Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Lee Holloway, age 40, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that on February 16, 2023, Holloway killed the victim while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any intoxicating substance other than alcohol.

At the plea hearing, Holloway admitted that his actions caused the death of one person and inflicted serious bodily injury to another.

The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from investigations by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 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. Holloway was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kristy Renee Zapata-Gutierrez, age 35, of Konawa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On October 31, 2023, Zapata-Gutierrez pleaded guilty to causing the death of another while driving under the influence and in an unsafe manner.  According to investigators, on the morning of March 19, 2023, while under the influence of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and clozapine, Zapata-Gutierrez pulled out onto State Highway 99 in front of oncoming traffic, causing a fatal collision.  Zapata-Gutierrez’s passenger died from multiple blunt force injuries.  The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Zapata-Gutierrez will report to a designated Bureau of Prisons facility on August 29, 2024, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Edward Jay Williams, age 47, of Milburn, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, the Tishomingo Fire Department, the Milburn Fire Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 30, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on December 8, 2022, Williams crashed his motorcycle into another motorcycle while both riders traveled northbound on State Highway 48A in Johnston County.  Williams’ passenger was thrown from the motorcycle and died from injuries sustained in the collision.  A blood test revealed Williams was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.  The crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw 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 sentencing hearing.  Williams will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Danny Gene Kirby, age 66, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On June 28, 2023, a federal jury found Kirby guilty of causing the death of the victim.  According to investigators, on July 23, 2022, Kirby crashed his motorcycle while leaving the Fountainhead Marina Bar in Checotah, Oklahoma.  Kirby’s passenger was thrown from the motorcycle and later died from injuries sustained in the crash.  A blood sample was drawn and tested as part of the investigation and revealed that Kirby had alcohol, marijuana, amphetamine, tramadol, citalopram, trazodone, and oxycodone in his system.  The crime occurred in McIntosh 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.   Kirby was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Colby Williams, age 47, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On July 26, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to the crime.  On October 28, 2022, Williams was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than one year and knowing of the conviction.

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.  Williams will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucas James Mitchell, age 36, of Lamar, Oklahoma, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on November 25, 2023, Mitchell was found in possession of a firearm and 24 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Honorable Jason L. 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. Hughes was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wanda Kay Friday, age 53, of Peggs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 15, 2023, Friday pleaded guilty to one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. According to investigators, on November 25, 2022, Friday and the victim argued.  During the argument, Friday retrieved a 9mm handgun and fatally shot the victim.  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 District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Friday will report to a designated Bureau of Prisons facility on August 23, 2024, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Damon Lee West, age 45, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine.

The Indictment alleged that on September 20, 2023, West knowingly and intentionally distributed 27.92 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Oklahoma State 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. West was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Andrea Dawn Winsett, age 34, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

On February 6, 2024, Winsett pleaded guilty to the drug distribution charge.  According to investigators, on March 7, 2023, Winsett was arrested for driving under the influence and booked into the Cherokee County Jail.  During the booking process, Winsett was found in possession of 14.75 grams of actual methamphetamine that she 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 sentencing hearing.  Winsett will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lucus Wayne Cullum, age 25, of Seminole, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that, on November 23, 2022, Cullum killed the victim while failing to devote his full time and attention to driving.

The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from investigations by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, 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.  Cullum was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Arlo Christopher Jordan, age 26, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).

The Information alleged that on or about January 11, 2024, Jordan knowingly possessed two rounds of Hornady-branded 270 ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Jason L. 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.  Jordan was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Shawn Chandler, age 51, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of Possession of Certain Material involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, the Muldrow Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Chandler was indicted August 9, 2023, and pleaded guilty to the charges on December 21, 2023.  According to investigators, in Spring of 2023, Chandler was arrested on a warrant issued by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Court.  At the time of the arrest, Chandler was in possession of multiple cell phones.  A subsequent search of the phones revealed that Chandler knowingly received and stored over 40 videos and images of child sexual abuse from the internet.

The Honorable William P. Johnson, Chief U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Chandler will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Jessie Pippin represented the United States.

“This case is an excellent example of the interagency cooperation taking place in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Thanks to the collaborative work of local, Tribal, and federal law enforcement agents and prosecutors, Chandler was identified and successfully prosecuted for his role in perpetuating the victimization of children subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse.”

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.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.

