Eastern District of Oklahoma

Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JEFFERY A. LOPEZ, age 30, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment, followed by 24 months of supervised release for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

Charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The defendant was indicted in April, 2013 and pled guilty in September, 2013.

The Indictment alleged that on or December 11, 2012, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, JEFFERY A. LOPEZ, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, the following firearm, to-wit: one Winchester model 1897 pump shotgun, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

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

Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Waters represented the United States.

Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today the results of the January 2014 Federal Grand Jury.

“The following named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an indictment by the Grand Jury. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Statutory maximum punishments are in parentheses. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court. Federal prison sentences are non-parolable.”

ALLISON FAITH BATTLES, age 29, of Krebs, OK

Making A False Statement
Theft Of Government Funds

The Indictment alleges that from on or about February 16, 2012, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, did knowingly make and cause to be made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Social Security Administration. It further alleges that from in or about January 2007 to in or about May 2012 and July 2009 to in or about April 2012, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Defendant, did willfully and knowingly embezzle, steal and convert to her own use, money and things of value from the Social Security Administration and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, an agency receiving and administering funds on behalf of the United States. The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

The charges are in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2), punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine; and Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine.

Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson

TOMAS CAMARGO-CHAVEZ, a/k/a THOMAS CAMARGO, a/k/a THOMAS CAMARGO-CHAVEZ, a/k/a "SCARFACE", age 39, of Poteau, OK

Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute
Illegal Reentry of Previously Removed Alien

The Indictment alleges that on or about September 26, 2013, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance and was found in the United States after having been deported and removed from the United States at or near England Air Force Base at Rapides, Louisiana, on or about May 19, 2008, and not having obtained the express consent of the Attorney General of the United States or his successor, the Secretary of Homeland Security, to reapply for admission to the United States.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The charges are in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), punishable by not more than 20 years imprisonment and/or up to a $1,000,000.00 fine and Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine.

Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Waters

FELIPE RANGEL-HERNANDEZ, a/k/a FELIPE HERNANDEZ, age 38, of Mexico

Illegal Alien in Possession of Firearms
Illegal Reentry of a Previously Deported Alien

The Indictment alleges that on or about December 19, 2013, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, then being an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, the following firearms, to-wit: one Mossberg Model 100 ATR, 30-06 caliber rifle and one Glenfield Model 60 .22 LR caliber rifle both of which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The Indictment further alleges that on or about December 19, 2013, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant an alien, was found in the United States after having been deported and removed from the United States at or near Del Rio, Texas, on or about January 20, 2011, and not having obtained the express consent of the Attorney General of the United States or his successor, the Secretary of Homeland Security, to reapply for admission to the United States. The charges arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The charges are in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A), punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine and Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), punishable by not more than 2 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine.

Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Waters

DWAIN DOUGLAS McVEY, age 65, of Watts, OK

Possession Of Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device)
Felon In Possession Of Firearm

The Indictment alleges that on or about August 30, 2013, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly possess a destructive device, more particularly described as a glass bottle containing black powder, screws and nails with a fuse attached, which is a firearm, as defined in Title 26, United States Code, Section 5845, that was not registered to him. It is further alleged that the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, several firearms which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The charges are in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5861(d), 5841 and 5871 and Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), both punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, and/or a $250,000 fine.

Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson

Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that HEATHER RAE HELTON, age 40, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 5 years of probation and ordered to pay $20,940.00 in restitution for Making A False Statement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).

The charge arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. The defendant was indicted in August, 2013 and pled guilty in September, 2013.

The Indictment alleged that on or about September 25, 2011, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Defendant did knowingly make and cause to be made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Social Security Administration, an agency of the United States.

The Honorable James H. Payne, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing.

First Assistant United States Attorney Doug Horn represented the United States.

Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that GARY JAMES NEEL, age 40, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2250(a)(1), 2250(a)(2)(B) and 2250(a)(3).

Charges arose from an investigation by and the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Department, the Denver and Aurora, Colorado Police Departments and the United States Marshal Services in Muskogee, Oklahoma and Denver, Colorado. The defendant was indicted in December, 2012 and was found guilty by a federal jury in March, 2013.

The evidence presented at trial proved that from in or about September 5, 2012 until on or about October 4, 2012, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, the defendant an individual required to register as a Sex Offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, after having received a felony conviction from the State of New York, Saint Lawrence County, on or about June 26, 1998, for the felony offense of Attempted Sexual Abuse, First Degree, with a Child Less Than 11 Years Old, traveled in interstate commerce and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The Honorable James H. Payne, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal Service pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States.

Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JEREMY EDWARD RAMIREZ, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5861(d), 5845 and 5871.

Charges arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The defendant was indicted in June, 2013 and pled guilty in July 2013.

The Indictment alleged that on or about April 19, 2013, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant did knowingly possess an explosive and firearm, to-wit: One Ireco blasting cap wired to a cellular telephone, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The Honorable James H. Payne, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.

First Assistant United States Attorney Doug Horn represented the United States.

Muskogee, Oklahoma - U.S. Attorney Mark Green announced today that the Eastern District of Oklahoma collected $1,174,439 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2013. Of this amount, $380,400 was collected in criminal actions and $794,039 was collected in civil actions.

Additionally, the Eastern District of Oklahoma worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $184,251,500 in cases pursued jointly with these offices.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Thursday that the Justice Department collected approximately $8 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013. The more than $8 billion in collections in FY 2013 represents nearly three times the appropriated $2.76 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices and the main litigating divisions in that same period.

“The department’s enforcement actions help to not only ensure justice is served, but also deliver a valuable return to the American people,” said Attorney General Holder. “It is critical that Congress provide the resources necessary to match the department’s mounting caseload. As these figures show, supporting our federal prosecutors is a sound investment.”

“Collection of monies due the United States of America in both criminal and civil matters is a responsibility of this U.S. Attorney’s office as well as those across our nation. We here in the Eastern District of Oklahoma are committed to fulfilling that responsibility,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Green.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $576,950 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2013. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.