Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Troy Richard Jenkins, age 32, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

During the plea hearing held June 27, 2023, Jenkins admitted to knowingly possessing and accessing with the intent to view more than 600 visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors.  Some of the pornographic images depicted children under the age of 12.  Jenkins also admitted to distributing child pornography to others.

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.”

The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, United States 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.  At the conclusion of the plea hearing, Jenkins was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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 Dustin Dewayne Bristow, age 37, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for sexual abuse of a minor.

On February 14, 2022, Bristow pleaded guilty in federal district court to one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Bristow admitted to sexually abusing a child under the age of 16 between 2007 and 2008.  The crime occurred in Pittsburg Country, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Bristow will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dallas Tyler Ewton, age 41, of Morris, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 180 months each for two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, to be served concurrently, and 6 months for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, to be served consecutively.

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

On July 7, 2022, Ewton pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.  Ewton, then employed as a full-time teacher at Morris Public Schools, engaged in sexual acts with two of his students.  At the plea hearing, Ewton admitted to sexually abusing a student between April 2012 and June 2016. He also admitted to sexually abusing another student between September 2019 and January 2020.  The crimes occurred in within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“This case represents a nightmare scenario for any parent,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The defendant took advantage of the time-honored relationship of teacher and student to prey on his victims.”

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Ewton 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 of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donald Ray Cowan, age 61, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment for Distribution of Methamphetamine.

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

On February 18, 2022, Cowan pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, Cowan admitted to knowingly distributing more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, on December 10, 2022.

The Honorable Judge Timothy D. DeGuisti, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the sentencing in Oklahoma City.  Cowan will remain in custody pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia to participate in the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information, which improves public safety by providing federally recognized Tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes, such as the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

“To improve public safety in Indian country, we must break down the barriers to criminal justice information that Tribal communities have faced for years,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “That is why the Justice Department is expanding Tribal communities’ access to national crime databases that enhance law enforcement efforts and coordination through the Tribal Access Program.”

“The Tribal Access Program has strengthened Tribal criminal justice agencies,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “By using TAP, participating Tribes have shared information about missing persons, apprehended fugitives, registered sex offenders, enforced protection orders, and have made hundreds of entries into the FBI’s NICS Indices database to prevent prohibited persons from illegally obtaining access to firearms. The efficient and effective sharing of criminal justice information has improved public safety in Indian country and beyond.”

“The Justice Department is committed to supporting Tribal law enforcement and protecting Tribal communities,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “TAP empowers participating Tribes to take advantage of information from across the country to better investigate and prosecute crime, carry out background checks for potential foster parents, and keep their communities safe and secure from domestic violence and child abuse.”

The program provides training as well as a web-based application and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems. There are currently 123 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP. The Department will accept TAP applications from July 3 to Sept. 1. Tribes selected to participate will be notified later in September.

“The TAP program has allowed the Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department to have cost-effective access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system,” said Chief Chris Rutherford of the Poarch Creek Tribal Police. “Now our officers have full NCIC access from their patrol vehicles, desk, or through our Emergency Tribal Dispatch Center. The value of this program to our reservation far exceeds the minimal effort required to be a participating partner in the TAP program.”

For Tribes that are considering applying, TAP staff will be conducting informational webinars describing the program and its capabilities. Webinars will be offered throughout July and August. For more information about TAP, including webinar dates, times, and access information, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap.

Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; registered convicted sex offenders; run criminal histories; located fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.

“We cannot say enough about the efforts that have been made to get the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas (KTTT) ready for this program,” said Director Cristina Collett-Jensen of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Legal Department. “Through these efforts, KTTT will have access to information that will substantially improve the KTTT Police Department’s operations, and thereby allow us to better protect and serve the KTTT community.”

The Department offers TAP services through one of the following two methods:

• TAP-LIGHT:  Provides application that enables full access (both query and entry capabilities) to national crime information databases including the NCIC, the Interstate Identification Index, and the International Justice and Public Safety Network for criminal justice purposes.
   
• TAP-FULL:  In addition to the basic access capabilities of TAP-LIGHT, provides a kiosk workstation that enables the ability to submit and query fingerprint-based transactions via FBI’s Next Generation Identification system for both criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes.

Because of the program’s funding sources, eligible Tribes must have — and agree to use TAP for — at least one of the following:

• A Tribal sex offender registry authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act,
• A Tribal law enforcement agency that has arrest powers,
• A Tribal court that issues orders of protection, or
• A Tribal government agency that screens individuals for foster care placement or that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect.

TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office on Violence Against Women. TAP is co-managed by the Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Tribal Justice.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that that Danny Gene Kirby, age 65, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on June 26, 2023, and concluded on June 28, 2023, with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendant caused the death of his passenger while driving a motorcycle under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol.

On July 23, 2022, in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, Kirby and a passenger left a bar on Kirby’s motorcycle.  A short distance from the bar, Kirby left the roadway while making a turn.  He lost control of the motorcycle attempting to re-enter the roadway, throwing his passenger from the bike.  Emergency responders life-flighted the victim to a Tulsa hospital, where the victim was pronounced dead the following morning.  At the time of the crash, Kirby was under the combined influence of alcohol, marijuana, tramadol, trazodone, amphetamines, citalopram, and oxycodone, and was unable to complete field sobriety tests administered by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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 in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  The defendant was allowed to remain on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Joshua Satter represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carl Lloyd True, age 56, of Wetumka, Oklahoma, was sentenced on June 16, 2023, for firearm offenses.  True was sentenced to sixteen months in prison for one count of Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm and sixteen months for one count of being a Prohibited Person Receiving and Possessing Firearms and Ammunition.  The sentences will run concurrently.

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

On February 21, 2023, True pleaded guilty to False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm and Prohibited Person Receiving and Possessing Firearms and Ammunition.  In June of 2022, True was charged in the District Court of Hughes County, Oklahoma, with felony Domestic Assault and Battery by Strangulation.  Within days of being released on bond in that case, True provided false information on the ATF Firearm Transaction Record so he could illegally purchase two firearms despite being under information for the felony offense.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy based on fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

“Investigating and prosecuting what we refer to as ‘lie and buy offenses’ is a priority of the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “In this case, the defendant could not obtain a firearm because he was charged in state court with a felony crime. He provided false information to the licensed gun dealer in order to obtain two firearms.”

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 hearings in Muskogee.  True will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lakota John Trumon Watson, age 23, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced for his role in a violent armed assault.

The federal district court sentenced Watson to 6 months imprisonment for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and 120 months imprisonment for one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.  The sentences are ordered to run consecutively for a total of 126 months.

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

On January 20, 2022, Watson entered a guilty plea to both counts.  On September 4, 2017, during an argument outside of a Henryetta residence, Watson pulled out a .22 Magnum revolver and shot the victim in the stomach.  Multiple witnesses identified Watson as the shooter.  The crimes occurred in within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Watson 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.

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 Bradley Shawn Pittman, age 45, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 405 months in prison each for four counts of Second-Degree Murder in Indian Country.  The sentences will be served concurrently.

The charges arose from investigations by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Durant Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Texas Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On December 1, 2020, Pittman pleaded guilty to four counts of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.  At the plea hearing, Pittman admitted that he was driving a pickup at speeds of over 70 miles per hour on Main Street in Durant when he collided into the rear of another vehicle that was stopped at a traffic light just before midnight on May 24, 2020.  Four Durant teens in the other vehicle were killed in the collision. At the time of the collision, Pittman registered a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, was driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license, and had previously been convicted of driving under the influence on three separate occasions.

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

“Every parent’s worst fear is having your child taken from you in the blink of an eye. Four teenagers were stolen from their families with one reckless decision that has had a devastating and rippling impact on the Durant community,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “Let this sentence serve as a reminder of the grave and irrevocable consequences of driving under the influence, so that no other family will have to endure such tremendous loss.”

“No sentence can heal the loss to these families and this community,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The devastation brought about by one individual’s reckless actions underscores our determination to hold those accountable who engage in criminally reckless actions within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.”

The Honorable John F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

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 Jeremy Matthew Girty, age 43, of Carter County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon.  The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.  In a separate case, Girty was sentenced to 96 months in prison for Manslaughter in Indian Country.  The manslaughter sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the drug and gun crimes.

The drug and gun charges arose from an investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, the Ardmore Police Department, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The manslaughter charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On April 7, 2022, Girty pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  At the plea hearing, he admitted that on July 14, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Carter County and found three handguns, ammunition, and baggies containing approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine.  He further admitted he intended to distribute some of the methamphetamine seized during the search and that he was a convicted felon and knew he could not possess firearms.