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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Ralph Gene Carloss, age 72, of Welling, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On August 11, 2023, Carloss pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on April 11, 2023, after fleeing from law enforcement in his vehicle, Carloss was apprehended and found in possession of a firearm and 16 rounds of ammunition after having 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 William P. Johnson, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Carloss will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marco Ernesto Heras, age 26, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Fort Gibson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On August 23, 2023, Heras pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on October 14, 2022, Heras was stopped by a Fort Gibson patrol officer for a traffic violation and discovered in possession of a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, over 22 grams of cocaine, and digital scales.

“Firearms coupled with illegal narcotics pose an increased danger to public safety, and the United States Attorney’s Office will work with our local, state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively prosecute offenders like Mr. Heras,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

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 William P. Johnson, U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Heras will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Scott Coats, age 38, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 55 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 25, 2023, Coats pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered silencer.  According to investigators, on January 11, 2022, Coats was in possession of a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle that had a silver cylindrical device attached to the barrel.  The device functioned as a silencer and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  Under federal law, a silencer is considered a firearm, and it is illegal to possess a silencer unless the device is registered.

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 William Paul Johnson, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Coats will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bryant Dilbeck, age 28, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Holdenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On November 20, 2023, Dilbeck pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on January 3, 2023, Dilbeck knowingly possessed a .38 caliber revolver and ammunition after having 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 William P. Johnson, Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Dilbeck will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elian David Vasquez-Lopez, age 24, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Illegal Alien.  Following his sentence, he will be released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal from the United States.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Kiowa Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On August 28, 2023, Vasquez-Lopez pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien.  According to investigators, on July 17, 2023, officers conducting a routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 69 discovered Vasquez-Lopez was illegally in the United States and in possession of a 9mm pistol and six rounds of ammunition.

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.  Vasquez-Lopez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration prior to his removal from the United States.

Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Steven Peavler, age 67, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 29, 2023, Peavler pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on June 29, 2022, Peavler attempted to receive two firearms from Checotah Firearms, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Checotah, Oklahoma.  During his visit, Peavler intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473, asserting that he was not under indictment or information in any court for a felony or for any other crime for which he could be imprisoned for more than one year.  In reality, at the time of the transaction, Peavler was under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding of one year and knew of such prosecution.

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 for the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Peavler will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Willie Ray Carter, age 36, of Haileyville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to five years in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of 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 11, 2023, Carter pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.  According to investigators, on November 13, 2021, an OHP trooper conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Carter to be knowingly in possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable William P. Johnson, U.S. Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Carter will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Justin Kyle Muskrat, age 38, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months imprisonment for one count of Kidnapping in Indian Country, and 120 months for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  The counts were ordered to run concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 11, 2023, Muskrat pleaded guilty to kidnapping and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.  According to investigators, on March 15, 2023, Muskrat, armed with a machete, forced the victim from a Muskogee residence and into the trunk of a waiting car.  At an Adair County residence, Muskrat bound, threatened, and brutally assaulted the victim.  Muskrat released the victim only after learning that Adair County Sheriff’s deputies had identified Muskrat as the primary suspect in the kidnapping.  At the time of Muskrat’s arrest, law enforcement discovered Muskrat knowingly in possession of a .380 semi-automatic pistol and multiple rounds of ammunition despite a prior conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The crimes occurred in Muskogee and Adair Counties, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“ATF is committed to working with its partners to go after evil amongst us.  Mr. Muskrat, a multi-convicted felon, allowed his anger to cloud his better judgment when he decided to kidnap and victimize a fellow Oklahoman.  A firearm found on Mr. Muskrat’s person during his arrest will extend his time behind bars to consider his actions for many years.  Thanks to the hard work of the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the men and women of ATF, another violent offender is off the streets,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

“I commend the swift mobilization by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the ATF in bringing Mr. Muskrat’s violent activity to a halt.” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office stands firm in its relentless commitment to prosecuting those who would seek to disrupt the peace of our streets and homes.”

The Honorable William Paul Johnson, U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Muskrat will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Josh Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Devin Nakedhead, age 31, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Stilwell Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On September 12, 2023, Nakedhead pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on January 27, 2023, Nakedhead knowingly possessed a firearm and two rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable William P. Johnson, Chief U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Nakedhead will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chelsea Shiron Murray, age 44, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Seminole Police Department.

