Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amya Elise Walker, age 20, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.

The charge arose from investigations by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

On September 25, 2023, Walker pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 13, 2023, Walker violently attacked an elderly woman at an Ada residence, leaving the victim with multiple bruises and lacerations requiring medical care.

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 Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Walker 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 Lauren Ann Jackson, age 35, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for burning the body of a murder victim.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On June 8, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty in federal district court to one count of Desecration of a Human Corpse in Indian Country.  According to investigators, between November 15 and 16 of 2021, Jackson assisted in burning the body of a victim murdered by Dayan Banks hours before.  On January 29, 2024, Banks was convicted by a jury in state district court of one count of Murder in the First Degree—Deliberate Intent, and one count of Desecration of a Human Corpse.  Jackson was prosecuted in federal court because she is a member of federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Okmulgee 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.  Jackson 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Courtney Nicole Deatherage, age 28, and Dustin Keith Deatherage, 27, both of Wilburton, Oklahoma, were sentenced for their roles in a murder-for-hire plot.

On March 27, 2024, Courtney Deatherage was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Use of Interstate Facility in Murder-for-Hire, and Dustin Deatherage was sentenced to 97 months in prison for one count of Use of Interstate Facility in Murder-for-Hire.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wilburton Police Department.

In July of 2023, the Deatherages each pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 21, 2021, Courtney Deatherage contacted an individual to request a murder-for-hire and to negotiate terms.  Over text messages, Courtney Deatherage specified the target, gave instructions, and agreed to an upfront fee, with the same amount to be paid out after the murder.  On January 22, 2021, Courtney and Dustin met in person with the individual they believed they were hiring to perform the murder, paid a down payment on the contract, and produced a loaded 12-guage shotgun to be used in the murder.  Courtney and Dustin Deatherage were arrested by law enforcement shortly after completing their transaction, and the target of the murder-for-hire plot was unharmed.

United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson commended the OSBI and local law enforcement for their work in uncovering the defendants’ scheme.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Aaron Welch Earley, age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Arson in Indian Country.

On March 14, 2023, Earley intentionally and maliciously set fire to and burned down a family home in Westville, Oklahoma.  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 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, 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.  Earley 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 Amy Leann Hall, age 43, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to Life in prison for each of two counts of Murder in Indian Country, and 240 months in prison for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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

On November 28, 2022, Hall pleaded guilty.  According to investigators, during the early morning hours of November 1, 2018, Hall entered the room of her 18-year-old son and shot him in the head while he slept, killing him instantly.  Hall proceeded to the bedroom of her 16- and 14-year-old daughters and shot both in the head as they slept.  Hall’s 14-year-old daughter survived.  Hall’s 16-year-old daughter never regained consciousness and died from her injuries four days later at the hospital.  An Okmulgee County deputy dispatched to the scene spotted Hall’s vehicle and gave pursuit.  After a chase exceeding 110 miles per hour, law enforcement apprehended and arrested Hall.  The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This crime was gut-wrenching and there is no question the sentencing is just.  It is absolutely heart breaking to think a mother could be capable of shooting her own children while they slept,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray.  “The FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes in Indian Country and along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively pursue these cases.  We are committed to protecting all of the tribal communities we serve, helping victims, and ensuring that justice is met for violent offenders.”

“The horrific violence visited upon this family was unimaginable, and nothing will ever make things right,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Nevertheless, justice requires a careful consideration of all facts, including the interests of the surviving victim.  Based on these considerations, the United States recommended a life sentence be imposed in this case.”

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Preston Shawn Whittington, age 28, of Waurika, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a statutory maximum sentence of 180 months in prison for Carjacking.

