Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ronald Wayne Yarbrough, Jr., age 45, of Lehigh, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The Information alleged that on November 24, 2022, Yarbrough instigated a fight outside the family home.  During the fight, Yarbrough stabbed the victim in the neck.  The victim was later declared dead at an area hospital.  The crime occurred in Coal 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 Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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.  Yarbrough will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rebecca Elaine Holloway, age 32, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging her with one count of Tampering with Consumer Products, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1365(a) and (a)(4).  Tampering with Consumer Products, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1365(a) and (a)(4) is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.

On August 17, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office filed an information that charged Holloway with tampering with consumer products that affected interstate and foreign commerce, specifically fentanyl and hydromorphone, between on or about March 2022 and April 22, 2022.

The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

At the plea hearing on August 31, 2023, Holloway admitted to stealing fentanyl and hydromorphone intended for intensive care patients while she was employed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  As part of her plea agreement, Holloway confessed she removed the pain medication from their vials, refilled the empty vials with tap water, and returned the tampered vials to the controlled storage locker.  Holloway admitted she did so despite knowing the pain medication vials were intended for patients in acute pain and distress, and that by depriving patients of the medication, she knew she was placing them at risk of death and bodily injury.

“Patients rely on the knowledge that they will receive FDA-approved medications to manage their pain,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles L. Grinstead, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Kansas City Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who jeopardize patients’ health by tampering with their pain medications.”

“Our healthcare system is built upon trust,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “This office will not hesitate to prosecute health care workers who abuse that trust.”

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster and Associate Chief Counsel Jason Chandler of the Food and Drug Administration represented the United States.

Anyone who was a patient in the Mercy Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Ardmore, Oklahoma, between March 1, 2022, and April 22, 2022, and believes that they may have received a tampered dose of fentanyl or hydromorphone can contact the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations at 214-790-7545.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nelson Onaro, age 61, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to one year of probation for unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances.  Onaro also surrendered his Oklahoma medical license and his DEA registration which formerly enabled him to dispense controlled substances.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On February 7, 2023, Onaro pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance.  At the plea hearing, Onaro admitted to prescribing Schedule II controlled substances to patients in amounts and for durations beyond the scope of legitimate medical practice.  Onaro also admitted to writing prescriptions for patients in dangerous combinations and dosages, thus creating a heightened risk of overdose and death, and to writing a prescription for a straw buyer in order to conceal his own drug use.

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

Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Daniel Griffin and Christopher Jason and Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Conway and Ryan Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Wayne Edwards Jr., age 49, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 35 months in prison for knowingly failing to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

On June 21, 2022, Edwards pleaded guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a violation of SORNA.

On March 15, 2022, law enforcement apprehended Edwards for failure to register as a sex offender based on a community tip.  Upon his arrest, Edwards admitted that he knew his mandated registration requirements but had nevertheless failed to register upon relocating from Wyoming to Tahlequah in July of 2021.

The charges arose from investigations by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

In 2011, Edwards received a felony conviction from the State of Wyoming for Third Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor.  Based on this conviction, Edwards is a Tier III offender with a lifetime reporting requirement: he must appear in person to register in every jurisdiction where he lives, works, or goes to school, and he must appear in person to verify and update registration information every 3 months for life.

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.  Edwards will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, where he will serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve A. Ozark represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elian David Vasquez-Lopez, age 23, of El Salvador, entered a guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Illegal Alien.

The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2023, Vasquez-Lopez, knowing he was an illegal alien unlawfully in the United States, unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition.

During a July 17, 2023, traffic stop, law enforcement discovered Vasquez-Lopez in possession of a 9mm C9 pistol and ammunition.

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

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

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ezzard Charles Onebear, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 324 months in prison for causing the death of a person with a firearm.

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

On July 28, 2022, Onebear pleaded guilty to one count of Causing the Death of Another Person with a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence.  On December 21, 2011, Onebear, who had accepted a contract to kill the target of a gang hit, approached the target’s residence, and in the ensuing struggle discharged a .380 caliber handgun into the home.  That bullet struck and killed a two-year-old child.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This needless tragedy is a stark reminder of why combatting gun violence is a priority of law enforcement and the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Onebear 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffrey Lyn Pierce, age 74, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 327 months in prison for one count of murder in the second degree in Indian Country.

