Eastern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tito Arias-Castellon, a/k/a Tito Castellon Arias, a/k/a Tito Castello Arias-Castellon, a/k/a Tito Ely Arias-Castellon, age 26, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Indictment alleged that on February 18, 2026, Arias-Castellon, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on October 15, 2018, and January 15, 2020.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Arias-Castellon will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Cornell and Kristin Knutson represented the United States.
Stigler Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Herr, a/k/a Yangyee Her, age 41, of Stigler, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, punishable by not less than five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on December 16, 2024, Herr knowingly and intentionally possessed less than 50 kilograms of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, with intent to distribute it. The Information further alleged that on December 16, 2024, Herr knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, that being Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana as charged in Count One of the Information.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Haskell County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Judge Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Herr was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Celso Martinez-Mata, a/k/a Celso Mata Martinez, a/k/a Celso Martinez, age 60, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On December 22, 2025, Martinez-Mata pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on October 29, 2025, Martinez-Mata, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on July 2, 2002.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Latimer County Resident Sentenced to over 22 Years for 2024 Tuskahoma MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Willard Leroy Robbins, Jr., a/k/a Bub, age 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 274 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On May 27, 2025, Robbins pleaded guilty in federal district court to the charge. As part of the plea, Robbins admitted to shooting the victim with a 12-gauge shotgun and setting fire to the residence.
According to investigators, on the evening of April 10, 2024, County dispatchers received a call about a man armed with a long-barreled firearm walking along Highway 2. A Choctaw Lighthorse officer responding to dispatch encountered Robbins, intoxicated and walking along the roadside. As the officer was placing Robbins under arrest for public intoxication, dispatchers received a second emergency call directing them to a residence nearby in Tuskahoma. Lighthorse officers and Latimer County deputies arriving on the scene found the residence on fire. Once the flames were extinguished, law enforcement found the victim inside, deceased from an apparent gunshot. Investigators processing the crime scene discovered two Remington-branded 12-gauge shotgun shells that matched a box of shells found in Robbins’ possession, and a boot print that matched the boots Robbins was wearing at the time of his arrest. Witnesses also reported seeing Robbins in possession of a 12-gauge shotgun prior to the fire.
The crime occurred in Latimer County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Robbins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilson Vladmir Menjivar Sibrian, a/k/a Wilson Sibrianmenjivar, a/k/a Sibrianmenjivar Wilson, a/k/a Wilson Sibrian, a/k/a Sibrian Wilson, a/k/a Wilson Menjivar, a/k/a Menjivar Wilson, a/k/a Wilson Menjivar-Sibrian, a/k/a Wilson Menjivarsibrian, a/k/a Menjivarsibrian Wilson, age 28, a Salvadoran national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On December 3, 2025, Sibrian pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Sibrian, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 20, 2018.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful Entry and Document FraudRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Roberto Lopez-Mendez, a/k/a Roberto Lopez Mendez, a/k/a Roberto Lopez, age 27, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Haskell County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to six months in prison for one count of Document Fraud, and six months in prison for one count of Illegal Entry – Misdemeanor. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stigler Police Department.
On July 28, 2025, Lopez-Mendez pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on June 9, 2025, Lopez-Mendez, who was illegally present in the United States, knowingly possessed a United States of America Permanent Residency Card, which he knew to be forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made, or which was otherwise unlawfully obtained.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Lopez-Mendez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Honduran National Sentenced to Three Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Fredis Amilcar Guiza Hernandez, age 35, a Honduran national, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
The charge arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 15, 2025, Guiza Hernandez pleaded guilty in federal district court to knowingly and intentionally possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute it.
According to investigators, on October 6, 2024, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputies conducting a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 arrested Guiza Hernandez after discovering him in possession of four kilograms of cocaine.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Guiza Hernandez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Texas Resident Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alan Rodriguez Velazquez, a/k/a Alan Rodriguez, age 25, of Lancaster, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2025, Rodriguez Velazquez willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, attempted to kill a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer engaged in the performance of official duties.