On August 9, 2023, Murray pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.  According to investigators, on November 30, 2022, a vehicle driven by Murray was stopped by an officer with the Seminole Police Department for a traffic violation.  During the stop, the officer discovered a bag containing over 200 grams of methamphetamine and a set of electronic scales.  Murray admitted to driving to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to purchase the methamphetamine.

The Honorable William P. Johnson, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Murray will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Isaac Newman Sockey, age 39, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder stemming from a fatal knife attack on September 8, 2023, at a Tahlequah residence.

Sockey was found guilty of one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country on December 12, 2023, following a jury trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  Sentencing was held July 10, 2024.

According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, on the day of the murder, Sockey retrieved a butterfly knife from his bedroom, placed the knife to the victim’s throat, and threatened the victim in response to a verbal insult.  The victim pushed the knife away and attempted to disarm Sockey.  Sockey then stabbed the victim more than twenty times, including in the neck, head, and torso.   Despite life-saving measures, the victim died from injuries sustained in the attack.

The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from investigations by the Tahlequah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Senseless tragedies such as this reverberate through our communities, and those who perpetrate these acts must be brought to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.  “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to preventing violent crime in Indian country by removing offenders like Mr. Sockey from our streets.”

“I want to commend the Tahlequah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who conducted the investigation, and the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who indicted and prosecuted this case,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Because of their dedication and commitment, Sockey will pay for his vicious and senseless act of violence.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Sockey will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Arron Lee Gonzalis, age 28, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Arson in Indian Country.

The charge arose from investigations by the Stilwell Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On October 31, 2023, Gonzalis pleaded guilty.  According to investigators, Gonzalis was captured on video intentionally setting fire to a cardboard box next to a commercial building in Stilwell, Oklahoma, on July 20, 2023.  The fire caused minor damage to the building and the building’s gas meter.  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 Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Gonzalis will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bradley Scott Sutterfield, age 43, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to three months in prison for one count of Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.

The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Secret Service.

On March 5, 2024, Sutterfield pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, Sutterfield presented two savings bonds which he knew to be counterfeit to the teller of a federally insured bank in McAlester, Oklahoma, and exchanged the fake bonds for U.S. currency.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Scott Casteel, age 37, of Heavener, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On February 5, 2024, Casteel pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  According to investigators, on July 25, 2023, law enforcement observed a vehicle on US 59 highway in LeFlore County traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.  OHP troopers gave chase, and observed Casteel throw a large bag from the vehicle.  After stopping the vehicle, Troopers apprehended Casteel.  Troopers also retrieved the bag which contained over 850 grams of methamphetamine.  Casteel later admitted to purchasing the methamphetamine with the intent to sell it to others.

The Honorable William P. Johnson, Chief U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Casteel will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Tassia Ann-Lorene Sellers-Turner, age 32, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment 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 Stilwell Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 11, 2024, Sellers-Turner pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on September 9, 2023, officers responded to a 911 call of a stabbing at a Stilwell residence.  Officers arrived to discover the victim bleeding from multiple life-threatening stab wounds sustained during an attack.  Sellers-Turner fled the scene on foot but was apprehended and arrested by officers a short distance from the scene of the crime.   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 Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Sellers-Turner will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Pete Allen Knight, Jr., age 40, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 47 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 18, 2023, Knight pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on July 17, 2023, Knight knowingly possessed a firearm and 45 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Knight will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geoff Edward Luethje, age 46, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a plea of guilty to one-count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The Indictment alleged that between April and August of 2023, Luethje knowingly possessed, and accessed with an intent to view, visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions of children under the age of twelve.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Residence Agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, and Muskogee, Oklahoma.

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.  Luethje will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Christopher J. Wilson, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).  Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.

Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Wilson emphasized the importance of awareness and education.

“Fraud, financial exploitation, and elder abuse are each uniquely devastating to a senior’s well-being and independence,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to combatting the many forms of elder abuse, and to educating and equipping seniors, together with their family and friends, on how to recognize and avoid common schemes and patterns of abuse.”

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship.  Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological.  The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans.  In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.

Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity.  Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice.  The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example:

•    In Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation.

•    In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services.

•    In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) page.

The Eastern District of Oklahoma continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311, and visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Elder Fraud Complaint Page at IC3.gov.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that a Westville, Oklahoma, couple were sentenced for sexual offenses they committed against minors in Indian country.

Robert Lee Catron, age 36, was sentenced on June 11, 2024, to 30 years in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  According to investigators, between 2020 and 2022, Catron sexually assaulted a child he knew to be under the age of 12.