The charges arose from investigations by the McAlester Police Department, the Davis Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 31, 2023, Whittington pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, Whittington was an inmate at the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester, Oklahoma, serving a state sentence for kidnapping.  On March 30, 2021, Whittington assaulted the victim, stole the victim’s vehicle, and escaped.  During the assault, Whittington threatened to kill the victim.  Officers with the Davis Police Department later spotted the victim’s vehicle at a local gas station with Whittington inside.  Whittington led police on a high speed chase, exceeding speeds of 100 mph before crashing the victim’s vehicle and fleeing on foot.  Whittington stole a second vehicle before being captured in Wichita Falls, Texas, one day after his escape from prison.

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

First Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Dennis Hebert, age 39, of Phenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to 360 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.

On May 17, 2023, Hebert was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury.

The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on July 21, 2021, Hebert engaged in a sexual act with a minor victim who had not reached 10 years of age.  The United States also presented evidence that Hebert had previously sexually abused another child under the age of 10.  The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, 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.  Hebert 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 Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nakiah Twobear Eagle, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

The Indictment alleged that on August 30, 2022, Eagle knowingly possessed a .22 LR caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, namely, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sherriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

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.  Eagle was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rito Alvarado-Gomez, age 36, of Hope, Arkansas; Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez, age 33, of Hope, Arkansas; Ricardo Villeda, age 25, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera, age 26, of Hope, Arkansas; and Ana Isabel Frayre Barboza, age 37, of Hope, Arkansas; were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy,  In addition to the Drug Conspiracy charges, Rito Alvarado-Gomez, Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez, Ricardo Villeda, and Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera are charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine.  If convicted, defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences of not less than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $10,000,000 fine.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Indictment alleges that beginning in 2018, and continuing until March 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.

The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the 8th North Drug Task Force out of Hope, Arkansas, and the 9th West Drug Task Force out of Nashville, Arkansas.  Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation, including the Arkansas State Police, the Hope Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt.  A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant.  All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Earl Wilson, age 38, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for five counts of distributing methamphetamine.  The sentences are set to be served concurrently.

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

On July 6, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine.  According to investigators, in late 2021 and early 2022, Wilson distributed methamphetamine on five separate occasions from two houses located in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Wilson 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 Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Colby Eric Dean Ballard, age 28, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner in Indian County.

The Indictment alleged that on or about April 4, 2023, Ballard assaulted the victim by strangulation.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

The Honorable Judge 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.  Ballard was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

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 Kevin Dale Luman, age 38, of Wister, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Causing Accident Resulting in Great Bodily Injury while under the influence of Alcohol and Intoxicating Substances in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 11, 2023, Luman pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on June 23, 2019, Luman was driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.189% when he crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 271 in Wister, Oklahoma, and collided into an oncoming Jeep.  Both the driver and the passenger of the Jeep sustained significant injuries in the crash.  The crime occurred in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw 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 in Muskogee.  Luman was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Roslyn Melodie Haile, age 64, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of Bank Fraud and one count of Tax Fraud, to be served concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release.  In addition, Haile was ordered to pay $428,271.26 in restitution to The MORE Foundation, and to pay an additional $120,777.02 in restitution to the IRS.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigations.

On February 28, 2023, Haile entered a plea of guilty to an information of one count of bank fraud and one count of tax fraud.  According to investigators, from 2017 until mid-2021, while employed as Executive Director of The MORE Foundation, a nonprofit that funds continuing education scholarships to Carter County high school graduates, Haile embezzled over $428,271.26 from the foundation’s bank accounts for personal use.  During that time, Haile embezzled funds through multiple different means, including bank transfers to pay off her personal credit card, ATM withdrawals, and the issuance of fraudulent payroll checks to herself.  Haile also falsified a 2018 U.S. Individual Tax Return by underreporting personal income, resulting in a total loss of $120,777.02 to the U.S. Treasury.  Based on these crimes, the court assessed Haile a total restitution of $591,761.28.

