Eastern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Seminole Resident Sentenced for Escape from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Coker Dean Barker, age 37, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 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.
McAlester Resident Sentenced for Child Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
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.
Former Marine Sentenced for Travel with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
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.
Eufaula Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael 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.
Colbert Resident Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
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.
Ardmore Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that 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.
Poteau Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that 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.
McAlester Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that 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.
Mayes County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
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.
Hughes County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
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.
Henryetta Resident Sentenced to Thirty-Five Years for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
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.
Gore Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that 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.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Aaron Meigs, age 32, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 63 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, with the terms of imprisonment to run consecutively.
The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 6, 2023, Meigs pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison. According to court documents, on October 4, 2022, Cherokee County Sheriff deputies arrived at the scene of a single car accident. Meigs, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was found in possession of a handgun and approximately 41 grams of methamphetamine.
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. Meigs 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 Ryan Bondura represented the United States.
Hulbert Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cairl Glenn Hayes, Jr., age 48, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison on two separate cases for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 5, 2022, Hayes pleaded guilty to a single count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and remained on bond pending sentencing. According to investigators, on April 26, 2022, law enforcement officers conducting a traffic stop in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, discovered Hayes in possession of a firearm. Hayes was sentenced to 18 months in prison for this offense.
On August 9, 2023, Hayes was indicted for a second incident of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hayes entered a guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm on September 11, 2023. According to investigators, on July 10, 2023, law enforcement officers conducting a traffic stop in Cherokee County again discovered Hayes in possession of a firearm. Hayes was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the second offense.
At the time of both traffic stops, Hayes knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The Court ordered the sentences in each case to run concurrently.
The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Hayes 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 Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jaylon Christopher Heneha, age 26, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for a federal firearms offense.
The charges arose from investigations by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On May 2, 2023, Heneha pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to investigators, on January 22, 2023, officers with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police discovered Heneha in possession of a firearm during the course of another investigation. At the time he possessed the gun, Heneha knew 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 hearings in Muskogee. Heneha 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 Richard A. Lorenz represented the United States at sentencing.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Christopher Andrew Loveall, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm.
The charge arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tahlequah Police Department.
On May 15, 2023, Loveall pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. According to investigators, on January 16, 2023, officers observed Loveall fire a gun from the front passenger seat of a vehicle before the vehicle drove away at a high rate of speed. Officers pulled the vehicle over and found a firearm magazine on the floorboard. During a search of the nearby roadside along the vehicle's path, officers found a 380 semi-automatic handgun. Loveall 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 Ronald A. White, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Loveall 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.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tristan Hunter Finch, age 27, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian country.
The Indictment alleged that on September 5, 2023, Finch assaulted the victim with a knife. The crime occurred 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.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced for Assault, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Elbert Andrew Fuller, Jr., age 25, of Roland, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 308 months imprisonment for assaulting two police officers and a female victim with a gun and knife, while putting a minor child in harm’s way during the assault.
Fuller was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country, and one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country. He was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment on three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. These six counts were ordered to run concurrent with each other. The defendant also was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment on one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, or Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence which was ordered to run consecutive to his other counts for a total sentence of 308 months imprisonment.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Roland Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 22, 2023, Fuller entered a plea of guilty to all counts. According to investigators, on October 8, 2022, law enforcement responding to a 911 call encountered Fuller leaving a Roland residence carrying an infant. Fuller fired a pistol multiple times at the officers. Fuller dropped the pistol, pulled a large knife, and attempted to stab one of the officers. During the altercation, a family member was able to take the child from Fuller. Fuller was eventually subdued and taken into custody. The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The defendant’s violent acts endangered multiple people, including a child, and the sentence imposed is certainly fitting punishment,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Fuller 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 T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
LeFlore County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Joe Knight, age 42, of Spiro, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The Indictment alleged that on December 26, 2022, Knight, 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 which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Sequoyah County Sherriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Knight will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Cyberstalking, Assault with A Dangerous Weapon, Receipt and Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation Material, and Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geovanta Ty’Kearon Lee, age 23, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 255 months in prison for one count of Cyberstalking, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, one count of Discharging of a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence, one count of Receipt of Material involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and one count of Possession of Material involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the City of Ardmore Police Department.
