Eastern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shane Edwin Fahrenholz, age 59, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for one count of Possession of Firearm After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On October 8, 2025, Fahrenholz pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between August 26, 2024, and September 12, 2024, Fahrenholz knowingly possessed a .30-30 lever-action rifle after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in the State of Nebraska.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Fahrenholz will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Pedro Ramirez Covarrubias, age 53, a Mexican national, unlawfully present in Adair County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
On January 7, 2026, Covarrubias pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 3, 2025, Covarrubias, who was convicted of First-Degree Murder on May 6, 2015, in Harris County, Texas, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed from the United States on October 14, 2021.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Covarrubias will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Concepcion Soto-Rivera, a/k/a Conception Soto-Rivera, age 41, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, and the Eufaula Police Department.
The Indictment alleged that on March 17, 2026, Soto-Rivera, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on October 30, 2016, October 18, 2014, August 13, 2008, June 23, 2008, May 21, 2008, May 17, 2008, and May 13, 2008.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Soto-Rivera will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin Knutson and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Illinois Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, a/k/a Bola, a/k/a Bola Flexx, a/k/a Bobo Chicago, age 27, of Chicago, Illinois, entered a guilty plea to one count of Wire Fraud Conspiracy, punishable by up to 27 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, one count of Wire Fraud, punishable by up to 27 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy, punishable by up to 27 years in prison and the greater of either a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.
The Second Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning in June 2023 and continuing through September 2023, Bombata and other co-conspirators devised and executed a scheme to defraud and deceive victims by using “spoofed” emails and websites with falsely registered domain names to convince victims to wire funds to bank accounts fraudulently established and controlled by Bombata and his co-conspirators. The Indictment further alleged that beginning in June 2023 and continuing through October 2023, Bombata conspired with others to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds of the fraud.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Bombata will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Discharge of A Firearm During the Commission of A Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Langston Love Hughes, age 22, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by not less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on January 5, 2026, Hughes did knowingly use, carry, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is, Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hughes will remain the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Muskogee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that John David James, II, age 41, of Warner, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged James with knowingly possessing two rounds of ammunition on November 6, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
James will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Staubus and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
McIntosh County Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Lee Everett, a/k/a James Estes, age 36, of Checotah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Everett was convicted of Rape in the Second Degree in Wagoner County on October 3, 2016, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from October 17. 2021, until February 26, 2026, Everett failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Everett will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Luis Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Luis Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Agustin Santiagocordovas, a/k/a Liuis Virgiliohilario, a/k/a Luis Hilario Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Hilario-Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Virgilio-Hilario, age 35, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department.
The Indictment alleged that on March 27, 2026, Hilario, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 2, 2018, and July 20, 2018, and after previously being convicted of a felony.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hilario will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie Pippin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Pryor Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Jason Sanders, age 45, of Pryor, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 30, 2025, Sanders pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 5, 2025, Sanders knowingly possessed two semi-automatic pistols and 96 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sanders will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clifford Lamont Driskell, age 45, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Simple Possession of Phencyclidine, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 1, 2025, Driskell knowingly possessed one semi-automatic pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of such conviction.
The Indictment further alleged that on July 1, 2025, Driskell knowingly and intentionally possessed phencyclidine, a Schedule III controlled substance, after having been previously convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Cocaine Base and Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Phencyclidine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance—Marijuana in Oklahoma County.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muskogee Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Driskell will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Muskogee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Misprision of FelonyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jessica Ann James, age 41, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Misprision of Felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Information alleged that beginning in or about October 2024, and continuing until on or about December 16, 2025, James, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, to wit, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), concealed the same and did not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
James will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raciel Osorio Lopez, a/k/a Raciel Osoriolopez, a/k/a Raciel Osorio-Lopez, age 33, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department.
The Indictment alleged that on March 27, 2026, Osario Lopez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on April 28, 2015, August 19, 2015, and March 9, 2017.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Osorio Lopez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Wagoner County Resident Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kyler Leroy Parish, age 19, of Porter, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by any term of years up to Life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on March 18, 2024, Parish knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years.