“As Executive Director of The MORE Foundation, Ms. Haile had the fundamental responsibility of managing scholarship funds efficiently, ethically, and with the upmost integrity.  The students of Carter County and the generous donors deserve nothing less,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray.  “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

“The financial expertise of IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents was critical in detecting the illegal activity of Ms. Haile,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., IRS:CI special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office.  “She willfully stole money from an organization devoted to helping people obtain higher education and knowingly falsified her taxes to hide her ill-gotten gains.  I’m proud of the diligent work done by members of CI along with the FBI to uncover her illegal actions and hold her accountable.  Between what she embezzled from the non-profit and withheld from the IRS, she stole more than half a million dollars.  In addition to time in jail, she is also required to pay restitution as part of her sentencing.”

“Fraud is not a victimless crime:  Ms. Haile abused her position and plundered a fund she knew was intended to benefit Carter County’s students and greater community,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office stands firm in its commitment to prosecute those who engage in predatory schemes, and I commend the work of FBI and IRS-CI agents whose investigations uncovered Ms. Haile’s years-long theft.”

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.  Haile will self-report on May 1, 2024, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Kyra Jenner represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Erin Nicole Fixico-Mitchell, age 33, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to sixty-nine months imprisonment each for three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release.  The sentences are set to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 10, 2023, Fixico-Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charges.  Between September and November of 2015, while employed as a coach and teacher at Ada High School, Fixico Mitchell sexually abused a student.  Fixico-Mitchell left her employment at Ada High School, and eventually joined on as a teacher and coach at Byng High School.  During her tenure at Byng, Fixico-Mitchell sexually abused a student between June and September of 2021.  The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw 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.  Fixico-Mitchell 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 Caila M. Cleary and Jessie Pippin represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyre Lowery Ford, age 34, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 120 months in prison for federal drug and firearm charges.  Ford was sentenced to 60 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and a consecutive 60 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

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

On November 10, 2022, Ford pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to court documents, on February 23, 2022, Stilwell police responded to the report of a stolen car.  Ford attempted to get out of the car and, in the process, made movements behind his back.  Police recovered a 9mm handgun from the driver’s seat and approximately 100 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine from Ford.

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.  Ford 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 Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that AARON ISAIAH JOHNSON, age 36, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced for a home invasion robbery and subsequent fire station burglaries.  Johnson was sentenced to 184 months in prison for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery; one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm; one count of Robbery; one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm; and two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.

On November 12, 2021, Johnson was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial.  According to court documents, in December 2018, Johnson, masked and armed with a rifle, broke into and entered an occupied residence where he encountered the homeowner.  After striking and assaulting the homeowner with the rifle, Johnson stole cash, a firearm, and the victim’s vehicle.  On February 27, 2019, Johnson broke into and entered the Red Bird Fire Station and stole two fire trucks.  On March 14, 2019, Johnson broke into and entered the Liberty Fire Station and stole a fire truck.  At the time Johnson committed these crimes, he was wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor which placed him at all three locations during the time the crimes were committed.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timythy Jordyn Summers, age 19, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 11, 2023, Summers pleaded guilty to a single count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  According to investigators, Summers engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a minor on Instagram and arranged to meet at a local park.  Summers was caught by law enforcement leaving a public restroom at the park after sexually abusing the minor.  The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Summers 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 Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich 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, 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 announced that Hunter Lee Wallace, age 21, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police, the Hugo Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 11, 2023, Wallace entered a guilty plea to the sexual abuse of a minor in Indian country.  According to investigators, on September 12, 2022, Wallace sexually abused a minor he had previously met and conversed with on Snapchat, despite knowing the victim’s true age.  The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Wallace 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 Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich 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, 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 announced that Chase Lane Rocha, age 21, of Boswell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Lighthorse Police, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Oklahoma.

On October 4, 2023, Rocha was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on January 24, 2023, after family members had twice disarmed him during a dispute at a Boswell-area residence, Rocha returned a third time, armed with a revolver.  During the third attempt to disarm Rocha of a firearm, Rocha shot and killed the victim.    The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Rocha 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 Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at trial.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert William Rainford, age 51, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country.  Rainford also received a consecutive sentence of 10 years for using a firearm to commit the offense.