On March 1, 2023, a federal jury found Lee guilty at trial on all counts. According to investigators, on February 21, 2022, Lee assaulted the victim with a firearm, fired a round into the victim’s vehicle, then fled the scene. In the weeks after the assault, Lee used social media and phone calls to intimidate the victim. Phones recovered from Lee's home during the course of the investigation showed that Lee received and possessed a video depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The crimes occurred in Carter 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 hearings in Muskogee. Lee 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 Patrick Flanigan represented the United States.
Checotah Resident Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Randolph Boyd Strawn, age 68, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, and the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 1, 2023, Randolph Boyd Strawn pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree. According to court documents, Strawn maliciously killed the victim on December 6, 2022, pouring gasoline around the victim and igniting it.
The crime occurred in McIntosh 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. Strawn 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 Resident Sentenced for Federal Crime of ArsonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daniel Lewis Moon, age 26, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for one count of Arson.
The charges arose from investigations by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On November 9, 2022, a federal jury found Moon guilty at trial of Arson. According to investigators, on March 28, 2020, Moon, an employee at the Dollar General in Porter, Oklahoma, turned in his two-week resignation notice then purposefully lit a fire in a store aisle during business hours. Employees successfully evacuated shoppers and staff, but the fire caused significant damage before firefighters were able to extinguish it.
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. Moon 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 Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.
Ada Resident Sentenced for Murder, Kidnapping, Arson, Burglary, Voluntary Manslaughter, Assault and Prison Contraband ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Kalup Allen Born, age 25, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 608 months imprisonment related to three separate cases.
For crimes related to a murder committed in January 2017, Born was sentenced to 450 months imprisonment for Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree, Kidnapping in Indian Country, Arson in Indian Country, and First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. The sentences will run concurrently to each other, and consecutive to his other sentences.
For crimes related to a prison attack in December 2020, Born was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. The sentence will run consecutive to his other sentences.
For crimes related to a prison attack in April 2023, Born was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and one count of Possession of Contraband in Prison. The sentence will run consecutive to his other sentences.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal, the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
On December 5, 2022, Born pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, one count of Kidnapping in Indian Country, one count of First Degree Burglary in Indian Country, and one count of Arson in Indian Country for his January 2017 crimes.
According to investigators, on January 15, 2017, Born broke into an Ada residence, threatened and assaulted the occupant with a knife, stole the victim’s vehicle, then kidnapped and forced the victim into the car. As he drove south, Born backed the vehicle over the side of a bridge, sending it over the edge and down into the creek bed below. The victim suffered severe blunt force trauma, including a ruptured organ and a pelvic injury, and ultimately died from the injuries sustained in the incident.
Born then made his way to a second home nearby, which he burglarized, stealing a blanket, a knife, a wallet, and electronics.
From there, Born proceeded to yet a third residence, where he broke in and set the home ablaze with the occupants still inside. A bystander was able to rescue the occupants from the fire and Born was captured nearby.
In December 2020, while being held on charges for these crimes, Born killed a fellow inmate in the Pontotoc County Justice Center in a brutal and sustained attack. On June 7, 2022, a federal jury convicted Born at trial for one count of voluntary manslaughter.
On April 24, 2023, Born stabbed a Muskogee County Jail inmate repeatedly with a homemade knife and attempted to throw the inmate over a railing. On January 3, 2024, Born 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 Possessing Contraband in Prison.
The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County and Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The crimes committed by Born are gut-wrenching and there is no question the sentencing is just,” 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. The FBI is committed to protecting all of the tribal communities we serve, helping victims, and ensuring that justice is met for violent offenders. Born decided to continue his life of crime even while in prison. He clearly did not learn his lesson and continued to terrorize the lives of others. The FBI is grateful to the law enforcement agencies that contributed to this investigation and led to Born’s conviction.”
“The enormity of these heinous acts cannot be overstated,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Born has proven to be a threat to society both inside and outside the walls of the prison system. This sentence ensures he will spend a substantial portion of his life, if not all, behind those walls where his actions are as limited as possible.”
