.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education – Office of Inspector General.
On February 1, 2023, Mack pleaded guilty. According to investigators, from June 2019 until October 26, 2021, while Treasurer of Hulbert Public Schools, Mack issued herself and another individual excessive payroll payments above and beyond their district-authorized salaries. Mack also allowed another individual access to the financial accounting system. Their combined actions resulted in an ultimate loss to the Hulbert Public School District exceeding half a million dollars.
“The OSBI appreciates the great work conducted by all our law enforcement partners who assisted with this investigation,” said Hunter McKee, Public Information Manager for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. “Providing justice to the victims impacted by this case is vital to our agency.”
“I’m proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for holding Ms. Mack accountable for her criminal actions,” said Edd Cole, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Central Regional Office. “This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who intentionally steals or misappropriates Federal education funds: you will be caught and held accountable for your unlawful actions.”
“As Treasurer, the defendant was entrusted with the obligation to ensure that taxpayer funds were utilized to provide students a quality education. Mack’s scheme to defraud the school district of thousands of dollars broke faith with students, fellow employees, and the public,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Education-OIG for their stellar investigative work in bringing the defendant to justice.”
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. Mack was instructed to self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility by January 10, 2025, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster and Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Moore Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Daniel Tow, age 34, of Moore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The Indictment alleged that on June 6, 2024, Tow knowingly and intentionally possessed 40 or more grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, for the purpose of distribution. The Indictment also alleged that on that same date, Tow knowingly possessed a .380ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol and eight rounds of .380ACP caliber ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, despite knowing of that conviction.
The charges arose from an investigation by the District 27 Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Tow will remain in the custody of the U. S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lorenz represented the United States.
Federal Jury Convicts Wagoner County Resident of Eight Counts of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Richard Leroy Osborn III, age 47, of Wagoner County, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of eight counts of child sexual abuse, including five counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and three counts of Abusive Sexual Contact. Two of the counts of conviction carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
The jury trial began with testimony on December 9, 2024, and concluded on December 11, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Osborn sexually assaulted three children starting in 2011 and continuing until May of 2022, when one of the children first disclosed the sexual abuse. Additionally, the United States presented evidence that Osborn, already a registered sex offender at the time of the crimes, had previously sexually abused three other victims when they were minors.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservations, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Osborn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Wagoner County Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sovana Xiong, age 32, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on October 15, 2023, and continuing until April 11, 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Xiong knowingly distributed visual depictions on the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tulsa Police Department — Special Investigations Division.
The Honorable Edward C. 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. Xiong will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak Cohen represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Larry Keith Mickle, age 49, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm.
The Indictment alleged that on June 18, 2024, Mickle assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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. Mickle will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Eufaula 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 Michael Shaun Davis, age 57, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On February 26, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on June 15, 2023, Pittsburg County Sheriff’s deputies recovered a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, and ammunition from Davis’s residence after executing a search warrant. Davis possessed the firearms and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis 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 Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Marietta Resident Pleads Guilty to 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, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in May 2021, and continuing until April 29, 2024, Ramsey used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting a visual depiction of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love 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. Ramsey will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak Cohen represented the United States.
Bryan 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 Kyle Duffner, age 26, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The Information alleged that on June 27, 2021, Duffner unlawfully killed a child with malice aforethought during the perpetration of child abuse.
The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, 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. Duffner will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Okmulgee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of an ExplosiveRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven William Burden, age 46, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of an Explosive.
The Indictment alleged that on November 16, 2020, Burden knowingly possessed thirty-one semi-gelatin dynamite sticks after having been 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, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Boswell Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joe Clay Harris, age 39, of Boswell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on April 6, 2024, Harris knowingly possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it, and that Harris knowingly possessed a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and five rounds of .22 caliber ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Hugo Police Department, the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Harris will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.