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

On May 5, 2023, Rainford was found guilty at trial by a federal jury.  According to investigators, on December 12, 2021, Rainford intentionally shot his neighbor multiple times in the head and torso, killing him.  Law enforcement officers responding to the 911 emergency call encountered a bloodied Rainford, who directed them where to find the weapon.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Rainford 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 Kevin Gross and Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darrin Renay Kimble, a/k/a Darrin Latroy Kimble, a/k/a Darrin Renay Teague, age 58, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Robbery in Indian Country.

At the plea hearing, Kimble admitted that on February 21, 2021, he took a television from the person and presence of the victim by force, violence, and intimidation.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Coweta Police Department 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.   Kimble will remain in 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 Andria Victoria Dowdy, age 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiring to violate federal firearms offenses, including unlawful possession of a silencer and unlawful possession of non-serialized firearm.

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

On June 1, 2023, Andria Victoria Dowdy and co-defendants Jemarcus Maquel Williams and Anfernee Deshon Sherrod each entered guilty pleas to one count of Conspiracy to violate federal firearms offenses.   According to investigators, the trio conspired to obtain firearms in the State of Oklahoma.  On December 29, 2021, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop on I-40 in Sequoyah County.  Law enforcement ultimately discovered Dowdy, Williams, and Sherrod in possession of six firearms with large capacity magazines and an unserialized silencer.  On February 21, 2024, Williams and Sherrod were sentenced to 60 months in prison for their role in the offenses.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over Dowdy’s sentencing hearing in Muskogee.  Dowdy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve her 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 that Bradley Scott Sutterfield, age 43, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Bank Fraud.

The Information alleged that on March 28, 2023, Sutterfield knowingly executed a scheme to defraud The Bank N.A., a federally insured financial institution.  According to investigators, Sutterfield’s scheme involved submitting counterfeit savings bonds to the bank teller in exchange for United States currency.

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 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 Floyd Joseph Ball, Jr., age 38, of Newalla, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for one count of kidnapping in Indian country.

The charges arose from investigations by the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, the Purcell Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 6, 2023, Ball pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping in Indian country.  According to investigators, late in the evening on May 5, 2018, Ball entered the back door of a Purcell, Oklahoma, Subway sandwich shop and threatened the lone employee with a knife.  Ball forced the victim into a waiting vehicle, and drove the victim two hours away to Checotah, Oklahoma, where Ball held the victim captive at an area residence.  On May 6, a McIntosh County deputy located the vehicle outside the residence, apprehended Ball attempting to flee the scene, and freed the victim.  The crime began in McClain County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Western District of Oklahoma, and ended in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David Cleveland Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Ball 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 Attorney Kyra Jenner represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy David Croley, age 47, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by one year of home confinement for each of two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian country.  The sentence for each count will run concurrently.  Croley was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On July 18, 2022, Croley entered a guilty plea to the charges.  According to investigators, on September 15, 2018, Croley crossed the center line driving southbound on Bell Road and crashed his dual rear wheel truck into a vehicle driving in the northbound lane.  Troopers arriving at the scene of the wreckage observed Croley unsteady on his feet, slurring his speech, and smelling strongly of alcohol.  Croley failed a preliminary breath test and returned just under 0.20 on a subsequent blood alcohol test, well over the .08 limit.  Data retrieved from Croley’s vehicle showed he had failed to brake in the eight seconds prior to impact.  Two passengers in the oncoming vehicle suffered severe bodily injuries from the impact.

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

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.  Croley will self-report to the U.S. Marshal service on March 11, 2024, prior to serving a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration at a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Matthew Carl Cripps, age 43, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On March 13, 2023, Cripps pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, Cripps sold 24 grams of methamphetamine on November 15, 2021, and was responsible for distribution of over 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma between November 2021 and February 2022.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Cripps 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 Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Scott William Lanham, age 45, of Seminole, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian Country.