The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Parish will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Fort Gibson Resident Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Katrina Dawn McCroskey, age 52, of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Bank Fraud, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The Information alleged that beginning in January 2016 and continuing until February 28, 2023, McCroskey knowingly executed a scheme to obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by or under the custody or control of BancFirst, a federally insured financial institution, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
As part of the plea, McCroskey admitted that, without the authority of her employer, she utilized her position as office manager for a medical doctor to commit the fraud.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Secret Service.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
McCroskey was released on bond pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Okemah Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raymond Lewis Spain, age 66, of Okemah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in or about March 2020, and continuing until in or about March 2024, Spain knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a victim who had attained the age of 12 years, but had not attained the age of 16 years, and who was at least four years younger than the defendant.
The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable 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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Spain will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering and Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rachel Leah Sitton, a/k/a Rachel L. Sitton, a/k/a Rachel Sitton, a/k/a Rachel Leah Chesser, a/k/a Rachel Chesser, age 42, of Konawa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, punishable by a term of up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, and one count of Money Laundering, punishable by a term of up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that from in or about January 2021, and continuing through in or about March 2021, Sitton agreed and conspired to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, through wire communications in interstate commerce, certain signals and sounds for the purpose of executing a scheme and artifice to defraud Customers Bank and the Small Business Administration.
The Indictment further alleged that on or about March 18, 2021, Sitton knowingly engaged in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000.00, that is a cashier’s check in the amount of $20,000.00 in U.S. currency, derived from the specified unlawful activity of Wire Fraud.
The charges arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sitton is released on bond with conditions pending sentencing.Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty to Deprivation of Rights Under Color of LawRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joshua Gabriel Blake, age 31, of Cameron, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The Information alleged that on January 28, 2025, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Blake, while acting under color of law as an Oklahoma State Highway Patrol Trooper, and while using a dangerous weapon, kicked the victim in the head, thereby willfully depriving the victim of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to be free from unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the unreasonable use of force by a law enforcement officer.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Blake was released on bond with conditions pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Okfuskee County Resident Sentenced for Accessory to MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Sejaryee Lee Bear, age 42, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served in prison (147 days) for one count of Accessory After the Fact—Murder in Indian Country, to be followed by a term of two years of supervised release.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okemah Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
On August 12, 2025, Bear pleaded guilty in federal district court. According to investigators, on June 30, 2024, Bear helped Michael Wayne Lambert flee after Lambert shot and killed the victim at an Okemah apartment complex. In the hours after the murder, Bear turned off location services to her cell phone, deleted her location data, phone call records, and messages, and accompanied Lambert to the Bearden River Bridge on the North Canadian River, where Lambert discarded the murder weapon later recovered by investigators.
On September 11, 2025, a federal jury convicted Lambert at trial. On April 2, 2026, Lambert was sentenced to a term of Life in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country, and a consecutive ten years for one count of Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Tulsa Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Jason Altamirano, age 39, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Altamirano with knowingly possessing one semi-automatic pistol and 38 rounds of assorted ammunition in Okmulgee County on November 23, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Altamirano will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Carter County Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault by StranglingRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Layne Gillispie, age 32, of Dickson, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 6, 2025, Gillispie assaulted the victim, a dating partner, by strangling.
The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Gillispie will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Sapulpa Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bandy Jay Linam, age 47, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Linam with knowingly possessing a .22 caliber revolver and nine rounds of .22 caliber ammunition in the Eastern District of Oklahoma on September 30, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Linam was released on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Okmulgee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jackie Leon Parker, Jr., age 51, of Morris, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Parker with knowingly possessing a bolt-action rifle on October 7, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Parker will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Jimcy McGirt Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison for Sorna Violation and Revocation of Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimcy McGirt, age 77, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, and 12 consecutive months in prison on the revocation of his supervised release for his May 2024 conviction of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The Court also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release.