The Honorable John F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearings. Born will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Conway and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty to Murder and Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Lee Matlock, Jr., age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Court documents allege that on the evening of September 14, 2021, Matlock intentionally shot an individual with a rifle outside a Stilwell residence before fleeing the scene of the crime. Adair County deputies responding to the shooting discovered the victim dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, 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. Matlock was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of A Machine GunRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Keaton Dwayne Tripp, age 21, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a machine gun.
The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muskogee Police Department.
On May 11, 2023, Tripp entered a guilty plea in federal district court to one count of Possession of a Machine Gun. According to investigators, on March 23, 2023, law enforcement responding to a reported home invasion apprehended Tripp and found him in possession of a pistol illegally modified for fully automatic firing.
“Converting firearms to fully automatic is an alarming trend which poses a tremendous threat to our communities,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Identifying and prosecuting persons unlawfully converting and/or knowingly possessing these illegal, extremely dangerous weapons is a focus of the Department of Justice.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Tripp 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.
Cherokee County Residents Plead Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Dale Degase, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Andrea Dawn Winsett, age 34, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Degase also entered a plea of guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
The Indictment against Degase alleged that on March 7, 2023, Degase knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, along with a loaded firearm prohibited to him as a convicted felon. At the plea hearing, Degase admitted that after a traffic stop on March 7, 2023, he was found to be in possession of 22.36 grams of actual methamphetamine which he intended to distribute, along with a loaded 9mm pistol. At the time of the offenses, Degase knew he had been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The Information against Winsett alleged that on March 7, 2023, Winsett knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. At the plea hearing, Winsett admitted that on March 7, 2023, after being arrested for driving under the influence, she was found in possession of 14.75 grams of actual methamphetamine which she intended to distribute.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Degase and Winsett will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
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, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with Obstruction of the Due Administration of Justice.
The Information alleged that in June and July of 2023, Vick twice corruptly influenced, obstructed, and impeded the due administration of justice by causing and inducing an individual from appearing before two empaneled federal grand juries in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. At the plea hearing, Vick admitted that when he learned that the potential witness had been subpoenaed to testify before empaneled grand juries in June and July of 2023, he directed the individual to not appear or testify. Due to Vick’s inducements, the witness failed to appear to testify.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Ada Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Vick will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Talihina Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael John Jones, age 40, of Talihina, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on January 24, 2023, Jones knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended for distribution.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Jones was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rian Reid Miller, age 22, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
The Indictment alleged that on April 29, 2023, Miller knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during an assault on the victim. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, 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. Miller was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.
Glenpool Resident Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of A Minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alexander Christian Davis, age 37, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 141 months imprisonment for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Davis is also subject to a ten year term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The charges arose from investigations by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On May 11, 2023, Davis entered a plea of guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. According to investigators, Davis engaged in sexual acts with a child under the age of 16 and at least four years younger than him between December 2019 and December 2020. 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 hearings. Davis 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 Caila M. Cleary and Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
Pontotoc County Resident Sentenced for Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Zakary Keegan Reynolds, age 39, of Stonewall, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment on three separate counts of Bank Robbery, with each count running concurrently.
The charges arose from investigations by the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office, the Ardmore Police Department, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Dallas Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On September 6, 2022, Reynolds pleaded guilty to three separate counts of Bank Robbery. According to investigators, Reynolds robbed three separate banks of over $30,000 in a crime spree spanning three months and two states. On September 28, 2021, Reynolds robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Dallas, Texas. Six weeks later, on November 12, 2021, Reynolds robbed an American Nation Bank in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Two weeks later, on November 24, 2021, Reynolds robbed a Capital One Bank in Dallas, Texas. Reynolds was apprehended December 6, 2021, in Pontotoc County, after a standoff with law enforcement officers.
The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Reynolds 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.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter and Child Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Devin Warren Sizemore, age 29, of Krebs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 180 months imprisonment for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country. The sentences will be served concurrently.
