Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Leal Castro, age 34, of Mexico, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison.

The Information alleged that on November 14, 2024, Castro knowingly received a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct through the internet.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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.

Castro will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Salvador Diaz-Hermosillo, age 39, a Mexican national unlawfully present in the United States, was sentenced to 6 months in prison for one count of Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Sallisaw Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.

On March 12, 2025, Diaz-Hermosillo pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 31, 2025, Diaz-Hermosillo, an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, who knew of his status, knowingly possessed a semi-automatic rifle within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5).

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.  Diaz-Hermosillo 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 Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Justin Floyd Qualls, a/k/a Jay Qualls, age 40, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

The jury trial began with testimony on August 5, 2025, and concluded on August 7, 2025, with the guilty verdict.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in May 2024, Qualls knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a child who had not attained 12 years of age.  The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Timothy M. Reif, U.S. Judge for the United States Court of International Trade, sitting by assignment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.  Qualls will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that three co-conspirators entered guilty pleas in federal court to felony charges.

John Lamar Clayton, age 46, of Fort Coffee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy on July 16, 2025.

Brian Lee Steele, age 45, of Fort Coffee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of one count of Drug Conspiracy on July 24, 2025.

Brandon Leal Castro, age 34, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy on July 24, 2025.

Conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine is punishable by ten years to life in prison and a $50,000,000 fine.

The Indictment against the co-conspirators alleged that between October 2024, and November 14, 2024, Clayton, Steele, Castro, and others knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas on each defendant and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports.  A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence 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 Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dewayne Tyree Miller, a/k/a Dejuan Tyree Miller, age 28, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

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

On March 3, 2025, Miller pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 17, 2024, Miller admitted to possessing methamphetamine after officers conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Miller in possession of two baggies containing approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine and $950.00 in cash.

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.  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. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Victoriano Ponce-Garcia, age 53, a Mexican national unlawfully present in 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 Coalgate Police Department.

On May 27, 2025, Ponce-Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on April 11, 2025, Ponce-Garcia, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed in 2009 and in 2020 without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

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 Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sammy Lynn Key, age 45, of Colbert, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Key with knowingly possessing a .38 Special caliber revolver on September 23, 2022, 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 Atoka 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.

Key will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eric Jason Franklin, age 53, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On April 17, 2025, Franklin pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 15, 2024, law enforcement discovered Franklin in possession of a pump action shotgun and 15 rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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.  Franklin 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Janae Stancle, age 34, of Muskogee, 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 alleged that on February 21, 2025, Stancle knowingly possessed an automatic pistol and fourteen rounds of ammunition 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 Muskogee 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.

Stancle will remain out on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

Note: The release has been updated to include a quote from the FBI Director.

Following a multi-day trial, a federal jury in Oklahoma last week convicted Leshon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on six felony counts of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act’s prohibitions against possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures.

Following the verdict, Johnson surrendered to the government the 190 dogs seized in this case. The government is pursuing forfeiture of these dogs. The United States Marshals Service cares for dogs seized in dog fighting cases through its asset forfeiture program.

“This criminal profited off of the misery of innocent animals and he will face severe consequences for his vile crimes,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This case underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting animals from abuse — 190 dogs are now safe thanks to outstanding collaborative work by our attorneys and law enforcement components.”

“The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,” said Director Kash Patel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice.”

“This conviction sends a strong message that those who abuse animals for entertainment and profit will face serious consequences under federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and our partners are committed to aggressively prosecuting individuals who perpetuate the brutal practice of dog fighting and to disrupting this illegal and inhumane industry.”

“Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “I commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in investigating this case and holding the defendant accountable for his crimes.”

The conviction stems from an indictment unsealed in March which detailed Johnson’s operation of “Mal Kant Kennels.” The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs and their offspring for the purpose of dog fighting, profiting from the cruel and illegal industry. Authorities seized the 190 dogs from his property, which is the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case. Johnson, who had a prior state conviction for dog fighting in 2004, will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

The FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency office investigated the case.

