Eastern District of Oklahoma

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raylon Sharrod Triplett-Armstrong, age 33, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the McAlester Police Department.

On February 22, 2023, Triplett-Armstrong pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance that contained a detectable amount of fentanyl.  According to investigators, Triplett-Armstrong traveled from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to McAlester, Oklahoma, intending to conduct a drug transaction. When Triplett-Armstrong arrived in McAlester, officers initiated a traffic stop and a search of the vehicle revealed over 900 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.

“The illegal distribution of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl poses a tremendous danger to our communities,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute offenders.” 

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings.  Triplett-Armstrong 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 Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tristan Ray Renzelman, age 22, of Yukon, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that Renzelman sexually abused a 12-year-old child in 2021. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

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. Renzelman was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Jessica Bove represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tassia Ann-Lorene Sellers-Turner, age 31, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

The Indictment alleged that on September 9, 2023, Sellers-Turner stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife, intending to do bodily harm.  The victim sustained life-threatening injuries.  The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Stilwell Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Judge 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.  Sellers-Turner will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Terry Joseph Dunnavent, age 38, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that January 3, 2023, Dunnavent was found in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.

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

The Honorable Judge 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.  Dunnavent will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Allen Rollings, age 57, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Superseding Indictment alleged that on January 5, 2023, Rollings possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine for distribution, along with two firearms.  The Superseding Indictment also alleged that on a separate occasion, on June 27, 2023, Rollings again possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine for distribution, along with four firearms.  Prior to these instances, Rollings had already been convicted of a crime punishable by one year of prison and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

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

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.  Rollings was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal.

Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that that Kaira Leigh Wilson, age 34, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on January 8, 2024, and concluded on January 11, 2024, with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Wilson shook and threw a six month old baby against a wall, resulting in serious injury to the child.  The crime occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

The Honorable John C. Coughenour, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by appointment, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentencing report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Wilson was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Sarah McAmis represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Kalup Allen Born, age 25, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and one count of Possessing Contraband in Prison.

At the plea hearing, Born admitted that on April 24, 2023, while being held as a federal inmate at the Muskogee County Jail, he stabbed a fellow inmate in the neck and head numerous times with a metal shank.

The crimes occurred in Indian country, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

The Honorable Judge Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Born will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Conway and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lewis Reynaldi Cypress, age 39, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on December 3, 2023, Cypress knowingly possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and rounds of 9mm and .22 caliber ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

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

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Devier Tamon Washington, age 24, of Arizona, and Gabriel Donte Cunningham, age 28, of Maryland, each entered guilty pleas to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

The Indictment alleged that on March 29, 2022, Washington and Cunningham knowingly possessed 400 grams of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.

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

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted both defendants’ pleas.  Washington and Cunningham were remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the completion of presentence investigation reports.

Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin Wayne Hayes, age 41, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced for sexually abusing four children under the age of 12.  Hayes was sentenced to 20 years in prison for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2244(a)(5), 2246(3), 1151, and 1152.  Following his term of imprisonment, Hayes will be placed on a life-time term of supervised release and required to register as a sex offender.

The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oklahoma City and Ardmore Field Offices, the Ardmore Police Department, Sara’s Project, and the Carter County District Attorney’s Office.

On November 22, 2022, Hayes pleaded guilty to knowingly engaging and causing sexual contact with a child under the age of 12.  According to court documents, Hayes repeatedly sexually abused four young children beginning as early as 2009 and continuing through 2014.  The child victims, who were as young as five and six years old when the abuse began, came forward and provided critical evidence and information to law enforcement regarding the sexual abuse.

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 hearings in Muskogee.  Hayes 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.

Special Assistant United States Attorneys Jenna Rudoff (Dallas, TX) and Callie Woolam (Lubbock, TX) represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edmond Lewis Jr., age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.

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

On January 18, 2023, Lewis pleaded guilty to the offense.  On November 25, 2020, law enforcement conducting a traffic stop discovered Lewis, a convicted felon, with a handgun and a rifle in the car.  During the plea hearing, Lewis agreed that he knew at the time of the traffic stop that he was barred from possessing firearms.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Shawna Marie Robledo, age 44, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 12, 2022, Robledo pleaded guilty to an Information of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.  On October 27, 2020, law enforcement officers discovered Robledo in possession of multiple clear baggies containing over 50 grams of methamphetamine mixture intended for distribution.

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