The charges arose from investigations by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Krebs Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 7, 2023, a federal jury found Sizemore guilty of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country. According to investigators, on July 14, 2016, law enforcement officers located Sizemore in a pond next to an unresponsive child. The child, who died from drowning, had sustained multiple injuries, and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. The crimes 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 hearings. Sizemore 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.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amanda Lynn Howerton, age 40, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
The Indictment alleged that on January 22, 2023, Howerton created a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of transmitting that image over the internet.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Judge 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. Howerton was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jaylon Parker Jackson Gore, age 23, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that Gore sexually assaulted a minor victim between January and June of 2019. The crime 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ada Police Department.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Gore was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending the sentencing hearing.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jenna Rudoff (Dallas, TX) and Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced to Forty-Five Years for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Aaron Richard Eubanks, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to forty-five years imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, on five counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 5, 2022, a federal jury found Eubanks guilty of the charges. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that during 2020 and 2021, Eubanks engaged in sexual acts with a minor victim who had not reached 10 years of age. The United States also presented evidence that in February 2021, Eubanks engaged in sexual acts with a second minor victim who had not reached the age of 11 at the time of the abuse. The crimes occurred in Adair and Cherokee Counties, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in 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. Eubanks 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.
Ada Resident Sentenced to Life for First Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Jay Mullins, age 45, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to concurrent life sentences in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—First Degree, and one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma, and the Ada Police Department.
On June 30, 2022, Mullins was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Murder in Indian Country—First Degree, and one count of using a firearm to commit that murder. Evidence presented at trial established that in the early morning hours of April 20, 2002, Mullins attacked and beat the victim, transported the victim to another location, then shot the victim three times and buried the body. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents found the victim’s blood in Mullins’ trunk and on his shoe, leading to Mullins’ eventual confession and disclosure of the location of the victim’s body.
The crimes occurred in Pontotoc and Seminole Counties, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Mullins originally entered a guilty plea to a state district court charge of First Degree Murder in Pontotoc County District Court in December 2002. That conviction was vacated in March 2021 based on the United States Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, handed down in July 2020.
“Although the pursuit of justice for the victim’s family was interrupted by a change in jurisdiction, the cooperative work of state and federal law enforcement allowed the United States Attorney’s Office to successfully prosecute the case after more than twenty years,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The sentences imposed in federal prison now ensure the defendant will spend the rest of his life answering for his heinous crimes.”
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 hearings in Oklahoma City. Mullins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.
Ada Residents Sentenced for Robbery in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Bronson Kent Dalton Gore, age 34, and Richard Dakota Gore, age 29, both of Ada, Oklahoma, were sentenced to 72 months and 77 months imprisonment, respectively, for committing Robbery in Indian country.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ada Police Department, and the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office.
In November 2021, Bronson Gore and Richard Gore each pleaded guilty to one count of Robbery in Indian Country. According to investigators, on January 2, 2021, the Gores accosted the victim in the Love’s parking lot in Ada, Oklahoma, restraining the victim and threatening him with a firearm in order to rob the victim of his wallet and cash. The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, within the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Judge Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The defendants will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending transportation to designated United States Bureau of Prisons facilities where they will serve their non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Westville Resident Sentenced for Robbery and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mitchell Dale Thompson, age 26, of Westville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country and 51 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. The sentences will run concurrently.
The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
On April 17, 2023, Thompson pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on July 19, 2021, Thompson demanded car keys from the victim at gunpoint, then drove off in the victim’s car. On April 8, 2022, while incarcerated at the Adair County Detention Center on separate charges, Thompson beat a fellow inmate, causing multiple skull fractures.
The crimes 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. Thompson 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.
Sequoyah Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gregory Allen Talley, age 53, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for possessing a firearm after a domestic violence conviction.
The charges arose from investigations by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On February 9, 2023, Talley pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence. According to court documents, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant on the Talley’s residence on October 24, 2022, and discovered Talley to be in possession of a 12-gauge pump-action shot gun. In 2021, Talley was convicted by an Oklahoma district court on two counts 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. Talley will remain in 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.
Idabel Resident Sentenced for Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dakota Shay Fox, age 27, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
On October 11, 2022, Fox plead guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. On January 4, 2018, Fox shot the victim at an Idabel intersection. The victim was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. The crime occurred in McCurtain 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 hearings. Fox 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 Jarrod Leaman and Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Gore Resident Sentenced for Accessory After the Fact to KidnappingRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tristen Riley Cawhorn, age 26, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for Accessory After the Fact to Kidnapping.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Police Department.
