Northern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Six Texas Men Indicted for Robbing a Broken Arrow Man and Stealing 70 Pounds of Illegal MarijuanaRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Six Texas men have been indicted and detained for trial for their involvement in an interstate robbery conspiracy. The scheme, part of which was captured on a home video security system, allegedly involved kicking in a door at a residence in Broken Arrow, wearing masks, carrying a firearm, striking an occupant of the home, and stealing approximately 70 pounds of illegal marijuana.
According to court documents, Jabriel Williams, 33, Darius Devvoin Hinton, 28, Blake Alexander Calvillo, 25, Nathan Haywood Strong, 36, Remond Reeshon Williams, 39, all of Dallas, Texas, and Jeremy Romel Conner, 44, of Athens, Texas, are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery after allegedly conspiring among themselves and others to commit robbery within the Northern District of Oklahoma.
During detention hearings, prosecutors detailed the robbery in Broken Arrow, which occurred shortly after 4:00 a.m., in July 2025. Some of the defendants wore masks, brandished a firearm, and pistol-whipped a victim after announcing themselves as “Police!” and kicking in the front door of the home in Broken Arrow. When the defendants left, they stole approximately 70 pounds of illegal marijuana and were driven from the scene by co-conspirators.
In the unsealed indictment, Hinton, Calvillo, Conner, and Strong are further charged with Hobbs Act Robbery, which affected interstate commerce. Additionally, Hinton, Conner, and Strong are charged with Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Lastly, Conner is charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony.
The FBI and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies, with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and John Brasher are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. It emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Vinita Man Sentenced for Raping a 16-Year-OldRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Vinita man was sentenced today after being found guilty by a federal jury in April for raping a 16-year-old, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Garret Lee Monroe, 38, who was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force in Indian Country. Monroe was ordered to serve 360 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon release, Monroe will also be required to register as a sex offender.
“Garrett Monroe is a sexual predator and career criminal who preyed upon and violently sexually assaulted an innocent sixteen-year-old girl,” stated U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. “Thanks to the efforts of our AUSAs and investigators, he will now spend a well-deserved thirty years in federal prison. I want to commend the victim for her brave testimony at trial, and I’m thankful that our office was able to bring her some measure of justice.”
"The courageous testimony of the young victim in this case was critical to securing the conviction and the significant sentence imposed today," said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. "The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our mission to remove sexual predators from our communities and ensure they face the full weight of the federal justice system."
At trial, evidence was presented that in November 2025, Vinita Police officers were dispatched to a fight in progress. When officers arrived, they broke up a fight between Monroe and another man. Officers spoke with the man, who stated that he was contacted by the 16-year-old minor victim, who asked him to come home as soon as possible because something bad had happened. The man explained that the minor victim told him that Monroe had strangled, raped, and threatened to kill her. The man confronted Monroe for raping the minor victim and a fight ensued.
Officers then spoke with the 16-year-old minor victim. She told officers that Monroe woke her up in the middle of the night by covering her mouth and strangling her. When the minor victim testified, she explained to the jury that while Monroe was strangling her, she could not breathe and thought she was going to die. She began screaming, and Monroe put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. Monroe then proceeded to rape the minor victim. After he was finished, Monroe told the victim he was afraid he was “gonna go back to prison” and offered to pay the victim $500 a week not to tell anyone.
When the sexual assault nurse testified at trial, she went through her detailed reports and explained to the jury what the minor victim reported to her. The nurse took DNA swabs and photographed the 16-year-old’s injuries. The photographs were shown to the jury, including photos of bruises and abrasions to her neck and of the petechiae in the victim’s eyes and on her face caused by the strangulation.
When a DNA expert with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation testified, they confirmed that the swabs taken from the minor victim matched the victim and Monroe’s DNA.
Court dockets show that Monroe is a prior felon and was previously convicted of serious offenses, including assault and battery on an officer, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and robbery. When Monroe was sentenced in 2007 for robbery, he was sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections, with 16 years suspended. Monroe did not comply with the terms of his release and his sentence was revoked. He served more than 14 years in prison, and court records show that he was released seven months prior to the rape.
Monroe is a citizen of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, the Vinita Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd and Blithe Cravens prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted 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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Tulsa Man Pleaded Guilty to Manufacturing DMT in his ApartmentRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man pleaded guilty in federal court to manufacturing the dangerous drug, DMT, in his apartment, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.
Aaron Michael Bennett, 41, pleaded guilty to Manufacturing a Controlled Substance; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; and being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
In January 2025, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information that N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) was being manufactured and sold out of an apartment in Tulsa. During the narcotics investigation, agents partnered with the Broken Arrow Police Department and conducted surveillance. They discovered that Bennett resided in the apartment and produced large amounts of the dangerous chemical.
When HSI obtained a search warrant for the apartment, they partnered with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard to safely execute the warrant and dispose of the chemical. In Bennett’s bedroom, law enforcement discovered nearly one pound of DMT.
Additionally, Bennett unlawfully possessed ammunition while manufacturing this dangerous chemical. Court dockets show that Bennett was previously convicted of a felony, and it is unlawful for him to possess ammunition.
Bennett’s sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Prior to sentencing, a federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Bennett will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department investigated the case. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard assisted during the execution of the search warrant. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case.