The crime occurred in McCurtain County, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma State Park Rangers.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Rodriguez Velazquez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Bird, a/k/a Robert Hogshooter, age 71, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 8, 2025, Bird pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 21, 2025, while under the influence of alcohol, Bird discharged a firearm, causing the victim to sustain a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Bird will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Okmulgee County Resident Sentenced to 18 Months for Leaving the Scene of an Injury AccidentRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lee Calhoun Phillips, age 46, of Morris, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Nonfatal Injury in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 7, 2025, Phillips pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on September 28, 2023, Phillips struck a bicyclist while driving a Peterbilt truck westbound on Highway 16 south of Haskell, Oklahoma. Instead of stopping to check on the victim or rendering aid, Phillips left the scene of the collision. Two passing Oklahoma Department of Transportation workers performing landscape maintenance found the victim on the roadside, called emergency services, and stayed on the scene with the victim until law enforcement could arrive.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Phillips was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan W. Howanitz represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Making Threats Against Federal OfficialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Wray Hudson, 37, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Interstate Communications with a Threat to Injure the Person of Another, each punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on October 29, 2025, and continuing until November 20, 2025, Hudson knowingly and willfully transmitted threats to injure an official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and another person through interstate commerce.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hudson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Moore Resident Pleads Guilty to Burglary in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nariah Demournay Jones, age 23, of Moore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country, punishable by up to 7 years in prison.
The Indictment alleged that on April 2, 2024, Jones broke into and entered a building in which property was kept, intending to commit a felony therein.
The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jones will remain on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Longino Ramirez Ramos, age 51, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Adair County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On January 15, 2026, Ramirez Ramos pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 3, 2025, Ramirez Ramos, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 5, 2010, on February 14, 2011, on October 17, 2019, and on February 7, 2020.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eliseo Mancia-Santana, a/k/a Eliseo Mancia, a/k/a Eliseo Mancias, a/k/a Eliseo Mancia Santana, age 42, a Salvadoran national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On December 23, 2025, Mancia-Santana pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Mancia-Santana, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on January 25, 2018, and June 24, 2011.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to ArsonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ace Hailey Buckner, age 37, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Felony Information of one count of Arson in Indian Country, punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on June 5, 2025, Buckner willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned a motor vehicle.
The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Buckner will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Delaware County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Staci Lyn Anderson, a/k/a Staci Lyn Jordan, age 34, of Colcord, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on March 12, 2023, Anderson knowingly and intentionally possessed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Anderson was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Atoka Resident Sentenced to Five Years' Probation for Failure to Pay Federal Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hanna Jera Davidson, age 42, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to five years’ probation for one count of Failure to Collect or Pay Over Tax. Davidson was also ordered to pay $231,192.82 in restitution.
The charge arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations.
On May 27, 2025, Davidson pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court.
According to investigators, Davidson was the business manager of Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery in Atoka, Oklahoma. One of her duties was to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) quarterly employment taxes. From 2015 to 2020, despite receiving multiple warning letters from the IRS, Davidson willfully and intentionally failed to pay over to the IRS $152,257 which the company withheld from its employee’s wages and $72,665.82 for the company’s portion of the employment taxes.
The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.
Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Demarco Latrel Patterson, age 30, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The Indictment alleged that Patterson was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country in the Eastern District of Oklahoma on October 6, 2021, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from December 9, 2025, until January 15, 2026, Patterson failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and that during that time, Patterson resided in a home within a two-thousand foot radius of a school.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Patterson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
LeFlore County Resident Sentenced to Twenty Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenny Ray Smith, age 62, of Whitesboro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison each for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 16 District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On September 4, 2025, Smith was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, on June 27, 2024, Smith conducted a sale for 27.85 grams of methamphetamine in a controlled buy during an undercover investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN). On July 9, 2024, Smith conducted a sale for 52.9 grams of methamphetamine in a controlled buy during an undercover investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the OBN.