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

On May 23, 2022, Pierce was found guilty of murder in the second degree at trial by a federal jury.  At trial, the Government presented evidence that Pierce fatally stabbed the victim multiple times during a dispute before calling a friend, who in turn called 911.   The victim sustained at least six stab wounds to the chest, neck, and face, and died on the scene despite attempts by paramedics to administer life-saving treatment.  The crime occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, 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, Oklahoma.  Pierce 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.

Former Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS) Trial Attorney, Attorney Kristen S. Taylor and OCGS Resident Advisor Attorney Charles R. Walsh represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stetson Bruce, age 34, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for engaging in sexual acts with a child under 12 years of age.

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

On July 21, 2022, a federal jury found Bruce guilty at trial of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.  The crimes occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“The defendant in this case is a depraved predator whose actions robbed a young child of their innocence,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “He will always be a danger to the community and thanks to the work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, he will spend the rest of his natural life behind prison bars for his horrific crimes.”

“The defendant will spend the remainder of his life in prison, a fitting penalty for his atrocious crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Our office stands firm in its commitment to prosecute those who victimize the innocent and defenseless among us.”

The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, 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.  Bruce 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 Anthony C. Marek represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that that Nick Allen Mabray, age 37, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of all counts charged in the indictment, specifically: one count of Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, and one count of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.

The jury trial began with testimony on August 14, 2023, and concluded on August 15, 2023, with the guilty verdicts.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sherriff’s Department.

Nick Mabry, along with Gene Mabray and Odom Hoffman, was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2022.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on January 6, 2021, Nick Mabray had a confrontation with an agent of RCB Bank at a foreclosed property in Park Hill, Oklahoma. During the incident, Mabray drove his truck into the agent’s vehicle before beating him with a 22-250 rifle and holding the agent against his will.  The government also presented evidence that during the altercation, Gene Mabray took the victim’s cell phone to prevent calls for help, and Odom Hoffman removed the rifle from the scene to conceal evidence of the crimes.  These crimes occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

On January 17, 2023, Odom Hoffman, age 58, formerly of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of the felony offense of Misprision.  At his hearing, Hoffman admitted that on January 6, 2021, he arrived to find the victim on the ground, but failed to summon help, and that he removed the rifle Nick Mabray used in the assault from the scene of the crime.

On July 5, 2023, Gene Mabray, age 67, of Cherokee County, pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country.  At his plea hearing, Gene Mabray admitted that on January 6, 2021, he took the victim’s cell phone and firearm during the altercation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Nick Allen Mabray will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.  Odom Hoffman and Gene Mabray were granted conditional release from custody after entering their pleas and are awaiting sentencing.

Special Assistant United States Attorneys Robert F. Moody and Casey Richmond represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sammy Shade Allen, age 28, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

At the plea hearing, Allen admitted that on November 24, 2020, he knowingly possessed multiple firearms while also possessing heroin. He also admitted to possessing the heroin with the intent to distribute it in exchange for money, and that he possessed the firearms in order to protect both the drugs and drug proceeds.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Allen was remanded to the custody of the U.S. 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 Darian Ty Farris, age 27, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The Indictment alleged that on March 2, 2023, Farris intentionally shot the victim in the stomach with a firearm during a confrontation. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, on the Seminole Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wewoka 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 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Farris was remanded to the custody of the U.S. 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 Justin Dale Killer, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on February 6, 2023, Killer possessed a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessed a firearm despite knowing that he was a convicted felon, having been convicted of a crime that has a term of punishment exceeding one year imprisonment.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stillwell 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 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Killer was remanded to the custody of the U.S. 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 Stewart Wayne Coffman, age 60, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for one count of second degree murder and 120 months in prison for one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Idabel Police Department, and the Idabel Fire Department.

On June 16, 2022, a federal jury convicted Coffman of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  According to the trial testimony, on the night of October 5, 2017, Coffman beat the victim to death with a metal pipe.  The victim’s body was discovered by Idabel firefighters two days later when they responded to a house fire at Coffman’s residence.  The crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Stewart Wayne Coffman’s attempts to evade justice for his brutal crime are ended,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Coffman’s conviction and sentencing in federal court are additional proof that combatting violent crime in Indian Country remains a priority of this office.”