On June 10, 2022, Girty pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Girty admitted that on July 31, 2021, he was drinking at a friend’s home.  Girty and a passenger left in Girty’s pickup.  Girty lost control and flipped the pickup killing the passenger.  The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Girty 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 sentences of incarceration.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Yesterday the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion reversing the November 2020 federal jury conviction of Jimcy McGirt on two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. The appellate court determined an improper instruction of law was given to the jury which could have impacted the verdicts and remanded the case to the district court.

“The role of the prosecution is to seek justice under the law,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “We are disappointed by the ruling, but we respect the opinion of the court. If a critical error occurred during the trial, then our goal was not achieved. The United States Attorney’s Office will, however, continue pursuing justice for the victim.”

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wendy Dawn Johnson, age 38, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On January 13, 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge.  On March 18, 2021, Johnson was driving on State Highway 9 in Eufaula with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit.  She crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car, killing the driver. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Johnson 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jemarcus Maquel Williams, age 31, Andria Victoria Dowdy, age 22, and Anfernee Deshon Sherrod, age 30, all of Memphis, Tennessee, each entered pleas of guilty to one count of Conspiracy to commit firearm offenses, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Government’s Indictment alleged that in December 2021, Williams and Sherrod, both felons, together with Dowdy, conspired to obtain several firearms, ammunition, and an unregistered silencer in violation of federal laws prohibiting felons from possessing firearms.  At the plea hearings, Williams, Dowdy, and Sherrod each admitted traveling to Oklahoma to obtain firearms.  After a traffic stop in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, officers found three semiautomatic rifles, one semiautomatic 9mm pistol, one 12-gauge shotgun, an unserialized silencer, and multiple rounds of various branded and gauged ammunition.

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

The Honorable Judge Gerald 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 for each defendant.  At the conclusion of their plea hearing, Williams, Dowdy, and Sherrod were each remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffery Glenn Bocephus Robinson, age 32, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The Indictment alleged that on November 28, 2022, Robinson, who had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, was found in possession of a .22 rifle.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office 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 in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  Robinson 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 Bobby William Wells, Jr., age 33, of Durant, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

During the plea hearing, Wells admitted to having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and to possessing ammunition despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department, Southeastern Oklahoma State University Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 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, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

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 Jordan Allen Houston, age 25, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 39 months in prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

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

On July 26, 2022, Houston pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

On July 1, 2022, while at a friend’s home in Tahlequah, Houston got into an argument.  Houston struck the first victim in the side of the head with a pistol, causing an accidental discharge and sending a bullet into the ceiling.  When the residents ejected Houston from the house, he fired multiple rounds through the front window and door.  Two of those rounds struck a second victim in the chest but were not fatal.  Houston committed these crimes in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Whether violence comes from a stranger or a friend, the harm to individuals and communities is incalculable,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Together with law enforcement and first responders, we are committed to promoting justice and protecting the peace of our communities against dangerous offenders.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy based on fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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.  Houston 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 Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that CALVIN JAMES WOODMORE age 34, of Haskell County, Oklahoma, was sentenced for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking organization operating in Haskell and Pittsburg Counties.  Calvin Woodmore was sentenced to 324 months in prison for Drug Conspiracy and 240 months in prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy and Laundering Monetary Instruments.  The sentences will run concurrently.  Woodmore was also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentences.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the United States Postal 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, Calvin Woodmore and his co-defendant, Early Woodmore, were convicted by a federal jury at trial. Early Woodmore’s sentencing is pending. From early 2018 until their arrest by law enforcement in 2020, the Woodmores led a methamphetamine trafficking organization in which they arranged to have large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to addresses in Haskell County and Pittsburg County.  Once the packages of methamphetamine arrived, they would break them down into smaller quantities for distribution into communities in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“Calvin Woodmore’s sentence is a direct result of the excellent partnership between law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s office in combating drug trafficking and money laundering," said Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to be relentless in our mission to dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and bring the criminals who run them to justice.”

“This sentence reflects a win for the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma who value safe and drug-free communities,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas. “Woodmore, who spent his days distributing methamphetamine and engaging in acts of violence, will now spend his nights in jail while the men and women of the DEA and it’s Oklahoma law enforcement partners continue their efforts to keep our streets drug free.”

“This office is dedicated to disrupting the destruction and violence inflicted by Woodmore and those like him,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Criminal organizations that distribute illegal drugs within our communities will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”

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 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.  Woodmore 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 Christopher Lee Hill, age 21, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for Child Abuse in Indian Country.

