Eastern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
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 Santos Reyes-Garcia, a/k/a Edgar Benjamin Colorado Mora, a/k/a Edgar Colorado-Moran, a/k/a Santos Garcia Reyes, age 38, a Guatemalan national unlawfully present in Cherokee 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 Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 9, 2025, Reyes-Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 5, 2025, Reyes-Garcia, 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 December 15, 2008.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
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 Jaime Yair Arellano-Perez, age 37, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 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 Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On October 8, 2025, Arellano-Perez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on October 1, 2025, Arellano-Perez, 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 June 25, 2012, October 6, 2014, and August 26, 2015.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Arellano-Perez 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 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 Alex Eduardo Turcios-Brizuela, a/k/a Alex Turcior Brizaela, a/k/a Alex Turcios, age 42, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 14 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 Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 26, 2025, Turcios-Brizuela pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 18, 2025, Turcios-Brizuela, 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 February 26, 2009, and March 20, 2009.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Turcios-Brizuela 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.
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 Angel Urbina-Ramirez, a/k/a Angel Urbina Ramirez, a/k/a Angel Urbinaramirez, age 54, a Mexican national unlawfully present in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 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 Poteau Police Department.
On July 21, 2025, Urbina-Ramirez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 13, 2025, Urbina-Ramirez, 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 30, 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Urbina-Ramirez 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.
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 Henrry Dany Herrera-Hernandez, a/k/a Henrry Herrera Hernandez, age 52, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 29, 2025, Herrera-Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 17, 2025, Herrera-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 December 24, 2019.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Adrian Alcantar-Sanchez, a/k/a Pedro Ruiz-Betancur, age 45, and Jorge Luis Mejia-Mejia, age 39, both of Mexico, entered guilty pleas to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, punishable by a term of ten years to life imprisonment. Alcantar-Sanchez also pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.
The Indictment alleged that on March 29, 2025, Alcantar-Sanchez and Mejia-Mejia knowingly and intentionally possessed 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.
The Indictment also alleged that on March 29, 2025, Alcantar-Sanchez, 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 June 19, 2009, and April 6, 2012.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The defendants will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
McCurtain County Residents Plead Guilty to Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eric Dean Sparkman, age 39, of Idabel, Oklahoma, and Reginald Dondrale Bailey, age 46, of Haworth, Oklahoma, both entered guilty pleas to charges relating to a federal drug conspiracy.
Sparkman pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine, and one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by a term of 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on August 28, 2024, Sparkman, Bailey, and defendants known and unknown to the Grand Jury knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Indictment further alleged that on August 28, 2024, Sparkman knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentences to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Both defendants were ordered into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Johnston County 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 Joses Ric-E Beck, a/k/a Ric-E Beck, age 38, of Ravia, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 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 U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
The Indictment alleged that Beck was convicted of Lewd or Indecent Proposals to a Child Under Sixteen in the State of Oklahoma on August 12, 2008, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from August 30, 2023, until December 20, 2023, Beck failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Beck 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.
Bryan County Residents Sentenced for Scheme to Illegally Acquire FirearmsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nathanial Louis Hughes, age 31, and Rebecca Leann Hughes, age 33, both of Calera, Oklahoma, were sentenced for crimes committed in a scheme to unlawfully buy and sell firearms.
Nathanial Louis Hughes was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
Rebecca Hughes was sentenced to 3 years of probation for one count of Conspiracy to Acquire a Firearm from a Licensed Dealer by False and Fictitious Statement.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Beginning on June 26, 2024, and continuing until July 21, 2024, Rebecca and Nathanial Hughes conspired to unlawfully acquire firearms from a licensed dealer. As part of that conspiracy, Rebecca Hughes agreed to purchase firearms on behalf of her husband, Nathanial Hughes, despite knowing that he was a convicted felon. While purchasing multiple firearms for Nathanial Hughes, Rebecca Hughes presented herself as the actual buyer of the firearms, then affirmed this by marking “YES” on Block 21(a) of ATF Form 4473. On July 21, 2024, law enforcement discovered Nathanial Hughes unlawfully in possession of those firearms despite knowing himself to have previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one year.