Owner of West Camp Dog Fighting Venture Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Dog Fighting and Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced for six counts related to running a dog fighting venture in his home and for beating his then-girlfriend with a golf club, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Julius Deane Griffin, 44, for five counts of Possession of a Dog for an Animal Fighting Venture; Causing an Individual Under the Age of 16 to Attend an Animal Fighting Venture; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Tampering with Evidence by Corrupt Persuasion. Griffin was ordered to serve 210 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
“Julius Griffin engaged in a sustained pattern of harming animals and people alike. And then when he was finally brought to justice, he tried to destroy evidence of his crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Chris Nassar. “This sentence sends a strong message that engaging in dog fighting and domestic violence will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Oklahoma and will be met with significant consequences.”
In 2024, law enforcement began investigating Griffin for drug activities. When agents obtained a search warrant on Griffin’s social media account, they discovered that he was fighting dogs under the name “West Camp.” Agents then executed a search warrant at Griffin’s home and seized 17 live pit bull-type dogs and other fighting dogs, and one deceased dog. Agents seized over $16,000 in cash, electronic devices, dog-fighting trophies, dog treadmills, kennels, digital scales to weigh the dogs, dog food, injectable steroids, syringes, and dog medications.
The dogs seized were placed with outside caregivers and received immediate medical attention. Some dogs had missing and damaged body parts, visible scars, and open wounds, consistent with dog fighting. The deceased dog exhibited visible scars and open wounds, consistent with dog fighting, and was recently deceased.
Court documents show that Griffin admitted to possessing 18 dogs in his backyard and basement of his house located in Tulsa. During sentencing, the prosecutor stated that Griffin would take a dog into his basement for “training.” While in the dark basement, the dog would be starved and run on a treadmill several times to prepare for an upcoming fight.
The investigation revealed that Griffin possessed 1,000s of images and videos documenting his dog-fighting venture. At sentencing, prosecutors showed several graphic images and videos of dogs injured or fighting. A brief video showed a dog that appeared to be lifeless, muzzled by duct tape, and attacked by a separate dog, as Griffin cheered on the prevailing dog.
Griffin admitted to traveling between Oklahoma and Kansas to fight the dogs and to buying or selling dogs in Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. During one of his dog fights, Griffin admitted he allowed two children, ages 4 and 2, to watch the dog fight.
After being arrested in April 2025, Griffin contacted a friend and directed them to log in to his accounts and delete data from his cloud-based devices. Griffin knowingly directed his friend to conceal and delete videos, conversations, and pictures related to his animal-fighting venture.
Additionally, in December 2023, Griffin admitted to assaulting the woman he was dating at that time. He struck her several times with a golf club. The assault left the victim with a fractured wrist, ankle swelling, arm and knee lacerations, as well as rib pain.
During sentencing proceedings, it was mentioned that Griffin scored in the highest criminal history category because of his prior criminal convictions. Court records show that Griffin was previously convicted of more than 21 crimes, including being convicted in 2005 for his involvement in a separate dog fighting ring. He was sentenced to five years and served approximately two years. He has also previously been convicted of six assault and domestic assault related crimes since 2009.
Griffin will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal Service, the USDA-OIG, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. The U.S. Marshal Service National Seized Animal Program, the City of Tulsa Animal Services, and the Humane Society of Tulsa assisted in the medical treatment of the dogs and their recovery. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.
Operation Clean Sweep III Indicts 39 Child Predators and Checked 887 Registered Sex Offenders for ComplianceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Chris Nassar announced that law enforcement has indicted 39 defendants, and several others have been identified and remain under investigation after the launch of Operation Clean Sweep III in March.
Operation Clean Sweep III (operation) aims to hold child predators accountable throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma. This operation is partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force (TACETT), created by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). More than 25 federal, state, and tribal law enforcement partners helped prevent, identify, investigate, and ultimately prosecute child exploitation.
From March 2026 through August 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office received referrals from eight of the 11 counties within the Northern District of Oklahoma. Sixty-six cases were opened for investigation. To date, 39 defendants have either been charged by Complaint or Indicted, with the remaining still under investigation. Of the 39 defendants charged, 26 were charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, eight were charged with producing child sexual abuse material, and nine were charged with coercion and enticement for using phones and applications to target minor children. Most importantly, 21 minor children have been identified and separated from the defendants. This number does not represent the children in the child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement agencies will partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to identify those children.
From January 2026 through August 2026, NCMEC sent 8,621 CyberTips to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations – Internet Crimes Against Children (OSBI-ICAC) unit. Of those CyberTips, 2,086 cases were opened for investigation. Law enforcement partners in the Northern District of Oklahoma received 586 cases for further investigation.
During this operation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, and the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service conducted compliance checks on those required to register as sex offenders in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) provides a comprehensive set of standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. In total, law enforcement checked 887 individuals in 10 of the 11 counties within the Northern District of Oklahoma. Investigators found that 34 individuals were not compliant with SORNA standards.
“Clean Sweep III is ending as an operation; however, the cases are not,” said U.S. Attorney Chris Nassar. “Investigations and prosecutions will continue on every open matter that has not yet been charged. The team that built this operation is not standing down. The experience, the relationships, and the enforcement effort will continue. We will keep bringing child predators to justice in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”
Operation Clean Sweep III was led by U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury, George Jiang, Kate Brandon, Michele Hulgaard, Jessica Wright, Stacey Todd, Jack Osborn, Augustus Forster, Stephanie Ihler, Blithe Craves, and Chris Kelly also assisted in the operation. The law enforcement who participated in the operation are personnel from the Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa office, the FBI, Tulsa Police Department, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Bixby Police Department, the Glenpool Police Department, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oologah Police Department, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the Skiatook Police Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Bristow Police Department, the Pryor Police Department, the Owasso Police Department, the Bartlesville Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations.