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

On May 26, 2022, Hill pleaded guilty to Child Abuse in Indian Country.  During the plea hearing, Hill admitted striking the 39-day-old victim, causing injuries including skull fractures and brain hemorrhaging. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

“One of the most important and difficult duties law enforcement and health professionals will ever undertake is the protection and treatment of child victims of abuse and neglect,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “We are grateful for their care, their sensitivity, and their diligence, and we consider them essential partners in pursuing justice on behalf of child victims.”

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.  Hill 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 Ronnie Lee Lamb, age 40, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months per count for three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country, and 180 months for one count of possession of child pornography, with sentences set to run concurrently.

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

On October 10, 2021, Lamb pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a minor and to knowingly possessing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  The crimes were committed in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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.”

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee.  Lamb will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer and 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 Bradley Wayne Morris, age 36, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 420 months, per count, for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.  The sentences will run concurrently.

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

On May 5, 2022, a federal jury found Morris guilty on all four counts of a Superseding Indictment at trial.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between January 2018 and February 2020, Morris sexually abused a child under the age of twelve.  The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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 hearings in Muskogee.  Morris 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 Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jagger Levi Gordon, age 29, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 110 months imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Henryetta Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On February 16, 2022, Gordon pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.  At the plea hearing, Gordon admitted that he had possessed 20 grams of pure methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and ammunition—all of which were discovered by law enforcement responding to an emergency call to his residence in Henryetta, Oklahoma, on March 8, 2021.  At the plea hearing, Gordon also admitted to possessing the methamphetamine for distribution purposes.

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, Oklahoma.  Gordon 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 today that Jesus Herrera-Salazar, age 41, of Rio Verde, Mexico was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.

The jury trial began and concluded on June 13, 2023, with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Herrera-Salazar was an alien found in the Eastern District of Oklahoma after having been previously deported or removed from the United States. Herrera-Salazar had not received the consent of the proper legal authority to reapply for admission to the United States.

The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Heavener Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the Department of Homeland Security.

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.  The defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Anthony Brian Walker, age 41, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for First-Degree Murder in Indian Country.

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

On July 20, 2022, a federal jury found Walker guilty at trial of First-Degree Murder in Indian Country.  At trial, the government presented evidence that on November 29, 2021, while the victim sat in a vehicle at a convenience store drive-through, Walker approached the vehicle and stabbed him in the heart.  The crime 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 Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial and sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Walker will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin McKenzie represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Donald David Laverty, age 40, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 35 months imprisonment for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

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

On December 9, 2022, Laverty pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Laverty admitted to attacking a responding police officer with an axe.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and 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, Oklahoma.  Laverty 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 and Assistant United States Attorney Zack Parsons represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Paul Blagg, age 44, of Madill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for intentionally assaulting another individual with a dangerous weapon.

The charges arose from investigations by the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

On July 20, 2022, Blagg pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. According to court documents, on August 12, 2020, Blagg entered another individual’s residence and struck the victim multiple times with the stock of a shotgun.   The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.  Blagg 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 Lonnie Leonard Swarer, III, age 25, of Wagoner County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to probation for Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On May 17, 2022, Swarer entered a guilty plea to one count of Manslaughter in Indian Country.  During the plea hearing, Swarer admitted that on June 13, 2020, he lost control of his vehicle while doing a burnout and crashed into another vehicle.  A passenger in Swarer’s vehicle was killed in the collision.  The crime occurred in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation.

The Honorable John. F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Martha Christine Simpson, age 46, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, Jabaica Lee Tecumseh, age 43, of Morris, Oklahoma, and Tommy Glen Tecumseh, age 36, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a 2019 homicide.

Simpson was sentenced to 99 months for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.  Tommy Glen Tecumseh was sentenced to 120 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country.  Jabaica Lee Tecumseh was sentenced to 169 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country.

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

On May 4, 2022, a federal jury found Simpson guilty of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on July 15, 2019, Jabaica Lee Tecumseh and Tommy Glen Tecumseh beat the victim before Simpson fatally stabbed him in the neck.  The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation.

Tommy Glen Tecumseh and Jabaica Lee Tecumseh each pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country in February of 2021.

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.  The defendants were remanded to the 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 Joshua Satter represented the United States at the sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hunter Caleb Spence, age 20, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 42 months for manslaughter.