Sarah M. Brown, Ethan Eddy, and Todd W. Gleason of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, prosecuted the case. 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Following a multi-day trial, a federal jury in Oklahoma last week convicted Leshon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on six felony counts of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act’s prohibitions against possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures.

Following the verdict, Johnson surrendered to the government the 190 dogs seized in this case.  The government is pursuing forfeiture of these dogs.  The United States Marshals Service cares for dogs seized in dog fighting cases through its asset forfeiture program.

“This criminal profited off of the misery of innocent animals and he will face severe consequences for his vile crimes,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.  “This case underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting animals from abuse — 190 dogs are now safe thanks to outstanding collaborative work by our attorneys and law enforcement components.”

“The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,” said Director Kash Patel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice.”

“This conviction sends a strong message that those who abuse animals for entertainment and profit will face serious consequences under federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).  “ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and our partners are committed to aggressively prosecuting individuals who perpetuate the brutal practice of dog fighting and to disrupting this illegal and inhumane industry.”

“Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  “I commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in investigating this case and holding the defendant accountable for his crimes.”

The conviction stems from an indictment unsealed in March which detailed Johnson’s operation of “Mal Kant Kennels.” The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs and their offspring for the purpose of dog fighting, profiting from the cruel and illegal industry.  Authorities seized the 190 dogs from his property, which is the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case. Johnson, who had a prior state conviction for dog fighting in 2004, will be sentenced at a later date.  He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

The FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency office investigated the case.

Sarah M. Brown, Ethan Eddy, and Todd W. Gleason of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, prosecuted the case.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joshua Lee Bolin, age 26, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment of one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by five to twenty years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning in January 2024 and continuing until June 28, 2024, Bolin received visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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

Bolin was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dekentrek Donneil McDowell, a/k/a Deketrek D. McDowell, a/k/a X Day Day, a/k/a X Deezy, a/k/a X Lil Beefy, age 20, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and 46 months for one count of Threatening Interstate Communications. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Ada Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

On January 22, 2025, McDowell pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to investigators on June 4, 2024, McDowell pistol-whipped an individual, then pointed the gun at the individual’s head. Then, on July 27, 2024, McDowell left multiple voicemail messages through a cell phone application threatening to kill a second individual and her unborn child.  The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable John L. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  McDowell 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 Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

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 53, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Poteau, Oklahoma, 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 $250,000.00.  

The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.

The Indictment alleged that on June 13, 2025, Urbina-Ramirez, an alien, was found in the United States after having been previously removed on January 30, 2018, without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

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.

Urbina-Ramirez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that three Fort Towson, Oklahoma co-conspirators in a 2020 double homicide were sentenced in federal district court.

Ashlie Nicole Rose Martin, age 22, was sentenced to 456 months in prison for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

Chad Jon’Dale Voyles, age 23, was sentenced to 420 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country.

Bryson Noel Miller, age 19, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country.

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

According to investigators, on December 22, 2020, Martin, then age 17, recruited Voyles, age 18, and Miller, age 15, to murder her parents.  That evening, Martin let Voyles and Miller into her house through a rear window.  Miller and Voyles found Martin’s mother sleeping on a couch and beat her to death.  All three assisted in burying her in a shallow grave in the backyard.  After the murder of Martin’s mother, the co-conspirators cleaned up and disposed of evidence of the murder.

Over the next few hours, Martin attempted to arrange plans to flee, while Voyles and Miller awaited the arrival of Martin’s father at Martin’s residence.  When Martin’s father arrived, Voyles ambushed him and fired at him with a compound bow and field-tipped arrow.  Voyles missed, leading to a struggle with the father.  Ultimately, Miller intervened and struck the father in the head with a dumbbell.  Once incapacitated, Voyles and Miller doused the man in gasoline and set him and the house on fire.

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

“In December 2020, two lives were tragically cut short, and the entire community of Fort Towson was gripped by fear and disbelief,” said FBI Oklahoma City Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Ogden.  “The ruthless violence displayed by all three defendants in this case undoubtedly proves they belong behind prison walls.  The efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners have guaranteed they will each feel the full weight of the federal justice system.”