“Mr. Smith’s crimes and his long history of drug trafficking in Eastern Oklahoma have proven him to be deserving of this sentence,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the DEA and OBN for their work to combat drugs in our communities. Together, we have formed an effective partnership reflecting the high priority this office places on protecting public health and safety.”
“This was an outstanding joint investigation that aimed to remove a significant meth supplier in eastern Oklahoma,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “Meth continues to be one of our state’s leading contributors in drug-related deaths. Our agency will continue to aggressively target those who endanger the health and safety of Oklahoma citizens by funneling meth onto our streets.”
“This sentence sends a clear and unwavering message: repeat offenders who profit from the distribution of this poison will be held fully accountable. Mr. Smith’s criminal history underscores a pattern of harm that we cannot and will not tolerate,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The DEA is fully committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the safety and well-being of our communities.”
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Smith will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Pleads Guilty to Transporting Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chance Allen Cathey, age 36, of Tom, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Transportation of Stolen Vehicle, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on December 26, 2023, Cathey unlawfully transported a stolen motor vehicle from the State of Oklahoma to the State of Arkansas knowing the vehicle was stolen.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arkansas State Police, and the Little River County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Cathey will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Federal Jury Convicts McAlester Resident of Four Counts of Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jeffrey Brent Thomas, age 48, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by 30 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The jury trial began with testimony on March 9, 2026, and concluded on March 10, 2026, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between January 1, 2020, and January 16, 2021, Thomas sexually abused a child who was under the age of 12 years. The United States also presented evidence that Thomas sexually abused two other minor children.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior 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. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Thomas will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Alabama Resident Pleads Guilty to Armed Felony Assaults and Transporting Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Paul New, age 20, of Semmes, Alabama, entered a guilty plea in federal district court to four counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than ten years in prison consecutive to any other sentence and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 30, 2025, New assaulted four victims with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm, and that New knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to that crime of violence. The Indictment further alleged that on May 30, 2025, New unlawfully transported a stolen motor vehicle from the State of Alabama to the State of Oklahoma, knowing the vehicle was stolen.
The crimes occurred in Atoka County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Atoka Police Department, the Atoka County Sheriff’s Office, the Stringtown Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the City of Kiowa Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
New will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Morgan Doyle, age 37, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on December 6, 2024, Doyle unlawfully killed the victim in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, specifically, failing to devote full time and attention to driving, failing to comply with required obedience to traffic laws, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Doyle will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Seminole Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Byron Keith Spencer, age 54, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for one count of Possession of Stolen Firearm.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Wewoka Police Department, the District 22 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On June 9, 2025, Spencer pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on May 9, 2023, law enforcement conducting a traffic stop in Wewoka discovered Spencer in possession of a Walther PK380 .380 handgun previously reported as stolen. At the time of the offense, Spencer knew or had reasonable cause to believe the firearm had been stolen.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Spencer will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Sex Offender Sentenced for Failing to RegisterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nicholas Hammer, age 47, formerly of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty-eight months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
On March 25, 2025, Hammer pleaded guilty to the charge. Hammer was convicted of Rape—First Degree on January 4, 2001, in the State of Oklahoma and is required to register as a sex offender. According to investigators, Hammer failed to register and update his registration from October 10, 2024, until November 4, 2024, despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hammer will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Former OSBI Investigator Sentenced for Multiple Counts of Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jordan Francis Toyne, age 37, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 109 months in prison for each of three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Owasso Police Department, together with cooperation and special assistance from Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
On January 23, 2025, Toyne was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, Toyne sexually assaulted a minor beginning in the Summer of 2020 and continuing until 2023, when the victim reached 16 years of age. During the course of investigation, it was discovered that Toyne sexually abused a second minor in 2021.