According to the Indictment, on April 2, 2019, Lanham knowingly assisted Coker Dean Barker in hindering and preventing Barker’s apprehension, trial, and punishment for murder.  On April 10, 2023, Barker was convicted by a federal jury at trial for that murder.  Lanham’s 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 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.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday finding that former Savanna Oklahoma Police Officer (SPD), Jeffrey Scott Smith, 35, sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop and obstructed justice by turning off his body-worn camera and dash camera in an effort to avoid recording the assault. This case represents the first sexual assault conviction under the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that added enhanced penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct.

“Today the Department of Justice sends an unequivocal warning: we will hold accountable those who abuse their authority by engaging in sexual assault,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “That’s exactly why we advocated so strongly for reauthorization of VAWA two years ago. This may be the first time we have used the new enhanced penalties for civil rights violations involving sexual assault but it will not be the last. We will work tirelessly to seek Justice for survivors of sexual assault.”

“This case is historic because this is the first defendant to be found guilty and subject to the enhanced penalties in the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Sexual assaults perpetrated by police officers are heinous crimes and a disgraceful breach of the public trust in law enforcement. We acknowledge the victim’s courage in coming forward and immediately reporting this abuse, and for her strength as she testified in trial. The Justice Department will hold law enforcement officers accountable when they abuse their authority by engaging in sexual misconduct, and we will seek justice for all victims of these crimes.”

“Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect and serve,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “When an officer uses his position of authority to victimize another, justice demands accountability.”

“It’s impossible to comprehend why the defendant felt entitled to treat an innocent woman this way,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Instead of ensuring a safe environment for the victim, Smith abused his authority for his own sick gratification. When an officer violates the rights of any citizen, they put the public’s trust in law enforcement at risk. The FBI will not stand for this egregious behavior.”

Evidence presented at trial established that on Nov. 2, 2022, Smith, working his first solo shift for SPD, conducted a traffic stop of the victim, K.H., and her then-boyfriend, J.G. After running their licenses, Smith realized that J.G.’s license had recently expired. He had J.G. and K.H. get out of J.G.’s car to switch who was driving. Smith issued J.G. a speeding ticket, and then began asking personal questions, including how long they had been in their relationship. At this point, while still speaking to J.G. and K.H., Smith manually deactivated his SPD body worn camera (BWC).

Smith then asked K.H. what she did for work. K.H. reluctantly admitted that she danced at a gentlemen’s club. Upon hearing K.H.’s answer, Smith asked to search J.G.’s car. During the search, Smith looked in K.H.’s purse and found a pre-rolled promotional marijuana cigarette from K.H.’s work. Rather than arrest her, or issue her a ticket, Smith walked back to his patrol car and manually deactivated his dashboard camera. Once the defendant had K.H. in his vehicle he sexually assaulted her.

Smith faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the civil rights count. He also faces 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction of justice counts, one count for deactivating his body-worn camera, and one count for deactivating his dashboard camera. Smith was detained pending sentencing and a sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Oklahoma City FBI Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Compton and Nicole Paladino for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday finding that former Savanna Oklahoma Police Officer (SPD), Jeffrey Scott Smith, 35, sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop and obstructed justice by turning off his body-worn camera and dash camera in an effort to avoid recording the assault. This case represents the first sexual assault conviction under the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that added enhanced penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct.

“Today the Department of Justice sends an unequivocal warning: we will hold accountable those who abuse their authority by engaging in sexual assault,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.  “That’s exactly why we advocated so strongly for reauthorization of VAWA two years ago.  This may be the first time we have used the new enhanced penalties for civil rights violations involving sexual assault but it will not be the last. We will work tirelessly to seek Justice for survivors of sexual assault.”