On March 21, 2023, Cawhorn pleaded guilty to one count of Accessory After the Fact to Kidnapping. According to investigators, in September 2021, Cawhorn assisted Patrick Wayne McHenry in a kidnapping, allowing McHenry to lock the victim in a shed on her property and alerting McHenry when the victim attempted to escape.
On December 21, 2022, McHenry was convicted by a federal jury in the Eastern District of Oklahoma for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping, Kidnapping, Carjacking, Robbery in Indian Country, and the Carry/Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Cawhorn 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.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Lawrence Hudson, age 67, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Cause Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The charge arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ardmore Police Department, and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On February 7, 2023, Hudson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 9, 2022, Hudson struck the victim in the head with a wooden club, intending to cause bodily harm. The crime occurred in Carter 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. Hudson 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.
Ada Resident Sentenced for Theft in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Esquivel Martinez, age 48, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for Theft in Indian Country, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Martinez was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Coal County Sheriff’s Office.
On November 1, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of Theft in Indian Country. According to investigators, between April 2018 and February 2020, Martinez, the appointed Personal Representative over his deceased grandmother’s estate, intentionally moved over $350,000 from the estate’s account into his personal bank account. Martinez then used the transferred estate funds for his own benefit. The crimes occurred in within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“This sentencing demonstrates that individuals like Mr. Martinez, who commit financial crimes to enrich themselves, will be held accountable,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those who illegally profit at the expense of others.”
“Financial crime can be devastating to victims,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those like Mr. Martinez who defraud others.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Martinez will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility on February 23, 2024, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Gene Christie, age 18, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.
The Information alleged that Christie sexually assaulted a victim in March of 2023. The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Christie was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending the sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
Tulsa Resident Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Allen Martin, age 45, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse. Martin is also subject to a life term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police.
On March 2, 2023, Martin pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. According to court documents, Martin sexually abused a seven year old child. 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 hearings. Martin 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.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson commended the work of the investigative team that brought the case, and of the attorneys who brought the prosecution, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich, together with the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who form the Special Victims Unit for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Shane Lowrey, age 51, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.
The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On March 9, 2022, Lowrey pleaded guilty to the offense. On January 1, 2021, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to investigate a shooting at a local residence. Deputies answering the call discovered Lowrey with a self-inflicted accidental gunshot wound. Upon questioning, Lowrey admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm despite his felony conviction.
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.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for Eluding Peace OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clinton Randall Primeaux, age 29, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for endangering others while eluding a police officer.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Henryetta Police Department.
On January 19, 2024, Primeaux pleaded guilty to eluding a peace officer in a manner as to endanger any other person in Indian country. According to investigators, on October 20, 2021, Primeaux led officers on a high-speed chase through Henryetta and onto Interstate 40. Primeaux’s vehicle eventually came to a stop in Clearview, Oklahoma. The crime occurred in Okmulgee and Okfuskee Counties, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raheem Travon Walker, age 21, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The Indictment alleged that on October 28, 2023, Walker possessed a pistol and ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the United States Marshal Service.
The Honorable Judge 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. Walker remains in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending a sentencing hearing.
Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Holdenville Resident Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael David Patton, age 31, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole Lighthorse Police Department, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
On February 22, 2023, Patton pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, on October 19, 2022, Patton entered a Wewoka residence by force, and stabbed the sleeping victim over ten times. EMS responders transported the victim to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The diligence and fairness of the legal process has guaranteed Michael Patton will be held accountable for this senseless act of violence,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “I hope this well-deserved prison sentence will bring some measure of closure to the victim’s family. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to ensure those who cause harm in our communities are brought to justice.”
“I commend the coordinated investigative efforts of local, tribal, and federal law enforcement in this case,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Due to their efforts, federal prosecutors were able to pursue criminal charges against Michael Patton and he now faces the just consequences of his heinous act.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Patton 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.
Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty to MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Devon Leroy Battiest, age 43, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with Murder in Indian County—Second Degree.
The Information alleged that Battiest unlawfully killed the victim with malice aforethought. According to investigators, on May 6, 2023, Battiest entered a Broken Bow residence armed with a firearm. Battiest confronted the victim, who was a guest at the house, and shot the victim multiple times.
The crime occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Broken Bow Police Department, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police.
The Honorable Gerald 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. The Battiest was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.