“The defendants’ actions were brutal and horrifying,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Although nothing can erase the effects of these crimes or ease these families’ agony, the sentences imposed remove three very dangerous people from our community for a very long time.”

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing.  The defendants 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Clayton Brown, age 42, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Felony Information of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Information alleged that on September 15, 2017, Brown killed the victim with malice aforethought.

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

The charge arose from investigations by the Eufaula Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, 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.

Brown will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Lynn Lusk, age 35, of Seattle, Washington, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country, and 30 months in prison for one count of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Muskogee Police Department.

On February 3, 2025, Lusk pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on March 22, 2024, Lusk broke into a Muskogee apartment in order to attack the resident.  Once inside the apartment, Lusk proceeded to strangle and suffocate the victim, who was able to escape and call for help during a pause in the attack.  The crimes occurred in Muskogee 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.  Lusk 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 Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that two defendants entered guilty pleas for their roles in a federal drug conspiracy.

Dylan Thomas Emmick, age 32, of Purcell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by five to 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000.00 fine.

Kody James Lile, age 45, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by five to 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on November 8, 2024, Emmick conspired to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and that on November 9, 2024, Lile knowingly and intentionally possessed five grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Latimer 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 pleas and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation reports.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Emmick and Lile will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen and Special Assistant United States Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darlene Ruelas Flores, a/k/a Darlene Sheppard, age 44, of San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.

On February 13, 2025, Flores pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 30, 2024, law enforcement conducting a routine traffic stop for equipment violations discovered Flores in possession of 968.9 grams of a white substance that later tested positive for fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.

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.  Flores 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Lee Pritchett, age 34, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Pritchett with knowingly possessing a .22 caliber Derringer, a semi-automatic rifle, a short-barreled rifle, two hundred rounds of assorted ammunition, 40 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, one round of Winchester 12-gauge ammunition, and 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition on February 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 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.

Pritchett was released on bond with conditions pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Bird, age 70, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Information alleged that on January 21, 2025, Bird unlawfully killed a person in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death when committed in an unlawful manner, without due caution and circumspection.  As part of the plea agreement, Bird admitted the government could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he discharged a firearm without due caution and circumspection, killing the victim.

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

The charge arose from an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. District 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.

Bird will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Curtis Gene Atkins, age 60, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the 12th/21st Judicial Drug Task Force out of Sebastian and Crawford Counties, Arkansas, and the Barling, Arkansas Police Department.

On November 18, 2024, Atkins pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, on April 4, 2024, and May 15, 2024, Atkins sold a total of 166.06 grams of methamphetamine 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.  Atkins 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.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Gabriel Lee Williams, II, a/k/a Chi-Chi, age 26, of Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

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

On January 13, 2025, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  According to investigators, on April 27, 2024, law enforcement discovered Williams in possession of one 9mm handgun and one .40 caliber handgun after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

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.  Williams 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 Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Derek Michael James, age 41, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on January 27, 2025, James assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.

The crime occurred in Bryan 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 Choctaw Nation Lighthorse 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.

James will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Patrick M. Flanigan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Michael DeGraw, age 30, of Coweta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on or about December 20, 2023, until February 27, 2025, DeGraw knowingly possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which DeGraw accessed with intent to view.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

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.

DeGraw was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Sarah McAmis represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Todd Philip Wilkerson, age 53, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on March 26, 2025, Wilkerson knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a victim who was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and physically incapable of declining participation or communicating unwillingness to engage in that act.

The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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

Wilkerson will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robey Lee Butler, age 36, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to three years’ probation for one count of Possession of Stolen Firearm.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sallisaw Police Department, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.

On January 13, 2025, Butler pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on November 7, 2023, law enforcement discovered Butler in possession of a semi-automatic rifle.  That rifle was later revealed to be stolen out of McCurtain, Oklahoma, in LeFlore County.

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. Attorneys Jarrod A. Leaman, and Lewis M. Reagan and represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lee Calhoun Phillips, age 45, of Morris, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count felony Information of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Nonfatal Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to two years in prison.