If you or someone you know is a victim of child exploitation, confidential help is available. Resources and contact information for child exploitation are available through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
August Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Christopher J. Nassar today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Tyler Jerrod Adams. Possession of Child Pornography. Adams, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-316
John Walter Barnes, Jr. Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse Without Consent in Indian Country. Barnes, 28, of Drumright and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child under 16 years old. He is additionally charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor child. The FBI and the Drumright Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-303
Abel Castro Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Castro Lopez, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2009, 2010, and twice in 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-302
Jennifer Michelle Childress. Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death; Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Childress, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly distributing fentanyl, which resulted in the death of Zachary Willis in December 2025. She knowingly and intentionally distributed fentanyl to Mr. Willis, who suffered serious bodily injury as a result. Lastly, Childress is charged with using a telephone for communication while drug trafficking and possessing fentanyl with intent for distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-304Gibran Antonio Chiprot Vargas. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Chiprot Vargas, 18, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-314
Walter Franklin Deerinwater. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying Firearms During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. Deerinwater, 35, of Salina, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking and possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-305
Carlos Deluna Ruvalcaba. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Deluna Ruvalcaba, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2008 and 2011. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-307
Mario Alejandro Gomez Uvalle. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Ammunition. Gomez Uvalle, 24, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Additionally, Gomez Uvalle is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-315
Austin Wayne Haley. Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country (Counts 1 through 10; and 12 through 17); Sexual Abuse without Consent in Indian Country (Count 11); Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition while Subject to a Protective Order (Count 18) (superseding). Haley, 30, of Bixby and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in unwanted sexual contact with the intent to degrade the victims for his own sexual gratification, and engaging in a sexual act without the victims' consent. Haley is alleged to have committed these acts during tattooing sessions, at both his house and his tattoo shop, Villain Ink Studios. Additionally, Haley possessed a firearm and ammunition knowing he was subject to a domestic violence protective order. The FBI and the Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-009Nathaniel Eugene Jumper. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Carjacking Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; Aggravated Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer in Indian Country. Jumper, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly forcing the victim to engage in sexual activity and placing them in fear of death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping. He unlawfully confined the victims against their will and took their vehicle by force, with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Lastly, Jumper willfully eluded a law enforcement officer and drove in a manner that endangers other people. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Vinita Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-317
Eduardo Ortega. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ortega, 57, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 1995, 2000, and 2007. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevion Freeman is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-306
Jose Panecatl Tecpoyotl. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Panecatl Tecpoyotl, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-308
Christopher J. Nassar Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of OklahomaRead the Press Release
Christopher J. Nassar was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma on August 14th, 2026, after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. “I want to thank President Trump, Senator Lankford, Senator Armstrong, and (former Senator) Secretary Mullin for having the confidence in me to serve and protect the citizens of the Northern District. I am grateful for their support throughout the nomination and confirmation process. With the exception of Washington, D.C., federal law enforcement in the Northern District of Oklahoma has a greater responsibility for public safety than any other district in the country. I am excited to lead this office and advance this important mission.”
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Nassar serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Oklahoma, overseeing all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States. The district spans 11 counties and includes 14 federally recognized Indian tribes. The Northern District is uniquely situated following the Supreme Court’s McGirt decision. As a result of that ruling, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting all Major Crimes occurring in Indian Country within the district, in addition to its traditional federal law enforcement responsibilities. Mr. Nassar leads a team of more than 130 attorneys and support professionals dedicated to carrying out this mission.
Mr. Nassar joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma in January 2018 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. In 2023, he was promoted to Deputy Criminal Chief, where he supervised investigations and prosecutions involving national security, cybercrime, child exploitation, human trafficking, and Project Safe Neighborhoods. He has prosecuted and tried a wide range of offenses, with concentrations in child exploitation, sex trafficking, cybercrime, Indian Country homicides and sexual assaults, gun crime, and national security cases. He has also served as the District’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, National Security Coordinator, and Crisis Management Coordinator. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Nassar served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina
Mr. Nassar is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and has served as an active duty and reserve judge advocate since 2009. On active duty, Mr. Nassar served as a trial counsel prosecuting criminal cases involving military members around the world, primarily concerning crimes against children and national security matters. In the reserves, Mr. Nassar has served as a victims’ legal counsel, cyber operational law advisor to USCYBERCOM, and a legal advisor to MARFORRES and MARFORSOUTH.
U.S. Attorney Nassar is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Additionally, he holds certifications as a Supervisory Litigator and a Master of Cyber, Intelligence, and Information Law from the US Marine Corps.
Tulsa Man Sentenced for Strangling GirlfriendRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced for strangling his girlfriend, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced Robert Alan Wickham, 39, of Tulsa, for Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Wickman was ordered to serve 46 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Wickman physically abused his girlfriend for years, as evidenced by a lengthy criminal history for domestic abuse. In June 2025, his girlfriend was subpoenaed to testify in a court proceeding about the abuse. Wickman’s girlfriend told him that she had been subpoenaed. A few days later, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police officers were dispatched to their home because Wickman struck and strangled his girlfriend again. This also violated a no-contact order that had been issued in a pending domestic violence case against Wickman in tribal court.