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, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Nathanial Hughes will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility on January 2, 2026, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Sallisaw 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 Andrew Tyler Blankenship, age 38, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Ammunition After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The Indictment alleged that 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 charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sallisaw 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.
Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Travon Maurice Lawrence, age 20, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 5, 2025, Lawrence assaulted the victim with intent to commit murder. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Okmulgee 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.
Lawrence will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Okmulgee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Michael Harrison, age 43, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of not less than 10 years in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on April 12, 2024, and again on July 11, 2024, Harrison knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
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.
Harrison will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gregory Allen McAfee, age 49, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that McAfee was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Child in Tulsa County on September 13, 2000, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from February 2025 until September 9, 2025, McAfee 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 Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service.
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.
McAfee will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Claborn Clark, a/k/a William Claborn Clark, Jr., a/k/a William Elaborn Clark, Jr., age 45, of Valliant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Clark with knowingly possessing one .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, one break-open rifle, and 23 rounds of ammunition on May 10, 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, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Clark will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Federal Jury Convicts Muskogee Resident of Murder, Robbery, Witness Tampering, and Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Allan Kentrell Hill, age 23, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of multiple charges arising from an August 2023 robbery and a September 2023 murder in Muskogee.
Hill was convicted of the following seven counts of a Second Superseding Indictment:
- Murder in Indian Country, punishable by a term of life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000;
- Murder in Perpetration of Robbery in Indian Country, punishable by a term of life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000;
- Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000;
- Causing the Death of Another Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), punishable by any term of years up to life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000;
- Robbery in Indian Country, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000;
- Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000; and
- Tampering with a Witness punishable by no more than 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
The jury trial began with testimony on November 3, 2025, and concluded on November 6, 2025, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on August 17, 2023, Hill feigned interest in buying a Kel-Tec rifle and arranged to meet the owner to make the purchase. When they met, Hill and an accomplice robbed the owner of the Kel-Tec and a cell phone at gunpoint.
The United States also presented evidence that on September 7, 2023, Hill participated in the murder of a 16-year-old victim in the 4400 block of E. Hayes Street in Muskogee, leaving behind 18 spent casings from a Baretta handgun and the stolen Kel-Tec. The juvenile was also robbed of a Glock handgun and cell phone. On September 20, 2023, Muskogee police recovered the Beretta and Kel-Tec during a vehicle stop.
The United States also presented evidence that after participating in the murder, Hill attempted to create a false alibi and tried to convince his employer to unknowingly falsify a timesheet to show that Hill was working when he was actually participating in the murder of the victim.
The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Hill will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross, Jonathan E. Soverly, and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Atoka Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 43, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Colbert with knowingly possessing a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol on August 3, 2024, 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 Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
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.
Colbert will remain out on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Jason Rice, age 64, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
The Indictment alleged that on January 18, 2025, Rice possessed a .38 Special caliber revolver in furtherance of a drug crime, specifically possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, marijuana, and methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Okmulgee 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.
Rice will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Adair County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy Lee Poafpybitty, age 40, of Bunch, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 6, 2025, that Poafpybitty knowingly possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee Nation Marshals Service, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, 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.
Poafpybitty will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.
Stilwell Residents Sentenced for Child Exploitation and NeglectRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Samuel Shane Allgood, age 37, and Shannon Rae Scraper, age 45, both of Stilwell, Oklahoma, were sentenced in federal district court.
Allgood was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
Scraper was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
On May 20, 2025, Allgood and Scraper pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, Allgood coerced the victim into engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. Investigators also established that Scraper willfully and maliciously failed to provide the child, who was in her care, with adequate nurturance and affection, supervision, or appropriate caretakers, and failed to protect the child from sexual acts and materials.