The charge and revocation arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On June 24, 2025, McGirt pleaded guilty to failing to register and update a registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). According to investigators, on August 31, 2024, McGirt was discovered residing at an apartment located less than 2,000 feet from a playground despite having registered his residence in another county. Investigators also uncovered evidence that McGirt had been active on social media and the internet, a direct violation of the court-ordered terms and conditions of his supervised release imposed after his May 2, 2024, conviction in federal district court for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. McGirt, a registered sex offender, is required to notify local law enforcement of any changes of residence and is prohibited from residing within 2,000 feet of a playground or park.
“This sentence sends the clear message that sex-offender registry compliance is not optional and that orders of the Court are to be obeyed,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “These requirements exist to protect our communities, and the United States will aggressively prosecute individuals who violate their SORNA obligations and restrictions.”
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McGirt will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Wewoka Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Megan Renee Burgess, age 47, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Theft in Indian Country, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in January 2017 and continuing on until about November 7, 2022, Burgess did take, and carry away with intent to steal and purloin, the personal property of another, specifically, United States currency exceeding $1,000 in value.
The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Burgess was released on bond pending sentencing.
Poteau Resident Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clifford Elmo Smith, age 41, of Poteau, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about April 20, 2025, and continuing until on or about January 13, 2026, Smith knowingly possessed one or more matters which contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, transported by, in, and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, which Smith accessed with the intent to view.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Smith will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Atoka Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Evert Linnel Eoff, age 63, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count Felon in Possession of a Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Eoff with knowingly possessing one bolt action rifle and one semi-automatic rifle on January 10, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atoka Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Eoff will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Seminole Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tommy Joe Logan, age 52, of Seminole, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Logan with knowingly possessing a rifle and nine rounds of assorted ammunition on June 2, 2023, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seminole Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Logan will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to 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 Christopher Bradley Gonzales, a/k/a Christopher Bradley Robison, age 32, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on June 21, 2025, Gonzales assaulted the victim, resulting in serious bodily injury.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Ada Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Gonzales will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Wagoner Resident Sentenced for Felony Assault and Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kelly Justin Van Lewis, age 35, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 26 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 26 months in prison for one count of Possession of Ammunition While Subject to Protective Order. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Coweta Police Department.
On August 21, 2025, Van Lewis pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on April 30, 2024, Van Lewis threatened and pointed a firearm at the victim, then racked the slide of the firearm three times after an apparent malfunction. Law enforcement arrested Van Lewis the same day, and the victim obtained a protective order which included a prohibition against Van Lewis possessing firearms or ammunition. In June of 2025, ATF Special Agents executed a search warrant at Van Lewis’ residence and seized 980 rounds of ammunition Van Lewis possessed in violation of his protective order.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to join forces with the ATF and with all local, state, Tribal, and federal agencies to investigate and prosecute perpetrators who wrongfully use firearms to jeopardize the peace and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
“This conviction and federal sentence make clear that those who use firearms to threaten and terrorize intimate partners will be held fully accountable under the law,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “ATF plays a critical role in enforcing the firearm prohibitions established under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), working alongside federal, state, and Tribal partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. This work is essential not only to protecting victims and preventing further violence, but also to upholding our trust responsibilities to our tribal partners by ensuring safer communities and respect for the rule of law.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Van Lewis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for 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 Tommy Lynn Byrd, Jr., age 38, of Muskogee, 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 an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.
On September 30, 2025, Byrd pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 9, 2025, Byrd struck the victim multiple times on the head with a hammer. The victim suffered severe scalp contusions and was treated at an area hospital.