The Honorable Eric F. Melgren, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Coffman 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 Erin Cornell represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zion Alexander Canard, age 24, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was found guilty of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country following a federal bench trial.

The non-jury trial consisted of the presentation of evidence on August 14, 2023, and concluded with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on September 12, 2022, Canard abused an infant, resulting in cuts, bruises, and a brain hemorrhage.  The crime occurred in Hughes County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Glenpool Police Department.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by appointment, presided over the trial in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Canard was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

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 Timothy Ray Brown, age 40, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

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

The Indictment alleged that on March 10, 2022, Brown knowingly and intentionally possessed a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and knowingly possessed a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kiah John Pritchett, age 38, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

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

Pritchett was charged with unlawfully killing the victim without malice on July 4, 2021, and with unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

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

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

Assistant United States Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Patrick Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brayden Zane Graham, age 18, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

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

The Indictment alleged that on December 29, 2022, Graham fired on a vehicle and its three passengers.  An investigation revealed that Graham attempted to overtake three passengers in a truck.  As the truck fled, Graham fired several rounds into the back of the vehicle.

The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Magistrate Judge Gerald L. Jackson, 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.  Graham was remanded to custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ralph Gene Carloss, age 71, of Welling, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on April 11, 2023, Carloss was in possession of a 7.62x39 mm Norinco SKS rifle and 16 rounds of ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. At the time of the offense, Carloss had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knew of such conviction.

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

The Honorable Judge D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

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 Cedric Jamara Cherry, of Idabel, Oklahoma, age 42, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

The Indictment alleged that on March 15, 2023, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Cherry possessed a firearm and ammunition, in and affecting interstate commerce, despite having been previously convicted of a felony.  Under federal law, individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

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

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

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Muskogee, Oklahoma, returned a three-count indictment, unsealed today, charging former Savanna Police Department (SPD) police officer Jeffery Scott Smith Jr. with a federal civil rights violation for sexually assaulting a victim while acting under color of law and obstructing justice.

According to the indictment, on Nov. 2, 2022, in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, Jeffery Scott Smith Jr., 35, while on duty as an SPD police officer, conducted a traffic stop on a car in which the victim was a passenger. Count one of the indictment charges Smith with depriving the victim of her right to bodily integrity when he sexually assaulted the victim during the traffic stop. That indictment alleges that Smith’s conduct resulted in bodily injury to the victim and included the commission of a nonconsensual sexual act with the victim. Counts two and three of the indictment charge Smith with knowingly altering, concealing, covering up and falsifying an SPD record by deactivating his SPD body worn camera and SPD dashboard camera during the traffic stop, with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence an investigation into his sexual misconduct.

If convicted, Smith faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the civil rights count and 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction of justice counts.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Compton for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that EARLY WILLARD WOODMORE, III age 36, of Haskell County, Oklahoma, was sentenced for his role as the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization operating in Haskell and Pittsburg Counties.  Early Woodmore, III was sentenced to life imprisonment for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamine and 240 months in prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy and Laundering Monetary Instruments.  The sentences will run concurrently.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McAlester Police Department, the Stigler Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

On April 7, 2022, Early Woodmore, III and his co-defendant, Calvin Woodmore, were convicted by a federal jury after trial.  From early 2018 until his arrest by law enforcement in 2020, Early Woodmore, III led a methamphetamine trafficking organization in which he arranged to have large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to addresses in Haskell County and Pittsburg County.  Once these packages of methamphetamine arrived, the Woodmores’ organization would break them down into smaller quantities for distribution into communities in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  In the course of their trafficking, Early Woodmore, III acted as an enforcer, retaliating with acts of violence against individuals suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.

“DEA McAlester is proud to stand with our numerous law enforcement partners in Eastern Oklahoma and champion the work that led to the dismantlement of the Early Woodmore, III drug trafficking organization,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas, which oversees operations in Oklahoma.  “Mr. Woodmore is being held accountable for the poison that found its way into our neighborhoods by his hand.  Whether it is a gram or a kilogram of methamphetamine, the DEA will never cease its efforts to rid these drugs from the streets of Oklahoma.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to have been part of this investigation,” said Claudia Angel, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division.  “Postal Inspectors remain committed to identifying and pursuing those who would misuse the U.S. Mail to distribute dangerous drugs to our communities.  We are thankful for the tireless efforts of our many law enforcement partners who assisted in dismantling this criminal enterprise.  We are also grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma for their commitment in prosecuting these cases.”