Court documents show that Wickman’s criminal history spans nearly 20 years and includes four prior domestic violence convictions.
Wickman is a citizen of the Navajo Tribe and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777
Felon Sentenced for Possessing Two Firearms within 35 DaysRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A transient man living in Tulsa was sentenced today after being arrested with a firearm on two separate occasions within 35 days, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced Matthew Champ Henry Dick, 32, for two counts of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Dick was ordered to serve 96 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In June 2025, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched to the scene of a one-car accident. Officers found Dick trying to leave the scene of the accident and believed he was under the influence of a controlled substance. When officers searched Dick, they found a loaded handgun in his waistband. After officers arrested Dick, they searched his vehicle and found cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a cash counter, a facemask, a spotting scope, a lockpick set, and credit cards not in Dick’s name. He was booked into State custody.
While Dick was out on bond, he cut off his monitoring device, and a state bench warrant was issued. In August 2025, U.S. Marshals with the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force found and arrested Dick and located another loaded firearm on his person.
Court dockets show that Dick has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple prior state convictions for being a felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm.
Dick will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced for Threatening to Shoot, Kill, Gun Down Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – While death threats against federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continue to rise, a Skiatook man was sentenced today after a federal jury found him guilty of posting on X threatening to shoot, kill, and gun down agents.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Logan Christopher Murfin, 26, to 21 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release.
In April 2026, Murfin was found guilty on ten counts. Five of the counts were for Threatening to Assault and Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate; and five counts of Interstate Communication with a Threat to Injure.
According to evidence presented at trial, agents with Homeland Security Investigations received an intelligence report in October 2025 flagging threatening posts made on the social media account X, about “gunning down” and shooting ICE agents. The threats were posted under the username “Azulenq.” Agents obtained search warrants to identify the user making these public online posts. The data collected from the search warrants was presented to the jury, which identified the X account user Azulenq as Murfin. The investigation showed that Murfin was posting threatening messages from his home in Skiatook.
Murfin was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025. After being arrested and mirandized, Murfin spoke with agents and stated he was angry and “pissed off” at ICE agents and admitted to making the posts on the X account. The jury heard a recording of the interview at trial.
When two agents from Homeland Security testified, they explained to the jury how serious the agency is taking the threats due to threats to agents increasing more than 1,000%. Some of the threatening posts were made on the official U.S. Homeland Security account on X, which has more than three million followers. When Murfin was making posts in September, an agent explained to the jury that a sniper opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. Exhibits presented to the jury showed that Murfin's posts were in response to other users' posts about ICE agents' activities in the community, including arrests and enforcement of federal law.
Public posts made by Murfin:
October 18, 2025: Need too start shooting these “just following orders” pigs. Ice agents are reenacting ww2 nazi germany and its not acceptable. Only good ice terrorist is buried 6 feet under.
October 17, 2025: Every ICE agent needs shot between the eyes “just following orders” isn’t acceptable and they already exposed they are human garbage.
October 17, 2025: Every ice gestapo needs too be shot. 2nd amendment right too carry everyone should stay armed and when these terrorists come by just kill them. They don’t deserve too live after “just following orders” we aren’t reliving ww2 germany. They don’t want due process so show em
September 28, 2025: Nah but we as US citizens should be gunning down these domestic terrorists. All ice gestapo can not use the “just following orders” excuse. If you’re complicit in this act you’ve gotta be executed for this act.
September 28, 2025: ice gestapo agents need to either be executed publicy. “just following orders” is not a valid excuse in modern daysCourt documents show that death threats to federal agents as of January 2026 have increased 8,000%, and assault threats have increased by 1,300%. Murfin will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Kelly, Stephen Scaife, and Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.
Bixby Man Convicted by Federal Jury for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted a Bixby man of possessing more than 220 images of child sexual abuse material, including an AI-generated and morphed video that he made of an identifiable toddler engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
After a 3-day trial, Aaron Chase Sanders, 28, was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography.
In January 2026, a Tulsa Police officer was dispatched in response to a possible child molestation report. When the officer arrived, they spoke with a woman who was messaging with Sanders on the social media app Snapchat. When the witness testified, she explained that their conversations became sexual; however, she felt uncomfortable when Sanders stated that he wanted to include a toddler in their sexual acts. She testified that Sanders messaged that the toddler had walked in on him having sex before and that it “turned him on.” The sexual messages shown to the jury showed that Sanders repeatedly asked if she wanted to come over for sex while he was with the toddler.
When the Tulsa Police officer testified, he explained to the jury that he read the messages between the woman and Sanders, and that the messages concerned him as well. He preserved the evidence and discovered that Sanders lived in Bixby and possibly had access to minor children. The officer contacted a detective with the Bixby Police Department. Both officers shared the same concern for the well-being of the children that Sanders possibly had access to.