The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Allgood and Scraper will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Stilwell 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 Zachary Thomas Carson, a/k/a Zach Thomas Carson, age 36, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the District 27 Drug Task Force, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 10, 2025, Carson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 21, 2025, law enforcement officers conducting a traffic stop discovered Carson in possession of 255 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, one round of .22 caliber hornet ammunition, one spent casing, and two rifle magazines containing 40 rounds of ammunition. At the time of the stop, Carson had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Carson 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 Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Coweta Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Michael DeGraw, age 30, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations.
On July 10, 2025, DeGraw pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, beginning on December 30, 2023, and continuing until February 27, 2025, DeGraw accessed for viewing and possessed material containing visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions portraying images of prepubescent minors, infants, and toddlers. In total, investigators recovered 161 images from DeGraw’s cellular telephones.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. DeGraw 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.
Murray County Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leran Ortiz Pittman, age 41, of Davis, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Pittman with knowingly possessing a semi-automatic pistol on January 7, 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 Davis 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.
Pittman will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Eufaula Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Frank William Shouse, age 69, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, both punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment.
The Indictment alleged that on August 21, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally distributed a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Indictment also alleged that on August 29, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally possessed a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 18 District Attorney’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.
Shouse will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz 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 Carlos Mendoza-Padilla, a/k/a Marvin Antino, a/k/a Carlos Ivan Mendoza-Padilla, a/k/a Carlos Ivan Mendoza, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Carter 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 Carter County Sheriff's Office.
On June 5, 2025, Mendoza-Padilla pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 4, 2025, Mendoza-Padilla, 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 February 19, 2016, and November 18, 2016.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Mendoza-Padilla 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 the hearing.
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 Mariano Gabriel-Gabriel, a/k/a Mariana Gabriel, a/k/a Gabriel Mariano, age 28, a Mexican national unlawfully present/residing in LeFlore 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 LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 11, 2025, Gabriel-Gabriel pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 30, 2025, Gabriel-Gabriel, 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 11, 2017.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at the hearing.
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 Manuel Lira-Aguilar, a/k/a Jesus Lira Aguilar, a/k/a Manuel Edward Aguilar III, a/k/a Jesus Lira Manuel, a/k/a Pero Marquez, age 50, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Carter 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 Carter County Sheriff's Office.
On June 9, 2025, Lira-Aguilar pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on October 21, 2024, Lira-Aguilar, 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 February 2, 2016.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States at the hearing.
Former Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Heather Lynn Harjo, age 39, formerly of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on April 28, 2025, Harjo unlawfully killed the victim while committing a lawful act which might produce death in an unlawful manner.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ada Police Department, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
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.
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.
Stilwell 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 Jimmy Joe Johnson, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Johnson with knowingly possessing eighteen rounds of ammunition on March 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 Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
Johnson will remain the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Pittsburg 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 Russell Jeremy Doctor, age 37, of Longtown, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment charged Doctor with knowingly possessing a semi-automatic rifle and eight rounds of ammunition on May 4, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, 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.
Doctor was released on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Ada Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tobias Ovonuel Goodbear, age 28, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault of Intimate Partner and Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on July 29, 2024, Goodbear assaulted a dating or intimate partner by strangling.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Ada 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.
Goodbear will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Texas 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 Kameron Vaughn Barrett, age 27, of Desoto, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On July 2, 2025, Barrett pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 11, 2023, Barrett knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, a drug trafficking crime.
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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Barrett 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 Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Child NeglectRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lloyd William McDaniel, age 35, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on November 13, 2023, while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of a child under the age of 18, McDaniel willfully and maliciously failed to protect the victim from exposure to illegal drug possession and use.
The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
McDaniel was released on previous bond with order on conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Marshall County Resident Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ashley Nicole Castleberry-Miller, age 31, of Kingston, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, to be followed by three years of Supervised Release.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole Police Department.