“This is an important victory for the American public. Not only is Early Willard Woodmore, III going to jail for his crimes, but this is a decisive blow against a drug trafficking and money laundering network,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Dallas Field Office.  “The special agents of CI are committed to taking the profits away from drug traffickers and putting those individuals in jail. The women and men of IRS-CI are proud to provide this financial expertise as we worked alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals like Mr. Woodmore to justice.”

“ATF is proud to have worked together with our partners to put Mr. Woodmore in the penitentiary for the rest of his adult life,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.  “Unfortunately for him, the law caught up with his armed drug trafficking ways. It should be a lesson to others in Oklahoma, crime only pays for so long.”

“The District 18 District Attorney’s Office commends the tireless efforts of the agencies involved, as well as the stellar level of collaboration among those agencies,” said District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan.  “The Woodmore crime syndicate has plagued the communities in both Pittsburg and Haskell Counties for far too long, flooding the streets with this poison and brutally terrorizing its citizens.  The sentence of life in prison for Early Woodmore, III is the only appropriate and just outcome to bring this investigation and prosecution to a close.”

“The sentencing of the Early Woodmore, III to life imprisonment is a fitting conclusion to a complex, multi-agency investigation,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Through the exceptional efforts of many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, Woodmore and his criminal associates were investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. This sentence sends a very clear message that distributing illegal drugs will not be tolerated.”

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

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial and sentencing hearing in Muskogee.  Both Calvin Woodmore and Early Willard Woodmore, III will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Timothy Mathis, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, age 41 and a felon, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that on March 4, 2023, Mathis, who had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, was found in possession of a .38 SPL caliber Smith & Wesson Bodyguard Airweight revolver.  Individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

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

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea at the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Mathis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Pahl represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zachary Wayne Ray of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, age 36 and a felon, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On January 17, 2023, Ray pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.  Individuals previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

According to investigators, on February 5, 2022, a Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Officer encountered Ray at the Chickasaw Travel Stop on Latta Road in Ada, Oklahoma.  Ray, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a Ruger 9mm semiautomatic handgun with one round chambered and a fully loaded magazine.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the case in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Ray was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal at the conclusion of sentencing.  He will remain in custody pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edgar Rodriguez, age 35, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.

The charges arose from a traffic stop initiated by a Trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On June 21, 2022, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.  At the plea hearing, Rodriguez admitted that on May 22, 2021, he was driving eastbound on I-40 through Okfuskee County in possession of 16 kilograms of cocaine which he intended to distribute.

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.  Rodriguez 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alexandria Nicole Nix, age 26, of Idabel, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea on July 27, 2023, to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On March 12, 2018, Nix drove her truck under the influence of alcohol and failed to stop at a four-way intersection where she collided with another vehicle. The other motorist died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Law enforcement’s investigation of the matter revealed Nix attempted to hide a box of beer she had in her vehicle at the time of the crash.  Data from Nix’s truck showed she never hit the brakes despite approaching the posted stop sign.  Toxicology tests of Nix’s blood revealed she had a .145 blood-alcohol content near the time of the crash.

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

The Honorable Gerald J. 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.  Nix was allowed to remain free on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Austin Cole Yanez, age 23, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, punishable by a minimum of five years in prison.

The indictment alleged that on or about June 21, 2022, Yanez possessed a semi-automatic pistol for the purposes of protecting the fentanyl he intended to distribute.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tahlequah Police Department, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bernard Richard Poulin, age 31, of Beggs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder and 5 years for an unrelated arson.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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

On August 23, 2022, Poulin pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree, along with Arson.  According to investigators, on May 10, 2021, Poulin stabbed and killed the victim during a physical altercation at the victim’s residence.   While incarcerated in the Okmulgee County Jail after his arrest, Poulin started a fire outside his cell area. The crimes occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Poulin 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 Robert Carnell Knight, Jr., age 31, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term of 68 months in prison for Robbery in Indian Country.