During this time, Toyne served as an investigator with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit. Toyne resigned from his post prior to the completion of an internal investigation conducted by the OSBI. The victims were unrelated to Toyne’s official duties with the OSBI. However, investigators uncovered evidence showing that Toyne used his specialized knowledge as a Child Crimes Investigator in order to groom the victims and evade detection for his crimes.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Toyne will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Carter County Resident Sentenced for Robbery and Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timmy Lynn Tatum, age 18, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country, and 87 months for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. The Court ordered the terms served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sulphur Police Department, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On April 1, 2025, Tatum pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on June 30, 2024, Tatum broke into a Sulphur home, attacked and beat the victim with a firearm, and robbed the victim at gun point. Tatum left the residence, taking several items of value.
The crimes occurred in Murray County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Tatum will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Arizona Drug Trafficker Who Fled State Charges Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jose Ramon Lopez, 30, of Yuma, Arizona, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service.
On August 4, 2025, Lopez pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on May 2, 2021, a trooper conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County discovered Lopez in possession over 5,000 counterfeit OxyContin pills containing a combined net weight of 562 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement arrested Lopez and charged him in Sequoyah County District Court, but Lopez posted bond and fled to Mexico. The United States indicted Lopez in February 2022. On December 30, 2024, U.S. Marshals apprehended Lopez coming through the port of entry into Arizona and returned him to Oklahoma to face federal drug trafficking charges.
“This sentence is a warning to those who threaten the safety and peace of our streets by trafficking in illicit drugs,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The Department of Justice is proud to stand side by side with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to defend our communities.”
“Drug dealers manufacture and traffic counterfeit pills which look like alprazolam, hydrocodone, or oxycodone but can contain lethal doses of fentanyl. Mr. Lopez was one of those dealers,” said Joseph B. Tucker, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Division. “This sentence reflects our continued resolve to partner with our law-enforcement counterparts to fight greed, violence, and substance abuse in Eastern Oklahoma communities.”
“The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is proud of the work our troopers conducted in this case. It underscores our commitment to our most important mission, keeping Oklahomans safe,” said OHP Chief, Colonel Joe Williams. “Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous drug and even a small amount can be deadly. Like all states, we have seen the tragedy that results from this deadly drug. Justice has finally caught up with Jose Ramon Lopez, and this case highlights the importance of strong cooperation with our federal partners in disrupting drug trafficking and protecting our communities. We appreciate the diligent work of the prosecution and thank the court for its careful handling of this case. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol remains committed to continued collaboration with our federal partners to keep Oklahoma safe.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Lopez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States at sentencing.
Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Isaiah Marshall Harjo, age 28, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 25, 2025, Harjo assaulted the victim, resulting in serious bodily injury. The Indictment further alleged that on that same day, Harjo assaulted a second victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.
The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ada Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Harjo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Wagoner Resident Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mark Justin Hall, age 47, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wagoner Police Department.
On May 6, 2025, Hall pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on October 26, 2024, Hall assaulted the victim, causing substantial bodily injury. The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hall will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bradley Eugene Davis, a/k/a Bradley Eugene Mefford, age 31, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service.
On December 29, 2025, Davis pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 18, 2025, David possessed a .22 caliber revolver and seven rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment or a term exceeding one year.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Okmulgee County Resident Sentenced for RobberyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darin Treyvon Miles, a/k/a Elmo, age 22, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department.