On April 3, 2025, Castleberry-Miller pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 20, 2024, Castleberry-Miller unlawfully killed the victim when she failed to devote full time and attention to driving, drove left of the center line of the roadway while driving without due caution, and operated a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance other than alcohol. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Castleberry-Miller 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Fort Gibson Resident Sentenced for Second Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Allen Lee, age 44, of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 384 months in prison for one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, to be followed by 5 years of Supervised Release.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Tahlequah Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On June 5, 2025, Lee was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, on July 2, 2024, Lee stabbed a Tahlequah resident in the chest with a knife at the victim’s residence. Lee waited to call 911 for several hours after the victim’s death and barricaded himself inside the residence before finally surrendering to police. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Lee 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 Kevin Gross and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nezjoneil Nikkolo Marris, age 28, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ardmore Police Department.
On May 28, 2025, Marris pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 26, 2022, Marris shot another person with a firearm in a drive-by shooting. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Marris 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 Gregory Dean Burris, T. Cameron McEwen, and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Colby Lin Deerinwater, a/k/a Colby Lyn Deerinwater, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Felony Information of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Information alleged that on July 5, 2024, Deerinwater killed the victim upon sudden quarrel or heat of passion. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Tahlequah 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.
Deerinwater will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shane Edwin Fahrenholz, age 58, of Gore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Firearm After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that between August 26, 2024, and September 12, 2024, Fahrenholz knowingly possessed a .30-30 lever-action rifle after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in the State of Nebraska.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the 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.
Fahrenholz will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
LeFlore County Resident Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ronald Craig Summers, age 34, of Spiro, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by 30 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The Superseding Indictment alleged that between January 2024 and continuing until October 7, 2024, Summers knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a person who had not attained the age of 12 years.
The crime occurred in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Human Services.
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.
Summers will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Former Casino Accounts Payable Manager Sentenced for Embezzlement and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Anthony Houser, age 36, formerly of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds and 36 months in prison for one count of Tax Fraud. The counts are set to be served concurrently. Houser was also ordered to pay $17,337,949.50 in restitution to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and $8,205,834.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
The charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.
On February 20, 2025, Houser pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, between July 2016 and February 2024, while serving as a manager for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Gaming Operations Authority Board (later known as the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, LLC), Houser embezzled and obtained by fraud property owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Through this scheme, Houser embezzled $24,907,436.07, which represented funds owned by and under the care, custody, and control of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and its agencies, all programs receiving federal funds.
In addition to this theft, Houser failed to disclose the stolen proceeds as income for purposes of filing federal income taxes throughout the course of the ongoing criminal scheme. During the tax years 2016 through 2022, Houser knowingly and intentionally underreported his Adjusted Gross income to the Internal Revenue Service. In Tax Year 2022, Houser failed to report $7,851,027,28 in income. In total, Houser’s false and fraudulent tax filings deprived the U.S. Treasury of $8,205,834.00 in payments Houser owed as a result of the embezzled proceeds.
“I am proud of the work conducted by our special agents in this case to ensure that justice was brought to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The U.S. Secret Service at its origin was created to identify, monitor and bring to justice those who seek to defraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle Smith, Oklahoma Field Office. “Protecting our communities here in Oklahoma is a mission we take very seriously, and I am grateful for the strong partnership we share with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation as we work together to bring fraudsters to justice.”
“Stealing from the community you are entrusted to serve is a serious betrayal,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Dallas Field Office. “Mr. Houser’s crimes harmed the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and undermined trust in public and tribal institutions. By stealing from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and falsifying his tax return, Mr. Houser not only defrauded his employer but also the American public. The women and men of IRS-CI are proud to have worked alongside the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma to uncover this fraud and hold Mr. Houser accountable for his crimes.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who defraud Tribal nations in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “In this case, we were honored to join together with our partners in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and federal law enforcement to promote the mutual protection of Tribal assets and resources.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Houser will self-report on November 10, 2025, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster, T. Cameron McEwen, and Clay Compton represented the United States.