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

On July 17, 2023, Robert Knight, Jr. pleaded guilty to Robbery in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Knight, Jr. admitted that on November 24, 2019, he and others broke into an occupied house in Ardmore with the intent to steal money and marijuana.  Brandishing firearms, the group attacked and threatened the victim before absconding with approximately $1,200 and one pound of marijuana.   The crime occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Robert Knight, Jr. 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 Victor Julio Hotema, age 24, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing child pornography.

On August 22, 2022, Hotema pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly possessing and accessing with the intent to view visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations.

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

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve A. Ozark represented the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab 'Resources'.

An Oklahoma man was sentenced today to 14 years and eight months in prison for cyberstalking, video voyeurism, burglary, attempted burglary, attempted sexual abuse, and coercing and enticing a minor.

According to court documents, Tyler James Stephens, 25, of Checotah and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, committed a string of crimes between May 2020 and May 2021. Stephens roamed Checotah, looking through the windows of residences, and sometimes taking photographs or videos of female victims in various states of undress within their homes. He broke into or attempted to break into the homes of some female victims of whom he had taken surreptitious images. Stephens also broke into a residence and attempted to sexually assault the resident while her minor child was in the room. In two instances, Stephens accessed a social media account belonging to someone else and used it to solicit nude or private images of minors, including by sending an obscene picture to one of the minors. Stephens also threatened to publicly post a photo of one of the minors and “ruin her life” if she did not comply with his requests.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas made the announcement.

HSI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Checotah Police Department and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police.

Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chad Jon’Dale Voyles, age 21, and Ashlie Nicole Rose Martin, age 20, both of Fort Towson, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas relating to a Choctaw County double homicide which occurred on December 22 and 23, 2020.

On January 6, 2023, Chad Jon’Dale Voyles pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country.  The Indictment against Voyles alleged that on December 23, 2020, Voyles killed the victim willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation.

On July 26, 2023, Ashlie Nicole Rose Martin pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.  The Indictment against Martin alleged that beginning on December 22, 2020, and continuing until December 23, 2020, Martin and others agreed to murder Martin’s parents.

According to investigators, on the afternoon of December 22, 2020, Martin, Voyles, and another juvenile planned the murders of Martin’s parents, then set the plans in motion.  Voyles admitted during his plea hearing that he bludgeoned Martin’s father and set him on fire.  At Martin’s plea hearing, she admitted that she conspired with others to murder her parents. The crimes occurred in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable Gerald Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, Oklahoma, accepted Martin’s plea, ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report, and remanded Martin to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, Oklahoma, accepted Voyles’ plea, ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report, and remanded Voyles to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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

WASHINGTON – An Oklahoma man was sentenced today to 14 years and eight months in prison for cyberstalking, video voyeurism, burglary, attempted burglary, attempted sexual abuse, and coercing and enticing a minor.

According to court documents, Tyler James Stephens, 25, of Checotah and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, committed a string of crimes between May 2020 and May 2021. Stephens roamed Checotah, looking through the windows of residences, and sometimes taking photographs or videos of female victims in various states of undress within their homes. He broke into or attempted to break into the homes of some female victims of whom he had taken surreptitious images. Stephens also broke into a residence and attempted to sexually assault the resident while her minor child was in the room. In two instances, Stephens accessed a social media account belonging to someone else and used it to solicit nude or private images of minors, including by sending an obscene picture to one of the minors. Stephens also threatened to publicly post a photo of one of the minors and “ruin her life” if she did not comply with his requests.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas made the announcement.

HSI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Checotah Police Department and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police.

Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffory Dan Hughes, age 55, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for sexually abusing a child under the age of twelve in Indian Country.

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

On September 1, 2022, Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. At the plea hearing, Hughes admitted that from 2006 to 2013, he engaged in sexual acts with a minor. The victim was under the age of twelve when the sexual abuse began. Hughes also admitted showing the child a pornographic video.  The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amber Nicole Pickelsimer, age 44, of Healdton, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to an Information charging her with one count of Wire Fraud.

The Information alleged that between February 2019 and August 2020, Pickelsimer, for the purpose of executing or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud, caused to be transmitted, by means of wire communication in interstate commerce, a message through Facebook Messenger from a fictitious Facebook account to the victim’s Facebook account.