The Information alleged that on September 28, 2023, Phillips drove a vehicle that was involved in an accident involving an injury to a person, willfully and maliciously failed to remain at the scene and render reasonable assistance to the injured, and willfully and maliciously failed to stop in order to avoid detection and prosecution.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan W. Howanitz and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marcus Edward Lee, age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On January 13, 2025, Lee pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to investigators, on May 20, 2024, federal agents executed a warrant on Lee’s McAlester address as part of a years-long investigation into an online subscriber sharing images depicting sexual abuse of children between the ages of three and thirteen.  At Lee’s residence, agents seized two cell phones on which Lee had stored nearly 600 images of child sexual abuse and assaults.

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 through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-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.  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. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Edward Lewis, age 48, of Kenefic, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bryan County Sheriff's Office.

On February 11, 2025, Lewis pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 10, 2024, law enforcement responded to a 911 call of active gunfire at a Kenefic residence.  The caller reported that Lewis had rammed a vehicle through the residence wall and was shooting into the house.  Responders approaching the residence encountered Lewis fleeing the scene with front end damage to his truck and apprehended him after a pursuit.  The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw 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.  Lewis 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 T. Cameron McEwen and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Vernon Hardage, Jr., age 46, of Kenefic, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Hardage with knowingly possessing one round of 12-gauge ammunition and 17 rounds of .300 Blackout caliber ammunition on March 11, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Hardage will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen and Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Ray Amundson, age 39, of Roland, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 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 Explosive and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.

On January 15, 2025, Amundson pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on June 1, 2023, officers serving a search warrant at Amundson’s residence discovered nearly half a pound of methamphetamine buried in the backyard.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Amundson 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 Jacob R. Parker and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Brandon Pearce, age 56, of Indianola, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device).

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

On November 25, 2024, Pearce pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  According to investigators, on September 4, 2023, law enforcement responded to blast reports at Pearce’s residence.  There, agents encountered Pearce and two bystanders suffering injuries from a detonated grenade.  An investigation of the blast site revealed that Pearce had modified the unregistered explosive before accidentally setting it off, and that Pearce also possessed assembly components for building additional grenades.

“This case underscores the serious danger posed by illegal and unregistered explosive devices,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims.  “Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners, a potentially deadly situation was contained before further harm occurred.  Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws and to supporting initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods that protect our communities from violent crime.”

“Pearce’s actions were egregious and could have been fatal,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “Pearce put his own interests ahead of the safety of the community and caused immense harm.  Such caustic conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”

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.   Pearce 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 Richard J. Lorenz and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wilmer Medardo Guerrero, age 24, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country.

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

On March 12, 2025, Guerrero pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on December 18, 2020, Guerrero assaulted an Ada restaurant manager, robbing the manager of the restaurant’s earnings deposit.  The victim fought back and unmasked Guerrero, a former employee, before Guerrero fled with the money.  The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Guerrero 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 Michael E. Robinson and Dak Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rickey Everett Ballard, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On December 17, 2024, Ballard pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, between May 1, 2024, and May 29, 2024, Ballard knowingly possessed a semiautomatic .300 Blackout caliber pistol and twenty-nine rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 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 Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Ballard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
 

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jordan Bradley Brown, age 37, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and mandated Sex Offender Registration for one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the United States Probation Office.

On February 5, 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Brown was convicted by the State of Oklahoma of Rape—2nd Degree on February 15, 2008, and Sexual Battery on June 27, 2008, each a felony conviction requiring the defendant to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) passed by Congress in 2006.  According to investigators, on June 28, 2024, Brown failed to register an accurate address with law enforcement as required under SORNA.

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.  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 Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Johnny Lee Vann, age 48, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Arson in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Vann with maliciously attempting to set fire to a dwelling and place the life of any person in jeopardy on January 4, 2025.  The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Muskogee 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.

Vann will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Maxie Darryl Caston, age 58, of Hugo, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by a three year term of supervised release, for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.