Jenny Marie Locust, age 39, was sentenced on June 4, 2024, to 10 years in prison for one count of Enticement and Coercion of a Minor.  According to investigators, between 2021 and 2022, Locust used her cell phone to entice and coerce a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity with her boyfriend, Robert Lee Catron.

The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Both Catron and Locust will be required to register and comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act upon release.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Westville Police Department.

“I'm extremely grateful for the collaborative effort that brought these defendants to justice for their detestable crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “The significant sentences handed down in this case should send a clear message to child predators that law enforcement will aggressively pursue them, even when the abuse is disclosed years after it occurs.”

“Together, Catron and Locust committed horrifying crimes, transgressing every rule of decency our society has set up to protect children,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “There can be no tolerance for those who would visit such evil upon children, and this office will not relent in its pursuit of such perpetrators.”

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.  Catron and Locust will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve their non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that three Oklahoma residents, ROBERT JAMES JACKSON, age 31, of Hugo, ANDRE CIMONE GOLSTON, age 35, of Idabel, and ANTWAINE TREMAINE NELSON, age 33, of Idabel, were sentenced for federal drug charges.  Jackson was sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Golston was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility, and Nelson was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Use of a Communication Facility.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and Idabel Police Department.

On September 22, 2022, Golston pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility.  On October 13, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Communication Facility.  On October 19, 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, Jackson, Golston, and Nelson participated in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma from the spring of 2020 until approximately October 2021.

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 in Muskogee.  The defendants will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christian Scott Dunham, age 22, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison for the August 2022 killing of his neighbor.

The charges arose from investigations by the Poteau Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 13, 2023, Dunham pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.  According to investigators, in the early morning hours of August 20, 2022, Dunham shot and killed the victim with a .22 caliber revolver.  The crime occurred in Le Flore 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.  Dunham will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brenden Kaleb Rains, age 25, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to 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 Injury.

The Indictment against Rains alleged that on August 29, 2023, Rains attacked an individual with a dangerous weapon, intending to do harm, and caused that individual serious bodily injury.  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 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.  Rains was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Wayne Asbill, age 42, of Adair County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.  The terms will be served concurrently.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.

On May 10, 2023, a federal jury convicted Asbill on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse.  At trial, the Government presented evidence that in November of 2018, Asbill sexually assaulted a child he knew to be under the age of 12.  The crimes occurred in Adair County, on the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Mr. Asbill’s crimes were abhorrent and morally reprehensible,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.  “Thanks to the bravery of the victim who came forward, and the tenacity of the investigators and the prosecution team, we were able to achieve some measure of justice in this case.  The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never waver in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our population – our children.”

“The despicable crimes perpetrated upon this child warrant the life sentences imposed by the Court,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Violent crime in Indian country remains a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, and through continued cooperative efforts of our local, state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, we are committed to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders like Asbill accountable.”

The Honorable Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Asbill will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Curtis Ray McClendon, III, age 41, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

On January 9, 2024, McClendon was indicted on the charge.  The Government Indictment alleged that on November 6, 2023, McClendon assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm.

The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, which is within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, 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 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  McClendon will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Eugene Shepard, Jr., age 42, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 49 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On November 1, 2023, Shepard pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  As part of the plea, Shepard admitted to knowingly possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Shepard will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that John Arthur Dennis, age 24, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for illegal possession of two firearms.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department; and the Ardmore Police Department.

On November 2, 2023, Dennis pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  According to investigators, on November 14, 2021, Dennis knowingly possessed two firearms after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing.  Dennis will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jesse Lee Fish, age 34, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The charges arose from investigations by the Muskogee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On October 31, 2023, Fish pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  According to court documents, on April 4, 2023, Fish knowingly possessed a rifle and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Fish will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Mason Anthony Wilson, age 28, of Gore, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, June 3, 2024, and concluded on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Wilson caused injuries to a 2-month-old baby, including 10 fractured bones and multiple bruises, and then failed to provide medical care for the baby.  The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Judge Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Wilson was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Jessica Bove represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Tyler Garbey, age 36, of Catoosa, 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, and 60 consecutive months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse or Intimate Partner in Indian Country, for a total of 180 months in prison.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.