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

The investigation revealed that Pickelsimer created two fictitious Facebook accounts and used those accounts to extort the victim, demanding that the victim deliver large quantities of cash to a drop site.  Pickelsimer eventually defrauded the victim of over $1,000,000.00.  Because Pickelsimer operated in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and Facebook maintains its servers outside of the state of Oklahoma, Pickelsimer’s Facebook messages qualified as federal wire fraud.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Pickelsimer posted a personal recognizance bond at the conclusion of the plea hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Kara Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jakoma Twohat Sanders, age 35, of Adair County, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to one count of Coercion and Enticement, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about June 5, 2018, and continuing until on or about August 6, 2018, Sanders used a means of interstate commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor child to engage in sexual activity.  The Indictment also alleged that on September 24, 2019, Sanders was found to knowingly be in possession of a firearm while having previously been convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison.

The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The investigation began after Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about the Sanders communicating with minor females over the internet and inducing them to engage in sexual activity.  When the defendant was arrested, he was found to be in possession of a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

If you have information about the physical or online exploitation of children, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.  You can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE–LOST (1-800-843-5678) or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

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

Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Caila Cleary represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brittany Nicole Mekler, age 31, of McAlester, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The Indictment alleged that on or about August 27, 2022, Mekler possessed at least 50 grams of pure methamphetamine with the intent to distribute to others.

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

According to investigators’ reports, while conducting an investigation into an unrelated crime, law enforcement officers located Mekler inside a shed with approximately 163 grams of methamphetamine.  Mekler also had over $3,700 in cash in her purse.

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

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 Ricky Edward Hall, 29, of Covington, Oklahoma, Christopher Adam Banschbach, 37, an inmate at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Brittany Marie Cagle, 34, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, Christina Gail Pool, 42, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Joshua Levi Kendrick, 41, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, all entered guilty pleas in relation to drug trafficking methamphetamine in Eastern Oklahoma.

Banschbach entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy on July 13, 2023.

Kendrick entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on July 10, 2023.

Hall entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on June 28, 2023.

Pool entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on May 16, 2023.

Cagle entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on May 4, 2023.

The indictment alleged that from March of 2022 until November of 2022, Hall, Banschbach, Cagle, Pool, and Kendrick actively participated in a drug trafficking organization partially comprised of members and affiliates of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang. The defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere.  During the conspiracy, Banschbach was an inmate at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.  Hall, Banschbach, Cagle, Pool, and Kendrick will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan E. Bondura represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daniel Wayne Bayless, age 26, of Adair County, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on July17, 2023, and concluded on July 18, 2023, with the guilty verdicts.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in 2020 Bayless sexually assaulted a minor victim under the age of 12 on multiple occasions. The Government also presented evidence Bayless victimized another child ten years prior.  The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Bayless will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edgar Rene Garcia-Limon, age 36, was sentenced to life in prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, 120 months in prison for Felon in Possession of Firearm, and 24 months in prison for Illegal Reentry of Previously Removed Alien.  The sentences run concurrently.

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

On May 18, 2022, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts after a two-day trial.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendant sexually abused a female child under the age of eleven over a span of seven years.  The United States also presented evidence that the defendant, a felon, was in possession of two firearms.  Finally, the United States presented evidence that the defendant illegally returned to the United States from Mexico after having been previously removed from the United States in July 2019.  The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“The abuse suffered at the hands of the defendant will have long-lasting effects on his victim, and there is no question the sentencing is just,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue the most serious crimes in Indian Country and create safer communities for all Oklahomans.”

“This defendant’s predatory behavior shattered the innocence of an unsuspecting child,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr.  “No amount of prison time can restore what was lost by the victim.  Thankfully, due to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, this defendant will be spending the remainder of his life behind bars.”

“Heinous isn’t a strong enough adjective to describe the crimes that were perpetrated by Mr. Limon-Garcia. He is every law-abiding citizen’s worst nightmare. I am thankful that ATF was able to do a small part to keep this diabolical man behind iron bars for the rest of his life” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

“The defendant received the punishment he deserved,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “After hearing the evidence gathered during a lengthy investigation, the jury rendered its verdicts, and now the judge has handed down appropriate punishment.  For years, the defendant terrorized and sexually abused an innocent child, and now he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”

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

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Matthew Staton, age 28, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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

On July 28, 2022, Staton pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

On May 17, 2022, the Muskogee Police Department attempted to stop Staton when he took off running and threw a backpack he was carrying. When the backpack was recovered, a loaded handgun was found on the ground next to the backpack. At the time Staton possessed the firearm, Staton was a convicted felon.