The charges arose from investigations by the Poteau Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On March 9, 2022, Spence pleaded guilty to a Superseding Indictment charging him with one count of Manslaughter in Indian Country for killing another while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of one or more intoxicating substances.

On October 28, 2020, Spence flipped his car on US Highway 270, near Wister, Oklahoma while attempting to pass another vehicle.  A passenger in Spence’s vehicle was ejected and died.  Spence admitted to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper investigating the scene that he had smoked marijuana prior to the crash.  Blood tests confirmed the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his system.  The crime occurred in Leflore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.  Spence 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 at the sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Nika Daniel Alexander, age 20, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

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

On October 21, 2021, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.  During the plea hearing, Alexander admitted that he participated in a robbery, during which he beat the victim, held a shotgun to his head, and took his wallet, necklace, and cell phone.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Oklahoma City.  Alexander 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 Timmie Lee Runnels, age 33, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for tampering with a witness in a federal case, and 10 years for being a felon in possession of ammunition, to run concurrently.

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

On April 18, 2022, Timmie Lee Runnels pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with a Witness and one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

During the plea hearing, Runnels admitted that on January 5, 2021, he was involved in an altercation in Ada, Oklahoma, during which Runnels fired a gun at another vehicle.  Officers searched Runnels’ vehicle and located 41 rounds of ammunition.  Runnels was a convicted felon at the time of the incident.  The defendant also admitted that from April 2021 to September 2021, while in jail awaiting trial, he made telephone calls with the intent to keep a witness from testifying in his case.

“The defendant knowingly interfered with a federal investigation by attempting to prevent his victim from testifying,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold offenders like Mr. Runnels accountable, while ensuring victims are heard and supported.”

“The defendant, a violent felon, used a firearm and was found in possession of ammunition, then attempted to avoid prosecution by intimidating a witness,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This type of behavior cannot—and will not—be tolerated. The twenty-year sentence imposed by the Court ensures that Runnels is off the streets and no longer a threat to the residents of the Eastern District.”

The Honorable Patrick R. Wyrick, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Runnels 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 Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marci Ann Weedon, age 46, of Rattan, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

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

On June 16, 2022, Weedon pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. At the plea hearing, Weedon admitted that on November 11, 2020, she approached a woman in the parking lot of a bar in Antlers, Oklahoma, and stabbed her twice in the chest.  According to investigators, witnesses reported that Weedon stated she thought the victim was someone else before fleeing the scene on foot.  Pushmataha County Sheriff’s deputies responding to the incident apprehended and arrested Weedon a short distance from the crime scene.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the victim is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and 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, Oklahoma.  Weedon 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 Bobby Joe Fulsom, Jr., age 47, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

On June 8, 2022, Fulsom pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography.  According to investigators, in August of 2021, Fulsom solicited and received pornographic images from a minor through Facebook.   Facebook sent a cybertip to the NCMEC after identifying online images of child pornography on its platform.  The NCMEC alerted the FBI, and after an investigation, agents located and arrested Fulsom.

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.  Fulsom 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 Jo E. Lawless and Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer 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 https://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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dalton Elzie Hunter, age 29, of McCurtain, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

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

On April 13, 2022, Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  According to investigators, on October 26, 2021, Haskell County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Hunter.  During the stop, deputies discovered Hunter in possession of four firearms and determined he 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 hearings in Muskogee.  Hunter 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 Roy Lee Roberts, Jr., age 37, of Krebs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, and 180 months imprisonment for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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

On November 16, 2022, Roberts was convicted by a federal jury.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendant sexually abused two minors, one under the age of twelve.

"This office is committed to prosecuting individuals who prey on innocent and vulnerable children,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Because of the courage of the victims and the dedication of investigators and prosecutors in this case, Roberts is no longer free to victimize others.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Roberts will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Keia Marie Beaver, age 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 64 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On May 9, 2022, Beaver pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Beaver admitted that on October 17, 2017, she shot and killed the victim in the heat of passion. The investigation revealed Beaver transported the victim to the hospital after the shooting and initially told law enforcement the gun accidentally went off while she was loading it.  Later, Beaver admitted to shooting the victim during an argument.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lloyd Ray Hatley, age 68, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.