A detective with the Bixby Police Department testified that they went to a home in Bixby to check on the children's well-being and verified that Sanders was not currently with the children. After executing search warrants, Sanders agreed to speak with the detective. During that conversation, Sanders admitted to chatting with the woman on Snapchat; however, downplayed it as “fantasy.” When the detective looked through Sanders' cellphone, they discovered additional conversations Sanders had with other women on the dating app Hinge, and that he possessed images and videos of children being sexually abused. The detective then collaborated with the Glenpool Police Department on extracting an exact copy of the data from Sanders' device.
A sergeant with the Glenpool Police Department explained to the jury that he is trained to extract data from electronic devices and that they help several police departments that may not have the funding or equipment to extract data. After an exact copy was made of Sanders' cell phone, they provided it back to the detective with the Bixby Police Department. He reviewed Sanders' phone data and flagged child sexual abuse material, including an AI-generated and morphed video of an identifiable toddler engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
An expert and agent with Homeland Security Investigations testified about the data he reviewed from Sanders' cellphone. The data was voluminous; however, the expert went through several examples and showed the jury that Sanders was actively seeking out child sexual abuse material online, viewing sample videos, downloading, and even purchasing it. The expert showed the jury some of the child sexual abuse material found on Sanders' phone and specified exactly when it was viewed and where it was saved on the phone. The jury was also shown the AI-morphed video that Sanders created of an identifiable toddler and adult woman performing a sexual act. The jury was also shown where the original photo was stored on Sanders' phone that he used to create the video. Prosecutors asked the expert if there was any proof that Sanders reported any child sexual abuse material that he “found” online to the local police or an official law enforcement agency. The expert said that there was no evidence that Sanders reported to a law enforcement agency from September 2025 through January 2026.
Two additional women testified about meeting Sanders through Hinge. They both explained to the jury that the conversations quickly became sexual. However, when Sanders began discussing that he wanted to include a toddler in their sexual acts, both women attempted to change the conversation and take the toddler out of the conversation. Both women testified that Sanders kept bringing the toddler back into the conversations. One woman told the prosecutors that she was afraid that Sanders would “catch a case” because of how he was texting. The other woman described a photo that Sanders sent her, which appeared to be taken in a child’s bedroom with his penis erect. She went on to explain that during a separate conversation, Sanders also discussed his “erection” while being with children.
The sexually explicit images of children found on Sanders' devices were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). They identified more than 220 images on Sanders’ devices. Forty-three minor children were identified in the child sexual abuse material. Sanders will remain in custody, and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The Bixby Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Glenpool Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Matt Cyran prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Tulsa Man Federally Indicted for Sexually Abusing Two VictimsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was indicted for sexually abusing and assaulting two victims under 16 years old.
Joseph Scott Warledo, 19, of Tulsa and a member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is charged with two counts of Sexual Abuse of an Incapable Victim; two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Court documents show that Warledo is charged with knowingly engaging in a sexual act with two minor victims physically incapable of being able to decline or communicate willingness in 2025.
The indictment alleges that Warledo knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor victim on three occasions, who was under the age of 16 while he was at least four years older. He is charged with assaulting a victim with a dangerous weapon and with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Warledo is accused of knowingly brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blithe Cravens is
prosecuting the case.An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a
court of law.August Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Adrian Barrera Quiroz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Barrera Quiroz, 42, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2007 and three times in 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-298
Levante Ladaniel Brewer. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Brewer, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-290
Jaleen Larenz Brown. Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment. Brown, 25, of Broken Arrow, is charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition knowing that it was unlawful to possess while under indictment for illegally possessing a machinegun. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Broken Arrow Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-289
David Wayne Burks, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Burks, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-296
Toan Chu. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Chu, 56, a Vietnamese national, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from December 2025 through April 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-288
Derick Jean Davis. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Davis, 48, of Salina, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-124
Abraham Mendez Mendez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mendez Mendez, 21, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2024. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-267
Terrance Dujuan Reed. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Reed, 34, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with kidnapping the victim and assaulting her with the intent to commit sexual abuse. He is further charged with aggravated sexual abuse and with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-287
Jesse Charles Ryan. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Ryan, 44, of Locust Grove, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm while drug trafficking and possessing a firearm knowing it was unlawful as a felon to possess a firearm. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Stephen Flynn are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-286
Heatherlee Jade Smith. Wire Fraud (Count 1); Unlawful Monetary Transactions (Counts 2 through 6); Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return (Counts 7 & 8). Smith, 34, of Skiatook, is charged with fraudulently directing at least $237,559.06 in payments from a law firm’s client to accounts she controlled. Smith made at least five financial transactions that were designed to conceal her unlawful activity. Lastly, Smith is charged with failing to report all her taxable income in 2021 and 2022. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, and the Skiatook Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Whipple is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-285
Martin Villicana Lopez; Haley Nicole Adair. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 & 5); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 3); Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 4). Villicana Lopez, 40, of Tulsa and a naturalized citizen of Mexico, and Adair, 28, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. They are also charged with two counts of knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Additionally, Villicana Lopez knowingly possessed a firearm while drug trafficking and possessed a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore, Valeria Luster, and Jorge Diaz-Guma is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-284
Owasso Man Sentenced for Receiving, Possessing, and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An Owasso man was sentenced today for receiving, possessing, and distributing videos of children being sexually abused, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Corey Michael John, 25, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. John was ordered to serve 121 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Further, John was ordered to pay $24,000 in restitution. Upon release, John will be required to register as a sex offender.