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, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Byrd will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Latimer County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joshua Wayne Taylor, age 47, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 27, 2025, Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, Taylor knowingly possessed a .22LR revolver and 53 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition on November 18, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Taylor will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Abraham Suy Suar, age 35, a Guatemalan national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On February 2, 2026, Suy Suar pleaded guilty in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Suy Suar, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on September 23, 2014.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cesar Gonzalez Falcon, a/k/a Cesar Falcon Gonzalez, a/k/a Cesar Gonzalez-Falcon, a/k/a Cesar Falcon Gonzales, age 41, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 26, 2025, Gonzalez Falcon pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on May 12, 2025, Gonzalez Falcon, an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, and knowing of such status, knowingly possessed a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and four rounds of ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Gonzalez Falcon was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal for resolution of an ICE detainer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Hugo Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Machine GunRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that John Thomas Worthy, age 51, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to one year of probation for one count of Possession of a Machine Gun.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 6, 2025, Worthy pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 21, 2025, Worthy knowingly possessed a firearm that had been modified to shoot more than one round of ammunition by a single function of the trigger without manual reloading.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Adair County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Michael Young, Jr., age 43, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 2 years of probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 1, 2025, Young pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, Young knowingly possessed 244 firearms and 40 rounds of ammunition on October 29, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Love County Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Scott Langley, age 33, of Overbrook, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 86 months in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 15, 2025, Langley pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 2, 2025, Langley knowingly possessed visual depictions of a minor who had not attained twelve years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which Langley accessed with the intent to view.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Langley will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Emily Wittlinger 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, local, and Tribal resources to prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
To report suspected child trafficking or exploitation, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at report.cybertip.org, or call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jorge Alberto Mejia Rodriguez, a/k/a Alberto Mejia, a/k/a Jorge Mejia, age 45, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On January 21, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on September 27, 2018, and August 23, 2014.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Durant Resident Sentenced for Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Derek Michael James, age 41, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
On July 9, 2025, James pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 27, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.
The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. James will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Okfuskee County Resident Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2024 Okemah MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Lambert, age 56, of Weleetka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to Life in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country, and ten years in prison for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The Court ordered the terms to be served consecutively.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okemah Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
On September 11, 2025, Lambert was found guilty by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, in the early morning hours of June 30, 2024, Lambert shot the victim multiple times on the stairs of an Okemah apartment complex, fled, then discarded the murder weapon off the side of the Bearden River Bridge into the North Canadian River. There, investigators recovered a Ruger 9mm from the riverbank that matched the shell casings recovered from the crime scene.
The crimes occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Lambert will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jaxson Clayton Vaughn, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on November 22, 2024, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Vaughn knowingly assaulted a victim with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vaughn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to 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 Jaxson Clayton Vaughn, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by up to Life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on November 14, 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Vaughn knowingly caused the victim to engage in a sexual act by use of force and by threatening and placing the victim in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping.
The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Roberston, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vaughn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Allan Wayne Hilton, a/k/a Alan Wayne Hilton, a/k/a Terry L. Leonard, a/k/a Allen Wayne Hilton, age 67, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force.
On September 9, 2025, Hilton pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, Hilton was required to register as a sex offender after being convicted of three counts of Rape in Miller County, Arkansas, on February 25, 1993, and from June 20, 2023, until June 10, 2025, Hilton failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hilton will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
LeFlore County Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder of Webbers Falls Police OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Wayne Williams, age 47, of Wister, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to charges relating to the shooting of a Webbers Falls police officer in March of 2025.
On April 1, 2026, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than 10 years consecutive to any other sentence imposed and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on or about March 16, 2025, Williams assaulted the victim with intent to commit murder.
The Indictment further alleged that on March 16, 2025, Williams assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon intending to do bodily harm; that Williams assaulted the victim resulting in serious bodily injury; and that, during that crime of violence, Williams knowingly discharged a firearm.
According to investigators, on March 16, 2025, Williams pulled his firearm and shot a Webbers Falls, Oklahoma police officer in the face during a routine traffic stop. Williams fled the scene and law enforcement issued a statewide Blue Alert for Williams, cautioning that Williams was armed and dangerous. The Webbers Falls officer was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. In the early morning hours of March 17, Grants, New Mexico Police received a BOLO for Williams’ car. At 7:42 a.m., Grants officers picked up Williams’ plates on their traffic cameras and apprehended him a short time later in an area Walmart parking lot.
The crimes occurred in Muskogee 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 Webbers Falls Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Grants, New Mexico Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Williams will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Co-Defendants Sentenced for 2024 Armed AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Demontrae Davion Rogers, age 20, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, and Damarion Hiawatha Nichols, age 21, of Moore, Oklahoma, were sentenced on charges relating to assaults occurring on April 2, 2024, in Wewoka, Oklahoma.