Checotah Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Duane Henrichs, age 47, of Checotah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by 5 to 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on November 22, 2022, Henrichs knowingly and intentionally distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
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.
Henrichs will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan W. Howanitz represented the United States.
Bryan County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sean Paul Duer, age 58, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 75 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Durant Police Department.
On May 8, 2025, Duer pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on May 15, 2024, law enforcement executing a search warrant on Duer’s impounded vehicle discovered a plastic baggie containing approximately 33 grams of white crystalline methamphetamine hidden by Duer inside the door panel.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Duer 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 Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
Bryan County Resident Sentenced for False Statement During Purchase of A FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathon Mark Brinlee, age 40, of Calera, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
On April 3, 2025, Brinlee pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 11, 2024, while attempting to redeem a pistol from a Durant pawn broker, Brinlee checked “No” to Question 22i on Form 4473 asking whether the applicant was under any protective order. Brinlee had been served in person just two days earlier with a protective order from the Choctaw Nation Tribal Court.
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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Brinlee will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated prison facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Pittsburg 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 Sammy Monroe Ebarb, Jr., age 40, of Longtown, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment alleged that Ebarb was convicted of First Degree Rape in the District Court of Latimer County, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2003, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from November 2024 to February 2025, Ebarb 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 U.S. Marshals Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Ebarb will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
McCurtain County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anna Marie Scoles, age 38, of Valliant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On April 2, 2025, Scoles pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on August 4, 2024, a trooper conducting a traffic stop on Old Golden Highway in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, discovered Scoles in possession of a large bag of white crystalline substance. In total, Scoles possessed over 76 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which she intended to distribute.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Scoles 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 Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
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 Jaime Yair Arellano-Perez, age 37, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to a one count Felony Information of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
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 Information alleged that on October 1, 2025, 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 June 25, 2012, October 16, 2014, and August 26, 2015.
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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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.
Arellano-Perez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
Garvin County Resident Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Walter James Morris, age 38, of Stratford, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information of Misdemeanor Theft of Government Property, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, and up to a $100,000.00 fine.
The Information alleged that on July 10, 2025, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Morris knowingly stole a Personal Identity Verification card belonging to the United States Department of Justice with a value not exceeding $1,000.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Eufaula Resident Sentenced for Second Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Clayton Brown, age 42, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. The Court ordered the sentence to be served consecutive to a life sentence Brown is serving for one count of Murder in Indian Country—First Degree in a separate case.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Eufaula Police Department, the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 11, 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 15, 2017, Brown fatally stabbed the victim in the head and back with a knife, then attempted to hide the body in a field.
The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Court Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Brown 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 T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Bryan County 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 Dock Lee Shoemaker, age 61, of Calera, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 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.
On June 3, 2025, Shoemaker pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Shoemaker was convicted of Sexual Battery in the State of Oklahoma on February 3, 2016, and was required to register as a sex offender. From August 2020 until April 16, 2025, Shoemaker failed to register and update his registration while entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Shoemaker 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 Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Okmulgee Resident Sentenced for Robbery, Transporting A Stolen Vehicle, and Felony AssaultRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Vincent Jerome May, age 37, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country, 120 months in prison for one count of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Vehicle, and 60 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 terms were ordered to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Denver (Colorado) Police Department.
On March 20, 2025, May pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on March 4, 2023, May violently assaulted a woman while she held an infant child, threatened to burn down her home and kill her, and stole her phone and keys to her pickup truck. May drove the truck to Colorado and damaged it.
The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. May 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 Kevin Gross represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
Okmulgee County 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 Riccole Ladale Dixson, age 38, formerly residing in Dewar, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
The Indictment charged Dixson with knowingly possessing 30 rounds of ammunition on August 22, 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 U.S. Probation Officers.
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.
Dixson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.