In 2025, an agent with the Homeland Security Investigations Detroit office was on the social media application Kik, in an undercover capacity. The agent was in several groups that were discussing the sexual exploitation of minor children. Court documents show that the agent received a private message requesting to trade child sexual abuse material. The user, later identified as John, sent the undercover agent 10 videos that showed minor children being sexually abused.
Agents obtained a search warrant to locate John and discovered that he lived in Owasso, Oklahoma. Agents served a search warrant at his home and seized his electronic devices. When agents interviewed John, he initially denied ever looking at child sexual abuse material. However, agents showed John the videos he possessed on his cellphone. He then admitted to talking with others online about child sexual abuse material, downloading it, and viewing it. Court documents show that John admitted to creating an alias username and attempting to frame someone else.
The child sexual abuse material found on John’s devices was sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. They identified 88 children whose images were previously identified and reported to NCMEC for cataloging. Those victims live in the United States and various parts of the world. They were notified and allowed to submit victim impact statements to the court. Restitution paid by John will go directly to the victims who requested restitution.
John will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Christopher Kelly prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Kellyville Man Sentenced After Agents Discovered He Was Receiving Illegal Drugs Through the MailRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Kellyville man was sentenced today for attempting to possess nearly a pound of methamphetamine for distribution and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Austin Dewayne Nation, 31, for Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. Nation was ordered to serve 210 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service began a targeted investigation in 2025 regarding controlled substance distribution. The investigation revealed that Nation was receiving illegal narcotics through the mail. Nation received numerous parcels of mail in a 60-day period from out of state.
When a package was delivered to the post office, a K9 deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s alerted its handler that drugs were inside the parcel. Agents obtained a search warrant for the package and discovered more than 445 grams of methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit pills. Agents swapped the drugs out and allowed the package to be delivered. Agents saw Nation receive the package at his home and detained him. After agents obtained a search warrant for Nation’s home in Kellyville, court records show they found additional drugs, scales, baggies, approximately $3,625 in cash, and two firearms.
Nation will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.
Habitual Abuser Sent to Prison for Assaulting Girlfriend and Coercing Her to Lie to Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A habitual domestic assault offender from Tulsa was sentenced for assaulting his girlfriend and coercing her to lie to law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jordi Monroe Ridgebear, 30, for Domestic Assault in Indian Country by a Habitual Offender and Witness Tampering by Corrupt Persuasion. Ridgebear was ordered to serve 45 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In 2024, Ridgebear and his girlfriend were drinking. They began arguing, and his girlfriend called 911. Court documents say that she can be heard on the 911 call telling Ridgebear to get off her and asking him to leave. Ridgebear can be heard saying that he will hit her. When officers arrived, she told them that Ridgebear shoved her, put his hands around her throat, pulled her hair, and punched her. Officers arrested Ridgebear for domestic violence.
While in jail, Ridgebear contacted the victim numerous times. He told the victim not to cooperate with law enforcement and to file an affidavit recanting the allegations, hoping the charges would be dropped. Additionally, Ridgebear attempted to persuade her not to testify before the grand jury.
Court documents show that Ridgebear has had eight arrests for domestic violence. In 2017, Ridgebear was convicted of domestic abuse, and in 2020, he was convicted of domestic assault with a dangerous weapon.
Ridgebear will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777
Inmate Sentenced for Leading Drug Conspiracy from PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An inmate in federal prison was sentenced today for Drug Conspiracy after coordinating the delivery of nearly five kilograms of cocaine to the Tulsa area, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Rafael Gonzalez, 33, to 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into individuals bringing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into Tulsa, Oklahoma. The investigation revealed that Gonzalez coordinated with other inmates and people outside of prison to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Court documents show that he coordinated the delivery of nearly five kilograms of cocaine to the Tulsa area and drug proceeds to various locations in Texas.
Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. This sentence is to run consecutively to Gonzalez's previous federal case where he was conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine from the Department of Corrections.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Tulsa comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma
July Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
David Michael Brown. Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Brown, 32, of Mounds, is charged with possessing visual images depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The Creek County Sheriff’s Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-270
Quentin Robert Cahoon. Drug Conspiracy; Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Cahoon, 31, of Miami, is charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Feb. 2025 through Apr. 2026. Further, Cahoon knowingly attempted to possess methamphetamine for the purpose of distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Miami Police Department, the Wyandotte Nation Police Department, and the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-271
Franklin Earl Frazier, II. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (Counts 1 & 4); Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age (Counts 2, 3 & 5) (superseding). Frazier, 46, of Bristow, is charged with knowingly engaging in a sexual act with two minor children under 12 years old. He is additionally charged with knowingly causing abusive sexual contact with three minor children under 12 years old. The FBI and the Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Blithe Cravens are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-092
Jonathan Charles Hicks. Carjacking; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Aggravated Eluding a Police Officer in Indian Country. Hicks, 35, a transient and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with taking a motor vehicle from the victim by force and violence with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Hicks allegedly Additionally, Hicks is charged with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and endangering others while eluding a law enforcement officer who was driving a marked official vehicle. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-273
Cody Lane Killion. Carjacking; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Hobbs Act Robbery; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence. Killion, 35, a transient and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with taking a motor vehicle from the victim by force and violence with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. Killion allegedly brandished a firearm during crimes of violence and possessed a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Additionally, Killion obstructed interstate commerce by robbery, assaulted the victims with a dangerous weapon, and brandished a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-274
Angel Manuel Lopez Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez Castro, 27, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2019 and twice in 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-272
Francisco Ramon Lopez Leyva. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez Leyva, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2019 and 2022. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-275
Samuel Diaz Ramos. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Diaz Ramos, 35, a Honduran national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2010. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-276
Aaron Chase Sanders. Possession of Child Pornography (superseding). Sanders, 28, of Bixby, is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bixby Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Matt Cyran are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-117
Sperry Man Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Sperry man was sentenced for distributing methamphetamine and witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Aaron Mitchell Robinson, 51, to 132 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In July 2025, the FBI began investigating Robinson for selling methamphetamine from his residence in Sperry. Agents conducted controlled buys from Robinson, who took cash for more than a pound of methamphetamine. During one controlled buy, Robinson was seen in possession of two firearms. When agents served a search warrant at Robinson’s home, they recovered two firearms and ammunition, $1,660 in cash, and evidence consistent with drug use and drug trafficking.