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

On April 29, 2022, a federal jury found Hatley guilty of involuntary manslaughter at trial.  During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on February 22, 2017, Hatley was driving on State Highway One in Pontotoc County when he rear-ended another vehicle.  The investigation revealed that Hatley failed to brake until less than a second before impact.  The collision killed a passenger in the other vehicle, and severely wounded the driver.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.  Hatley 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 Kevin Gross and Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Ibanez represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stephen Tanner Vineyard, age 31, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 200 months in prison for second degree murder.

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

On May 10, 2022, Vineyard pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.  According to investigators, a 59-year-old Ardmore resident sustained multiple shotgun wounds in the early morning hours of June 30, 2014, and was left to die on her front porch.  Years later, witnesses came forward and recounted statements Vineyard made at the time of the murder admitting his involvement.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because Vineyard is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.  Vineyard 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 Felicia Nicholl Bargar, age 35, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $7,500.00 in restitution for committing Arson in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Sallisaw Police Department, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On May 6, 2022, Bargar pleaded guilty to willfully and maliciously setting fire to and burning a dwelling.  According to investigators, in October 2020, Bargar intentionally set fire to a trailer house she was renting after receiving an eviction notice.

“I am thankful for the cooperative investigative work of law enforcement which resulted in the defendant being brought to justice for her senseless and malicious acts," said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City.  Bargar 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that William Clayton Brown, age 40, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to consecutive life sentences in prison for one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country and one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

The charges arose from investigations by the Eufaula Police Department, the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of Fugitive Apprehension and Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On September 1, 2021, Brown was found guilty by a federal jury of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.  During the trial, the medical examiner testified Brown fatally stabbed a victim with a sharp instrument.  Further testimony revealed Brown attempted to hide the victim’s body in a field.

On July 7, 2022, a federal jury found Brown guilty of First Degree Murder in Indian Country.   During the trial, witnesses testified that while in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Brown killed a second victim in a cell, strangling him with a ligature before beating him and suffocating him with plastic bags.

“William Brown has proven he is a hardened and violent criminal, and a true menace to society,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “For the lives he took and the families he affected, he has duly earned each of his life sentences. Thanks to the efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, Brown will never again endanger the citizens of Oklahoma.”

“The defendant is obviously an extremely violent person and the consecutive life sentences imposed by Court were fitting punishment for his heinous crimes,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in McIntosh and Pittsburg Counties, which are within the boundaries of the Creek and Choctaw Nation Reservations, respectively, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation, presided over the September 2021 trial and the sentencing hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the July 2022 trial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Brown will remain in the 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 T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Troy Michael Goforth, age 49, of Clayton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea on May 31, 2023, to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

On September 21, 2022, Goforth led officers on a high-speed pursuit, during which Goforth was observed tossing a green duffel bag out of the car before jumping out of the vehicle and fleeing on foot.  Upon apprehending and arresting Goforth, officers discovered a loaded 9mm pistol tucked into Goforth’s waist band.  During a subsequent search of the nearby ditch, officers recovered the green duffel bag which contained syringes, baggies, digital scales, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

The charges arose from a joint investigation by members of Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.  At the close of sentencing, Goforth was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal 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 announces that Darrell James Hummingbird, age 39, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 262 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.

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

On July 18, 2022, Hummingbird pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.  According to court documents, on April 26, 2021, the victim was beaten to death in his Stilwell apartment with a metal baseball bat.  Hummingbird attempted to cover up the crime, but investigators recovered incriminating DNA evidence from the murder weapon and Hummingbird’s shoes.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Indian County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Bruce Lee Montes, age 34, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for sexually abusing a minor in Indian Country.

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

On May 5, 2022, Montes pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. At the plea hearing, the defendant admitted that in 2013 he engaged in a sexual act with a child under the age of twelve.

"The victim in this case should have never been made to suffer such torment at the hands of Bruce Montes,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “His 25-year prison sentence is a testament to the dedication of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to bringing child predators to justice.”

“The defendant violated the person and the trust of a child,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The twenty-five-year prison sentence imposed by the Court holds the defendant accountable for the unspeakable physical and emotional trauma he inflicted on this innocent victim.”

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Montes 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 Dereak Lee Eubanks, age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

The superseding indictment alleged that on October 20, 2022, and again on January 19, 2023, Eubanks distributed fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

According to court documents, Eubanks sold counterfeit Roxicodone (M30) tablets containing fentanyl to an undercover DEA special agent on two occasions in McAlester, Oklahoma.