“This case is historic because this is the first defendant to be found guilty and subject to the enhanced penalties in the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “Sexual assaults perpetrated by police officers are heinous crimes and a disgraceful breach of the public trust in law enforcement.  We acknowledge the victim’s courage in coming forward and immediately reporting this abuse, and for her strength as she testified in trial.  The Justice Department will hold law enforcement officers accountable when they abuse their authority by engaging in sexual misconduct, and we will seek justice for all victims of these crimes.”

“Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect and serve,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “When an officer uses his position of authority to victimize another, justice demands accountability.”

“It’s impossible to comprehend why the defendant felt entitled to treat an innocent woman this way,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.  “Instead of ensuring a safe environment for the victim, Smith abused his authority for his own sick gratification. When an officer violates the rights of any citizen, they put the public’s trust in law enforcement at risk.  The FBI will not stand for this egregious behavior.”

Evidence presented at trial established that on Nov. 2, 2022, Smith, working his first solo shift for SPD, conducted a traffic stop of the victim, K.H., and her then-boyfriend, J.G.  After running their licenses, Smith realized that J.G.’s license had recently expired.  He had J.G. and K.H. get out of J.G.’s car to switch who was driving. Smith issued J.G. a speeding ticket, and then began asking personal questions, including how long they had been in their relationship.  At this point, while still speaking to J.G. and K.H., Smith manually deactivated his SPD body worn camera (BWC).

Smith then asked K.H. what she did for work.  K.H. reluctantly admitted that she danced at a gentlemen’s club.  Upon hearing K.H.’s answer, Smith asked to search J.G.’s car.  During the search, Smith looked in K.H.’s purse and found a pre-rolled promotional marijuana cigarette from K.H.’s work.  Rather than arrest her, or issue her a ticket, Smith walked back to his patrol car and manually deactivated his dashboard camera.  Once the defendant had K.H. in his vehicle he sexually assaulted her.

Smith faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the civil rights count.  He also faces 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction of justice counts, one count for deactivating his body-worn camera, and one count for deactivating his dashboard camera.  Smith was detained pending sentencing and a sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Oklahoma City FBI Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Compton and Nicole Paladino for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Cory Bycroft, age 41, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced for the production and possession of child sexual exploitation materials. Jason Bycroft was sentenced to 292 months in prison for two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction and 240 months for two counts of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.  The sentences on each count were ordered to run concurrently.

The charges arose from investigations by the Broken Arrow Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 19, 2022, Jason Bycroft pleaded guilty to the offenses.  According to investigators, in July 2015 and in September 2017, Bycroft created videos of the exposed genitalia of children under the age of ten at a public swimming area.  One of the depictions was created with the assistance of Heather Bycroft, the defendant’s wife and co-defendant.  Heather Bycroft was found guilty by a federal jury on April 26, 2022, of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction and Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and is awaiting a formal sentencing hearing.

“The sentencing handed down today effectively ends Mr. Bycroft’s ability to exploit and endanger children for many years to come,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray.  “The FBI’s commitment to combatting this threat will never waver, and we will continue working with our partners in law enforcement to send the message that crimes against children will not be tolerated.”

“The heinousness of this crime cannot be overstated.  The defendant engaged in brazen predatory behavior,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office stands committed to prosecuting those who engage in child sexual exploitation and betray the public trust.”

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.  Bycroft was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich 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 epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shawn Erin Hudson, age 44, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release for child neglect.

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

On October 14, 2022, Hudson pleaded guilty to one count of an Information of Child Neglect.  According to investigators, between December of 2017 and February of 2019, Hudson willfully and maliciously failed and omitted to provide adequate medical care, supervision, appropriate caretakers, and special care made necessary by the physical and mental condition of a child under the age of eighteen.

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

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.

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 Buster Leo Garrett, age 57, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for an assault on an intimate partner which resulted in substantial bodily injury.

The charges arose from investigations by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On February 17, 2023, Garrett pleaded guilty to one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on June 25, 2021, Garrett assaulted an intimate and dating partner while boating on Lake Eufaula.  The attack resulted in substantial bodily injury to the victim.  The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Garrett was remanded to 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 Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Heather Robertson, age 48, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served of three days, plus six months of home detention with electronic monitoring, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for one count of child neglect.