Robinson’s plea agreement shows that he also admitted to contacting a witness on social media and attempted to persuade them not to testify as a witness.
Court records show that Robinson had been previously arrested several times and had previous felony convictions for stealing a plane, using a motor vehicle without permission, and possessing stolen property.
Robinson will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.
Chouteau Man Sentenced for Driving Impaired and Causing Fatal Car WreckRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Chouteau man was sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country after driving impaired and causing a fatal car wreck, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Tyler Ray Thompson, 29, to 64 months' imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
The investigation revealed that in March 2024, Thompson began his day by consuming methamphetamine and marijuana. Thompson had never held a valid driver’s license and told investigators that he usually drove only in neighborhoods. On the date of the incident, he claims that his significant other, Nancy Moore, drove them to her dentist’s appointment but could not drive afterward because she was under anesthesia. After Thompson purchased more marijuana, he attempted to drive on a busy highway. On the drive home, he failed to stop at a red light and struck the rear end of a tractor-trailer while driving at approximately 57 miles per hour. Nancy Moore died from blunt force trauma.
The toxicology report confirmed that Thompson had methamphetamine, amphetamine, THC, hydroxy-THC, and THCA in his blood when he was treated at the hospital shortly after the crash.
Thompson is a citizen of the Muskogee Creek Nation. He was previously released on bond but was taken into custody after violating the terms of his pretrial release in July. Court documents show that after pleading guilty and while awaiting sentencing for this offense, he tested positive for marijuana eight times, for amphetamines seven times, failed to appear for required drug tests, and missed six scheduled mental-health treatment appointments. Thompson will remain in custody, pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and the Pryor Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn prosecuted the case.
Former Hominy Bookkeeper Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A former Hominy bookkeeper was sentenced today for Bank Fraud after stealing more than $393k from a family business, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Susan Marie Garrison, 54, of Sand Springs, to 33 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $393,025.09 in restitution.
From 2017 through 2022, Garrison was a trusted bookkeeper handling the finances for a family business in Hominy. Court documents show that her duties include managing financial activities, bank accounts, and preparing records. In total, Garrison admitted to writing more than 240 checks to herself, all of which she cashed and deposited into her own checking accounts.
Garrison was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.
Prior Felon from Locust Grove Sentenced to More than Twenty Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Locust Grove man was sentenced today for possessing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm while drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Jason Dewayne Glass, 42, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Glass was ordered to serve 248 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In September 2024, Cherokee Nation Marshals executed a search warrant at Glass’s home. During a search of his home, Marshals found 88 grams of methamphetamine and numerous firearms. In the plea agreement, Glass admitted to knowing he was not allowed to carry a firearm and that he carried a loaded pistol on him for protection while selling methamphetamine.
At sentencing, the Court found sufficient evidence to show that Glass had used one of the firearms during the commission of an aggravated sexual assault, and that the victim sustained serious bodily injury. Court documents show that Glass has a lengthy criminal history. He has a prior conviction for manufacturing a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assaulting a police officer, pointing a firearm at law enforcement, and being shot in return, as well as numerous assault and battery convictions.
Glass will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Cherokee National Marshal Service investigated the case with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
Owasso Man Charged with Killing One Man and Injuring Three Others in Fatal Car WreckRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An indictment was unsealed today charging an Owasso man with killing Brian Bizzell and injuring three others in a fatal car wreck.
Christopher Robert Chaney, 52, of Owasso, is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; and Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country.
According to court documents, on September 30, 2025, Chaney was allegedly driving a motor vehicle on a public road while speeding, failed to obey traffic lights, and was driving after consuming hydrocodone and cannabis. Court documents show that Brian Bizzell was killed, two others were seriously injured, and one victim was wounded in the fatal accident.