Rogers was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 84 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The Court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. Rogers was also sentenced to 12 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. The Court ordered that charge to be served concurrently to the Assault count. On June 6, 2025, Rogers pleaded guilty to the federal firearm charge. On December 8, 2025, Rogers pleaded guilty to the armed assault charges.
On March 5, 2026, Damarion Hiawatha Nichols, age 21, of Moore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for four counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On December 8, 2025, Nichols pleaded guilty to the charges.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
According to investigators, on April 2, 2024, Rogers and Nichols forcibly entered a detached residential garage in Wewoka. Once inside, they held four individuals at gunpoint. As Rogers and Nichols pointed their firearms at the victims, they proceeded to strike one occupant with their weapons, causing lacerations and abrasions. During the assault, Roger’s weapon misfired, and he ejected the casing. Law enforcement investigating the crime scene recovered the casing, which later returned as a ballistics match to a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“Enforcing federal firearm regulations is crucial to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and ensuring public safety,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This sentence should serve as a warning: removing the serial number from a firearm will not protect you from being prosecuted for your crimes.”
ATF Dallas Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner had this to say about the sentencing: “Eastern Oklahoma is safer today following the sentencing of a Demontrae Rogers, who attempted to carry out an assault using a firearm with an obliterated serial number. This deliberate act to conceal the weapon’s origin reflects the serious threat posed to our community.
“Through the use of ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), our agents linked critical evidence and confirmed Rogers’ involvement in the armed assault. This case demonstrates the power of intelligence-driven investigations and the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts.
“This outcome was made possible through strong collaboration among federal, state, local, and Tribal partners. Together, we remain committed to identifying violent offenders, holding them accountable, and protecting the citizens of the Eastern District of Oklahoma.”
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/tools-services-law-enforcement/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Rogers and Nichols will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Bryan County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Eagle Chambers, age 39, of Colbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Possession of Firearm and Ammunition by Prohibited Person.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Achille Police Department.
On September 15, 2025, Chambers pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on March 26, 2025, Chambers knowingly possessed a pistol and ammunition after receiving actual notice of being subject to a court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury, and which by its terms explicitly prohibited the use, attempted use, or threatened used of physical force.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shaylyn Holmes, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Homes with knowingly possessing one semi-automatic pistol and nine rounds of assorted ammunition on January 30, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Holmes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dallas Charles Driskell, age 40, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Driskell with knowingly possessing a revolver and a shotgun on July 1, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Muskogee Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Driskell will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Choctaw County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy Wayne Shirley, age 41, of Sawyer, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Stolen Firearm, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on October 21, 2025, Shirley knowingly possessed a stolen semi-automatic pistol that had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the firearm was stolen.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Shirley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marissa Laneau Dill, age 38, of Caddo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine; one count of Involuntary Manslaughter of an Unborn Child in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, each punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 5, 2025, Dill unlawfully killed the victim in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, that is failing to devote full time and attention to driving, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-901b, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any intoxicating substance other than alcohol which may render such person incapable of safely driving or operating a motor vehicle, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-902, and in the commission in an unlawful manner and without due caution and circumspection of a lawful act, that is, operating a motor vehicle left of the center line of the roadway, which might produce death.
The Indictment further alleged that on May 5, 2025, Dill unlawfully killed the victim’s unborn child in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, that is failing to devote full time and attention to driving, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-901b, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any intoxicating substance other than alcohol which may render such person incapable of safely driving or operating a motor vehicle, contrary to Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes, Section 11-902, and in the commission in an unlawful manner and without due caution and circumspection of a lawful act, that is, operating a motor vehicle left of the center line of the roadway, which might produce death.
The Indictment also alleged that on May 5, 2025, Dill assaulted two other victims, resulting in serious bodily injuries to each.
The crimes occurred in Bryan 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 and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dill is free on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Micronesian National Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Reynold Rodriguez, age 60, a Micronesian national, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Rodriguez was convicted of Sexual Battery in the District Court of McCurtain County, Oklahoma, on September 9, 2024, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from October 22, 2024, until July 23, 2025, Rodriguez failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Rodriguez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.