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.  Eubanks 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 Raymond David Phillips, age 32, of Lindale, Texas, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment charging him with one count of Arson, punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison, one count of Animal Crushing in Indian Country, punishable by up to 7 years in prison, and two counts of misdemeanor Assault in Indian Country, each punishable by up to one year in prison.

The government alleged in the Superseding Indictment that on September 3, 2022, Phillips and his girlfriend were vacationing at a resort area along the Illinois River when his girlfriend was arrested.  Angered by the arrest, Phillips decapitated the resort owner’s cat, then began burning other guests’ camping equipment.  Law enforcement arrested Phillips at the Cherokee County Detention Center, where he had arrived to bail out his girlfriend.   After being taken into custody, Phillips threatened and assaulted jail and law enforcement officers.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Grand River Dam Authority and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and 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 in Muskogee, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Phillips was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal 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 Lance Alden Whelchel, age 28, of Ravia, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for sexually abusing a minor in Indian Country.

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

On November 29, 2021, Whelchel pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  At the plea hearing, Whelchel admitted that between June and August of 2020, he sexually abused a child under the age of 16.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Johnston County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.  Whelchel will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dylan Tyler Neal, age 23, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served followed by five years of supervised release for child neglect in Indian Country.  Neal was also sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release for receiving a firearm and ammunition while under felony indictment.

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

On March 4, 2022, Neal pleaded guilty to one count of willfully and maliciously failing to provide adequate and appropriate care, supervision, and medical care to an Indian child under eighteen years of age while responsible for the child’s health, safety, and welfare, resulting in injury to the child.  That same day, Neal also pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a firearm and ammunition while under indictment for felony Child Neglect in Indian Country.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garrett Jeffery Freeman, a/k/a Gee, age 27, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 154 months in prison for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On May 9, 2023, Freeman pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.  On October 12, 2021, DEA Agents and DEA Task Force Officers serving an arrest warrant located Freeman at a McAlester hotel.  Freeman attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended and arrested.  Agents discovered Freeman in possession of multiple firearms, magazines of ammunition, digital scales, and baggies of pills containing over 35 grams of fentanyl.

“The excellent work of DEA agents and task force officers resulted in a drug dealer being arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “The sentence imposed should send a clear message to the defendant and others tempted to sell illegal drugs that you will be held accountable for the misery your crimes inflict on our communities.”

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.  Freeman 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Francisco Perez, age 30, of Heavener, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

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

On May 16, 2023, Francisco Perez pleaded guilty to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

On June 16, 2021, Perez shot a person in Heavener with a semi-automatic pistol.  The victim sustained serious but non-fatal injuries.  Perez then drove to the Heavener Police Station, turned himself in, and confessed to the shooting.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Le Flore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City.  Perez 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Charles Joseph Raz, age 42, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 200 months in prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

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

On May 9, 2023, Charles Joseph Raz pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

During the plea hearing, Raz admitted that on November 27, 2021, he was stopped by a Latimer County Sheriff’s Deputy for speeding on State Highway 2.  When the deputy initiated the stop, Raz turned off the highway, dropping a gun and methamphetamine out the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle turned up baggies, digital scales, a fully loaded .45 magazine, and additional methamphetamine.  A canvas of the nearby ditch revealed a loaded .45 semi-automatic pistol, and a baggie with over 1,500 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.

“The 200-month sentence imposed by the Court demonstrates that trafficking in illegal drugs and possessing firearms will not be tolerated and will result in significant punishment,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.

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.  Raz 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 at sentencing.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Antonio Juan Paredes, age 33, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender.

The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshal Service Sex Offender Registry Unit.

On April 12, 2022, Paredes pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.

According to the U.S. Marshal Service, Paredes was previously convicted of Rape-First Degree in the District Court of McCurtain County, Oklahoma and has a lifetime reporting requirement as a level-3 sex offender.  Paredes moved outside the state of Oklahoma and failed to update his sex offender registration as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

“We work continuously to ensure our community’s safety, and our deputy marshals in Eastern Oklahoma work tirelessly to track offenders who are deliberately out of compliance,” Eastern Oklahoma U.S. Marshal Kerry L. Pettingill said in a statement.

“The societal benefits of having a sex offender registry can only be realized if sex offenders are in compliance with their registration requirements," said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the U.S. Marshal’s Sex Offender Registry Unit to ensure offenders like Mr. Paredes are held accountable for intentionally shirking their obligation to register and update their registrations.”

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.  Paredes will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.