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. Jacob Matthew Staton 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 Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amy Lee Littledeer, a/k/a Amy Hummingbird, age 37, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

On May 17, 2022, Littledeer pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

On July 7, 2020, Sequoyah County Sheriff deputies executed a search warrant at Littledeer’s residence in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.  During the search, they located three baggies containing a total mixture of methamphetamine weighing over 80 grams.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Louis Northcutt, Jr., age 45, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 222 months for his role in a Pontotoc County homicide.

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

On April 7, 2022, Northcutt pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.  According to investigators, on July 18, 2019, Northcutt broke into a commercial marijuana grow operation and shot the victim three times, killing him.  The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kendall Bryan Morgan, age 45, of Shady Point, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 22 months imprisonment and 36 months of supervised release for violating the civil rights of a handcuffed detainee without legal justification.

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

On November 8, 2022, Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.  At the plea hearing, Morgan, the former Undersheriff in the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department, admitted that on January 25, 2017, he repeatedly struck a person under arrest and in handcuffs, causing the victim bodily injury.  At the time of the assault, the individual was not resisting arrest and posed no threat to officers or the public.  Morgan’s excessive force furthered no legitimate law enforcement purpose and violated the victim’s constitutional right to be free from unreasonable force by law enforcement.

“The reputation of the entire law enforcement profession is tarnished when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The sentencing of Mr. Morgan sends a clear message that the FBI will not tolerate anyone who dishonors the badge by using excessive force.”

“Law enforcement officers are bound by oath to serve and protect all citizens equally—this requires consistency, compassion, and respect for the dignity of all,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The defendant violated that oath, and justice demands he pay the price for blatantly disregarding the law and the civil rights of others.”

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

Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elbert Andrew Fuller, Jr., age 24, of Fort Smith, Arkansas entered a guilty plea to a seven-count indictment which includes: one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country; one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country; three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

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

According to investigators, on October 8, 2022, Fuller fired a pistol at a family member.  When Roland Police Department officers responded to the scene, Fuller – while holding an infant child – opened fire on them as well.  The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eduardo Chapa, age 35, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 75 months imprisonment for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.

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

On April 4, 2022, Chapa pleaded guilty to one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Chapa admitted to sexually abusing a minor under the age of 16 between 2018 and 2019.  The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Chapa 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 Jarrod Leaman represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Damian Michael Murguia, age 20, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl.

The superseding indictment alleged that on October 20, 2022, Murguia distributed fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

According to investigators, Murguia sold counterfeit Roxicodone (M30) tablets containing fentanyl to an undercover DEA special agent in McAlester, Oklahoma.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Ray Zuniga, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 40 months for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and a term of imprisonment of 120 months for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.

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

On July 19, 2022, Zuniga pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  At the plea hearing, Zuniga admitted to striking the victim in the face with a 9 mm caliber firearm and firing the gun at the victim.  The crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Zuniga will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve the non-paroleable sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Glen Berryhill, Jr., age 50, of LeFlore County, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The Indictment alleged that on or about January 25, 2023, Berryhill possessed at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.  According to law enforcement reports, Berryhill was stopped by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper for a traffic violation on Highway 69 near Checotah, Oklahoma.  During the stop, a certified drug dog alerted on Berryhill’s vehicle for the presence of narcotics.  Troopers subsequently found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine in the vehicle.

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

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 Lawrence Samuel McKinney, age 36, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder.

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

On March 28, 2022, McKinney pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with the Intent to Commit Murder.  At the plea hearing, McKinney admitted that he drove to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and shot the victim with a shotgun with the specific intent to commit murder.  The victim survived the shooting. The crime occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Patrick R. Wyrick, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  McKinney 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 Conway represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Earl Wilson, age 37, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty plea to five counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The Indictment alleged that in late 2021 and early 2022 Wilson distributed methamphetamine on five separate occasions from two houses located in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

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

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

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lorenz represented the United States.