On August 11, 2025, Miles pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on May 8, 2025, Miles stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone at gunpoint. During the robbery, the victim was shot in the shoulder, suffering serious bodily injury. The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Miles will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Making Threatening Interstate CommunicationsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Mance Van Orsdol, a/k/a Jason Mance VanOrsdol, age 47, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Interstate Transmission of Threatening Communications, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 24, 2025, Van Orsdol knowingly and willfully transmitted a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another by means of interstate commerce.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Van Orsdol will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Wewoka Resident Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Erin Nicole Hodge, age 30, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
On August 12, 2025, Hodge pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on February 10, 2024, during a confrontation outside a Seminole, Oklahoma business, Hodge bit the victim on the face. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hodge will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Broken Arrow Resident Sentenced for Armed AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rafael Martin Sangines, age 30, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 70 months for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 13, 2025, Sangines pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on September 29, 2024, Sangines struck the victim repeatedly with the barrel and stock of an AR-15 style rifle and threatened to kill the victim. The victim sustained multiple contusions and lacerations before escaping to safety. Law enforcement apprehended Sangines a short time later during a traffic stop and took Sangines into custody. A search conducted of Sangines and the vehicle he was driving revealed a loaded pistol magazine, a chamber-loaded AR-15 with a 30-round magazine, a chamber-loaded semi-automatic pistol with a 30-round magazine, and spent rifle casings. Prior to the attack and apprehension, Sangines had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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 strengthening PSN based on these core principles: 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 John F. Heil, III, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sangines will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Hughes County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lariat Wayne Jagger, age 32, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Jagger with knowingly possessing a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and 13 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition on July 2, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hughes 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, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jagger will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Haskell County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Scott Lucas, age 39, of Keota, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on November 15, 2023, and continuing until October 11, 2024, Lucas knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view one or more matters containing visual depictions of one or more minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including the visual depictions of prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained the age of twelve.
The charge arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma City Police Department.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Lucas will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McAmis, Morgan Muzljakovich, and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Federal Jury Convicts Kansas Resident of Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Ramone Antuane Newman, age 36, of Olathe, Kansas, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The jury trial began with testimony on February 17, 2026, and concluded on February 18, 2026, with the guilty verdict.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on February 2, 2024, while attempting to elude law enforcement during a high-speed chase, Newman threw a Glock handgun and magazine loaded with four rounds from the vehicle. Law enforcement successfully apprehended Newman near the entrance to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and recovered the firearm and magazine in the area where they were thrown from the vehicle. At the time of the chase, Newman had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the McAlester Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Savanna Police Department, and the Choctaw Lighthorse Police.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Newman will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Allen Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clinton Ray Stowe, age 36, of Allen, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on October 27, 2025, Stowe assaulted the victim, resulting in serious bodily injury.
The crime occurred in Ada, Oklahoma, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ada Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Stowe will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Durant Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Ray St. Clair, age 25, 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 $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged St. Clair with knowingly possessing 18 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition on January 14, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Durant Police Department.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
St. Clair will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Paul Puentes, age 50, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 4, 2023, Puentes knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Durant Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Puentes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Todd Philip Wilkerson, age 54, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, and the Ardmore Police Department.
On July 9, 2025, Wilkerson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 26, 2025, Wilkerson knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a victim who was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and physically incapable of declining participation or communicating unwillingness to engage in that act. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wilkerson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Scott Waldon, age 44, of Bowlegs, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Waldon was convicted of Rape Second Degree in Seminole County, Oklahoma, on August 29, 2002, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from October 2, 2025, until December 11, 2025, Waldon failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshal Service Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
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.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Waldon will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Sallisaw Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Tyler Blankenship, age 39, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Possession of Ammunition After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sallisaw Police Department.
On November 10, 2025, Blankenship pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 24, 2024, after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of Battery (Domestic Violence) in Putnam County, Florida, and knowing of that conviction, Blankenship knowingly possessed eight rounds of ammunition.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Blankenship will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis Reagan represented the United States.
Former Hulbert Schools Encumbrance Clerk Sentenced for Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rebecca Deanne Morehead, age 55, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for one count of Theft or Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. The Court also ordered Morehead to pay $178,758.16 in restitution.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education – Office of Inspector General (OIG).