The charges arose from investigations the Okmulgee County Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 22, 2022, Robertson pleaded guilty to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on or about September 8, 2021, Robertson willfully and maliciously failed to protect a child under the age of 18 from exposure to the use and possession of methamphetamine while responsible for the child’s health, safety, and welfare.  The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.

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 Jeffery Glenn Bocephus Robinson, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted previously of a felony offense.

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

On June 13, 2023, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  According to investigators, on or about November 28, 2022, Robinson possessed a .22 rifle after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and despite knowing of such conviction.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Robinson 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 that Nick Allen Mabray, age 37, and Gene Mabray, age 68, both of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, were sentenced for their roles in a January 2021 assault on a bank agent.

Nick Allen Mabray was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, to be served consecutive to an additional 46 months each for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, and one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, to be served concurrently.  Nick Allen Mabray was found guilty of these charges by a federal jury on August 15, 2023.

Gene Mabray was sentenced to 27 months for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country.  Gene Mabray entered his guilty plea to the one count on July 5, 2023.

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

According to investigators, on January 6, 2021, the Mabrays assaulted a RCB Bank agent at a foreclosed property in Park Hill, Oklahoma.  At the conclusion of a court-ordered inspection of the property, Nick Mabray rammed the agent’s truck with his own vehicle, disabling it.  As the agent dialed 911 for help, the Mabrays forced the agent from the rammed truck at gunpoint, Gene Mabray relieved the agent of the cellphone and a firearm, and Nick Mabray beat the agent with a firearm, threatening to kill him.  The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, 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 hearings.  The defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve their non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jemarcus Maquel Williams, age 32, and Anfernee Deshon Sherrod, age 30, both of Memphis, Tennessee, were each sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiring to violate federal firearms offenses, including unlawful possession of a silencer and unlawful possession of non-serialized firearm.

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

On June 1, 2023, Williams, Sherrod, and Andria Victoria Dowdy each entered guilty pleas to one count of Conspiracy to violate federal firearms offenses.   According to investigators, the trio conspired to obtain firearms in the State of Oklahoma.  On December 29, 2021, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop of Williams and Sherrod on I-40 in Sequoyah County.  Law enforcement ultimately discovered Williams and Sherrod in possession of six firearms with large capacity magazines and an unserialized silencer.  At the time of the possession, Sherrod had been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

Sentencing for co-Conspirator Dowdy is currently set for March 12, 2024.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Williams and Sherrod were remanded to the 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 Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raithiele Robinson, age 50, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 150 months in prison for one count of Attempted Robbery.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee County Sherriff’s Office, and the Okmulgee Police Department.

On December 15, 2022, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Robbery.  According to investigators, on December 2, 2016, Robinson attempted to rob the victim of valuables by force as the victim sat in a vehicle at the intersection of Kern and Kiowa in Okmulgee.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Axton Cole Chancellor, age 25, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 192 months in prison each for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country. The sentences on each count were ordered to run concurrently.

On July 5, 2022, Chancellor pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, over a three day span in October of 2018, Chancellor willfully and maliciously harmed an infant entrusted to his care, then failed to seek medical treatment for the infant after inflicting severe injuries.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City. Chancellor was remanded to 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 Caila M. Cleary and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

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 30 months in prison for Escape from Custody.