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

On March 14, 2025, Caston pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on September 6, 2024, law enforcement executing a search warrant for Caston’s Hugo residence seized a revolver, a shotgun, four rifles, and multiple rounds of ammunition.  At the time of the search, Caston had sustained at least one prior felony conviction and was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm or ammunition.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Eric Diggs, age 47, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Diggs with knowingly possessing a semi-automatic pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition on February 5, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Hugo Police Department 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.

Diggs was permitted to remain free on bond with conditions pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenneth Marvin Bray, a/k/a Marvin Bray, age 54, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Bray with knowingly possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol on November 30, 2023, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

The charge arose from an investigation by the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Bray will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jade Larae Duncan, age 28, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, to be followed by two years of supervised release.

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

On February 11, 2025, Duncan pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on the evening of December 2, 2022, the vehicle Duncan was driving left the roadway and crashed into a creek bed alongside Salem Road (E 893 Road) in Adair County.  Duncan freed herself and one passenger before the vehicle caught fire.  A second passenger was trapped in the back seat and died from injuries sustained in the crash and the fire.  During the investigation, Duncan admitted to drinking alcohol before driving and a witness described Duncan as “tired and sleepy.”  Toxicology on Duncan’s blood drawn in the hours after the crash determined her blood alcohol was approximately 0.085 g/ml, slightly over the 0.080 g/ml legal limit.

The crime occurred 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.  Duncan will self-report on August 4, 2025, to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan, Patrick M. Flanigan, and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kameron Vaughn Barrett, age 27, of Desoto, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, punishable by not less than 60 months in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on November 11, 2023, Barrett knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, a drug trafficking crime.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Durant Police Department 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.

Barrett will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Douglas Ray Lollis, Jr., age 33, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.

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

On March 4, 2025, Lollis was found guilty by a federal jury at trial for one count of illegally possessing a firearm.

According to investigators, on December 22, 2022, Lollis pawned a 9x19mm pistol which he possessed illegally.  At the time of that transaction, Lollis was prohibited from owning firearms after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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.  Lollis will self-report on August 4, 2025, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly, Patrick M. Flanigan, and Edith Singer represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyrone Noble, age 58, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Noble with knowingly possessing a 12-gauge shotgun and five rounds of ammunition on December 2, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

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

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

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Noble will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kevin Carter Kieckhefer, age 35, of Tupelo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment charged Kieckhefer with knowingly possessing 25 rounds of .223 ammunition on July 19, 2023, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Coal County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 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.

Kieckhefer will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dak T. Cohen and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Frank Lerblance, a/k/a Andrew Frank Lerblance Jr., age 66, of Checotah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Information of Distribution of Methamphetamine.   The charge carries a term of 5 to 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000.00 fine.

The Information alleged that on October 3, 2023, Lerblance knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

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.

Lerblance will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimcy McGirt, age 76, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The Indictment alleged that on May 2, 2024, McGirt was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and that from August 25, 2024, until August 31, 2024, McGirt knowingly failed to register that he was residing in a home, either temporarily or permanently, within a two-thousand foot radius of any playground or park.

The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.

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.

McGirt will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Laura Virginia Howard, age 76, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Felony Information of Theft of Public Monies, punishable by up to ten years in prison, and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Information alleged that between February 28, 2007, and June 26, 2024, Howard willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, and converted for her own use and the use of others, money and things of value exceeding $1,000.00 of the United States and the Social Security Administration paid to a retirement claimant, to which Howard knew she was not entitled.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter, Kara Traster, and Jonathan Soverly represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dustin James Coggins, age 34, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.

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

On January 14, 2025, Coggins pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on August 2, 2024, while driving in Okemah, Oklahoma, Coggins aggressively tailgated another vehicle and pointed his rifle at the driver.

The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in 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.  Coggins 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 Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Treyian Jamal Mason, a/k/a Tray Mason, age 22, of Coalgate, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on February 13, 2025, Mason knowingly possessed, concealed, and disposed of a stolen semi-automatic pistol which he knew or had reasonable cause to believe was stolen.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Coalgate Police Department, the Coal County Sheriff’s Office, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Mason will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Joshua Satter represented the United States.