On December 12, 2023, Garbey pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on July 19, 2023, Garbey broke into the victim’s residence, waited for the victim to arrive, then beat the victim before dragging her from the residence at knifepoint to a waiting truck.  The ordeal left the victim with substantial bodily injury.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Garbey will remain in 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 United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that David Henry Vick, Jr., age 38, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months imprisonment for one count of an Information of Obstruction of the Due Administration of Justice.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Ada Police Department.

On February 6, 2024, Vick pleaded guilty to the charge.  As part of the plea agreement, Vick admitted to attempting to intimidate and threaten a witness for the purpose of influencing, delaying, or preventing testimony before a convening Federal grand jury.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing.  Vick will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Micco Harjo, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The Indictment charged Harjo with knowingly possessing a firearm and 117 rounds of ammunition on December 3, 2023, after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Stilwell Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Honorable Jason 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.  Harjo was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Dean Dod, age 39, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country.

The charge arose from investigations by the Sallisaw Police Department, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On February 6, 2023, Dod pleaded guilty to one count of a superseding indictment of Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on April 6, 2022, Dod forced his way into a Sallisaw apartment, on the Cherokee Nation Reservation, and attempted to burn the apartment by lighting combustible materials on the kitchen stove.  Dod fled the scene, but was apprehended and arrested a short time later by law enforcement after neighbors spotted Dod gaining entrance into a nearby residence.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Dod will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathan Rex Upton, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

The charges arose from investigations by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Secret Service.

On November 1, 2023, Upton pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on October 20, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Upton’s McAlester home.  Agents seized multiple computer hard drives.  A subsequent search of the drives revealed over 16,000 images depicting child sexual abuse.

The Honorable Judge Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Upton will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

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 and Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.

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) website at www.cybertipline.com.  If you prefer to speak to someone directly, you can contact NCMEC’s Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or HSI at 1-877-4-HSI TIP (1-877-447-4847).

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wesley Wayne Hunter, Jr. age 28, of Yukon, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation.

The Government’s Superseding Indictment alleged that on July 20, 2023, while on duty in his official capacity as a Canadian County Sheriff’s Deputy, Hunter purposefully deactivated the mobile tracking system on his work phone, altering and falsifying the official record of his activities.  As part of his plea, Hunter admitted to deactivating the mobile tracking system while transporting a female pretrial detainee from Bryan County to Canadian County before pulling his patrol car off the transport route.  Hunter further admitted he did this to conceal and impede any future investigation into his subsequent criminal misconduct.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable John Russell, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Hunter will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending a presentence investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Richard Lorenz, in consultation with Trial Attorney Laura Gilson from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Carl Ward, age 68, of Vian, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Indictment alleged that on January 2, 2024, Ward knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the same.  According to investigators, Ward possessed and intended to distribute over 575 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Ward was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Beau Don Morton, age 41, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two separate counts of an Indictment.

The Government indictment alleged that from March 24, 2022, to April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly maintained a premises for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance. The indictment also alleged that on April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Morton was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Corey Ray Pettit, age 31, of Marble City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for illegally possessing ammunition as a prohibited person.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On September 14, 2023, Pettit pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.  According to investigators, on December 14, 2022, Pettit fired upon a parked vehicle, striking it twice.  Ballistics technicians confirmed that a spent .25 casing recovered from the crime scene was a match to spent .25 casings retrieved from Pettit’s home.  At the time of the crime, Pettit knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma presided over the sentencing hearing.  Pettit will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Patrick Timothy Kelley, age 46, of Pocola, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 270 months in prison for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force in Le Flore County.

On October 10, 2023, Kelley pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, during the summer of 2021, Kelley sexually abused a minor under the age of 12.  As part of the plea, Kelley also admitted to creating and transporting sexually explicit depictions of two minors between 2015 and 2021.  The crimes occurred in Le Flore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Homeland Security Investigations will never relent in our pursuit to hold those accountable who prey on innocent children,” said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the HSI Dallas – Oklahoma Division.  “We are proud of the collaboration with our partners of the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Taskforce and U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure justice was served.”

“This sentence should serve as another clear warning to those who prey on children:  we will leverage all available resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute you,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I am grateful to our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their work in bringing this defendant to justice.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Kelley will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Bove represented the United States at sentencing.

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 and internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.

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) website at www.cybertipline.com.  If you prefer to speak to someone directly, you can contact NCMEC’s Call Center at 1-800-843-5678, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or HSI at 1-877-4-HSI TIP (1-877-447-4847).