The charge arose from investigations by the United States Marshals Service and the Okmulgee County Criminal Justice Authority, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa Police Department, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On November 7, 2022, Barker pleaded guilty to the charge.  In November 2021, Barker and another inmate, Dustin Marris, escaped from federal custody at a detention center in Okmulgee.  Both escapees were apprehended the next day as a result of a successful multi-agency manhunt.  Marris was sentenced in February 2023 for his involvement in the escape.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Barker was remanded to 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Paula Amber Chisholm, age 38, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for Child Abuse in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the McAlester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 12, 2023, Chisholm was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on December 3, 2019, a five-year-old child was rushed to the hospital after school officials became concerned about the child’s physical state and demeanor. During a medical evaluation it was revealed the child had multiple wounds, abrasions, and bruises and was extremely malnourished. Chisholm was the primary caregiver at the time the abuse occurred.  The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw 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.  Chisholm was remanded to 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 Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bryan Todd Richardson II, age 25, of Wyoming, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison each for two counts of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity and 120 months in prison for one count of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Activity.  The terms of imprisonment on all counts shall be served concurrently.  Richardson will also be required to register as a Sex Offender.

The charges arose from investigations by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Okmulgee Police Department.

On September 27, 2022, Richardson pleaded guilty to a superseding Indictment of two counts of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity and one count of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Activity.  According to investigators, Richardson, a Marine stationed in North Carolina, cultivated an online relationship with a fourteen-year-old child in the state of Oklahoma for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. Richardson traveled to Oklahoma in May of 2020, and again in June of 2021, both times engaging in illegal sexual activity with the minor. After the June incident, Richardson transported the minor across state lines and later returned the victim to Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Richardson was remanded to 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 Morgan Muzljakovich 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, 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 announced that Michael Shaun Davis, age 56, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on June 15, 2023, Davis, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed firearms and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

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

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. District 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.  Davis was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sidney Dewayne Woods, age 31, of Colbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 10, 2023, Woods pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, Woods confessed to sexually abusing a minor who was in his care at the time of the abuse.  The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Woods was remanded to 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 Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Gene McGee Jr., age 37, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on October 12, 2022, McGee, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ardmore 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. McGee was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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 David Glen Berryhill, Jr., age 51, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On July 6, 2023, Berryhill pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, on January 25, 2023, an OHP trooper conducting a traffic stop on Highway 69 near Checotah, Oklahoma, discovered Berryhill in possession of almost three kilograms of methamphetamine.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Berryhill was remanded to 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brittany Nicole Mekler, age 31, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the McAlester Police Department.

On July 18, 2023, Mekler pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.  According to investigators, on August 27, 2022, Mekler was found in possession of 163.18 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $3,774 cash.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Mekler was remanded to 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Aaron Ward, age 43, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for illegally possessing 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 May 11, 2023, Ward pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  According to court documents, a Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputy found Ward in possession of a loaded .38 Special revolver during a traffic stop in August of 2022.  The deputy located the revolver in Ward’s back pocket while conducting a pat-down.  Ward knew when he possessed the firearm that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Ward was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kent Matthew Stapp, age 34, of Wetumka, Oklahoma, was sentenced was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

The charges arose from investigations by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On March 13, 2023, a federal jury found Stapp guilty at trial of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to court documents, on February 11, 2022, Okmulgee County Sheriff’s deputies discovered Stapp in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after Stapp attempted to flee during a traffic stop.  At trial, Stapp testified that he attempted to flee in order to prevent the discovery of the firearm on his person. The jury found that Stapp knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year while he was in possession of the firearm.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Stapp was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Geizura and Jarrod Leaman represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Sean Paul Baker, age 31, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty-five years imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after being found guilty by a federal jury of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that beginning in February of 2015 and continuing until December of 2021, Sean Paul Baker engaged in sexual acts with a minor victim, who had not reached 10 years of age.  The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Baker was remanded to 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 Caila M. Cleary and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Jake Craig, age 35, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months of probation for possessing a firearm after a domestic violence conviction.

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

On March 10, 2023, Craig pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.  According to court documents, on June 7, 2022, Muskogee police officers responded to a report of a disturbance at an area residence.  During the investigation, officers discovered Craig in possession of a loaded .22 semi-automatic handgun.  In 2018, Craig pleaded guilty and was sentenced by an Oklahoma district court on one count of misdemeanor domestic violence.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.