On November 21, 2024, Morehead pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, between June of 2019 and October 26, 2021, while serving as the Encumbrance Clerk and Activities Coordinator for the Hulbert Public School District, Morehead issued herself payroll and miscellaneous payments to in excess of her contracted and authorized salary with no legitimate purpose. Morehead issued these payments with the assistance of then-Treasurer Leslie Shannon Mack. Together, their combined actions resulted in an ultimate loss to the Hulbert Public School District exceeding a half million dollars. On December 11, 2024, Mack was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $372,808.09 in restitution.
“I’m proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for holding Ms. Morehead accountable for her criminal actions,” said John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Central Regional Office. “This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who intentionally steals or misappropriates Federal education funds: you will be caught and held accountable for your unlawful actions.”
“The OSBI appreciates the great work conducted by the United States Department of Education, as well as our local law enforcement partners, who assisted us throughout this investigation. Protecting our school districts against these type of crimes is critical across all of Oklahoma. We want to thank everyone who stepped up and helped obtain justice in this case,” said Hunter McKee, Public Information Manager with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
“The defendants’ misappropriation of public funding stole opportunity out of the pockets of students and families of the Hulbert Public School District,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This sentence and restitution stand as a warning that crimes against the public trust will be investigated and prosecuted.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Morehead will self-report on March 13, 2026, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Traster and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced to Thirty Years for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of A MinorRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Floyd Qualls, a/k/a Jay Qualls, age 40, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 7, 2025, Qualls was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury at trial.
At trial, the United States presented evidence that in May of 2024, Qualls knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a child who had not attained 12 years of age.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“This individual, who preyed on the innocence of a child for his own perverse gratification, will now face the consequences of his actions,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Qualls will spend three decades behind bars where he cannot harm another child.”
“I commend the FBI and prosecutors for their exceptional work in bringing the defendant to justice,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Both the verdict handed down by the jury and the sentence imposed by the court should send the strong message that preying on children will not be tolerated.”
The Honorable Timothy M. Reif, Judge for the United States Court of International Trade, sitting by assignment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Qualls will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
McAlester Resident Sentenced for Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Martin Ray Melton, age 60, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force.
On August 11, 2025, Melton pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Melton, who is required to register as a sex offender as a result of being convicted of 31 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child by the State of Oklahoma in Oklahoma County on January 31, 2006, failed to register and update his registration from September 11, 2023, until April 15, 2025, despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Timothy M. Reif, U.S. Judge in the United States Court of International Trade, sitting by assignment in the District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Melton will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kender Jose Alvarez-Hernandez, a/k/a Kender Alvarez-Hernandez, age 21, a Guatemalan national unlawfully present in Johnston County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 14, 2025, Alvarez-Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 17, 2025, Alvarez-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on April 23, 2025.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Fernando Gonzalez-Esparza, a/k/a Fernando Esparza-Gonzalez, a/k/a Fernando Gonzalez-Esparsa, a/k/a Fernando Esparza, a/k/a Fernando Gonzalez, a/k/a Fernada Gonzalez, a/k/a Angel Gomez, age 41, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Haskell Police Department.
On September 10, 2025, Gonzalez-Esparza pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 12, 2025, Gonzalez-Esparza, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on October 1, 2021.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Gonzalez-Esparza will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at sentencing.
Former Okfuskee County Jailer Sentenced for Unlawful Assault on DetaineeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donovan Matthew Pruett, age 24, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months of probation for one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On November 24, 2025, Pruett entered a guilty plea in federal district court. According to investigators, on September 28, 2024, while on duty and working in an official capacity as an Okfuskee County jailer, Pruett physically assaulted a restrained individual at the Okfuskee County Jail after the individual spat on him. Pruett’s assault caused the victim bodily injury.
Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 242 makes it a crime for any person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or the laws of the United States. Federal, state, and local officials, including police officers, prison guards, and other law enforcement officials, act under “color of law” when they act or claim to act in the performance of official duties, regardless of whether that official is operating inside or outside of the bounds of their lawful authority.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino, in consultation with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, represented the United States.