Chaney is a member of the Cherokee Nation
The FBI and the Owasso Police Department are investigating the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
July Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Craig Thornton Bissell. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Bissell, 64, a Canadian national, is charged with knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Additionally, Bissell is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-258
Marco Antonio Cordova Morales. Drug Conspiracy. Cordova Morales, 19, a Guatemalan national, is charged with conspiring with others to possess and distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-262
Jacob Koran Dake. First Degree Murder in Indian Country (Counts 1 & 3); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 2); Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country (Count 4) (superseding). Dake, 25, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with deliberately killing McKaylah Cunningham in Dec. 2025 and Steve Norman in Mar. 2026. He is charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of storing, distributing, and using controlled substances. Lastly, Dake allegedly strangled a victim in Jul. 2022 with intent to commit murder. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nasar and Valeria Luster are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-119
Rafael Diaz Blett; Raul Manuel Almarales Rodriguez; Raudelis Columbie Ferrer. Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud (Count 1); Possession of Fifteen or More Counterfeit Access Devices (Counts 2 & 5); Possession of Device Making Equipment (Counts 3 & 6); Illegal Transportation of Hazardous Material (Counts 4 & 9); Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition (Count 7); Use of Counterfeit Access Device (Count 8). Diaz Blett, 31, Almarales Rodriguez, 40, and Columbie Ferrer, 24, all Cuban nationals, are charged with conspiring together to install and use skimming devices to purchase fuel. Diaz Blett and Almarales Rodriguez are charged with possessing more than 15 counterfeit credit cards. Diaz Blett and Columbie Ferrer willfully transported a hazardous material in violation of the Department of Transportation rules and regulations. Almarales Rodriguez is additionally charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Lastly, Columbie Ferrer is charged with knowingly possessing a cloned credit card. Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation, and IRS Criminal Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-251
Luis Garcia Ambriz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia Ambriz, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2009 and once in 2010. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-257
Efren Garcia. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia, 26, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2010 and 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-259
Jose Luis Hernandez Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez Lopez, 29, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2024. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-260
Jose Miguel Malerva Herver. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Malerva Herver, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Flynn and Mike Flesher are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-252
Arturo Oliva Moreno. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Oliva Moreno, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2009, once in 2011, and in 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-265
Lucio Perez Mendias. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez Mendias, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2009, 2017, and 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-253
Cesar Uriel Rodriguez Martinez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Rodriguez Martinez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-261
Ryan Thomas Salisbury. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Salisbury, 46, of Norman, is charged with attempting to entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-264Mexican National with Prior Drug Trafficking Conviction SentencedRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for unlawfully residing in the United States and possessing a loaded firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Bryan Abisai Costeira Hernandez, 28, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Costeira Hernandez was ordered to serve 41 months' imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Upon release, Costeira Hernandez is expected to face removal proceedings.
According to court documents, in January 2026, Costeira Hernandez was pulled over for a traffic violation. Unable to verify the identification that Costeira Hernandez provided to officers, he was detained. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded firearm and drugs. After officers placed him in handcuffs, Costeira Hernandez attempted to run away from the officers. While transporting Costeira Hernandez to jail, he told officers that he provided a false name and admitted that he was previously deported for unlawfully being in the United States.
State court records show that Costeira Hernandez has several pending charges, including possessing a stolen vehicle, obstruction, and possession of a controlled substance. Costeira Hernandez previously pleaded guilty in two separate felony cases for possessing a stolen vehicle, trafficking illegal drugs, resisting, obstruction, among other charges. In both cases, he received suspended sentences and was removed from the United States in 2022.
Costeira Hernandez will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.
Tulsa Couple Sentenced for Coercing a Minor Child into Having Sex and Recording ItRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa couple was sentenced for admitting to coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct while they recorded it, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Ryan Leon French, 47, and Lexie Renne French, 44. Ryan was sentenced for Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography and ordered to serve 365 months' imprisonment. Lexie was also sentenced for Production of Child Pornography and was ordered to serve 240 months' imprisonment. Upon their release, Ryan and Lexie will be required to register as sex offenders and will be supervised for life. They were separately ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
In March 2025, the FBI was contacted by the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) regarding a police report filed by Lexie French. She reported that her husband, Ryan French, was attempting to blackmail her. Lexie initially reported that Ryan forced her to use cocaine and perform “sexual acts” on minor children. When law enforcement and OKDHS began investigating the claims, Lexie began changing her story.
Two days later, law enforcement found Lexie and Ryan. Court documents show that Lexie and Ryan both admitted to persuading and coercing a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct and recording it. Ryan told law enforcement that he could view and save sexual acts that he told Lexie to perform through a home security system.
They will both remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon and Melody Nelson prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Pryor Couple Who Fled to Montana Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing a 15-Year-OldRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted a Pryor couple who fled to Montana to avoid prosecution for sexually
abusing a 15-year-old.The federal jury unanimously decided that Larry Keith Tennison, 67, and Gretchen Francie Tennison, 48, a member of the Cherokee Nation, were both found guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the minor victim disclosed to a family member in 2019 that the Tennisons would get her drunk and sexually abuse her. The family met with the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and disclosed the abuse. Deputies served a search warrant at the Tennisons' home in September 2020. They were charged with child sexual abuse in State court, quickly sold some of their possessions, and moved to Montana. Law enforcement discovered that Gretchen and the minor victim were tribal. Federal prosecutors indicted the Tennisons under seal in May 2021, and the court issued federal
arrest warrants.More than five years later, law enforcement received a tip that Gretchen and Larry had been spotted in Columbus, Montana, using the aliases “Fran Smith” and “Keith Smith.” The deputies with the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office in Montana confirmed they were, in fact, Larry and Gretchen Tennison. Agents with the FBI arrested them.
When the victim testified before the jury, she described being groomed by the Tennisons and the things they would buy her. Eventually, they started offering her grape or apple flavored alcohol when she was 15 years old. She testified to being intoxicated and drinking to the point of stumbling or throwing up. During one incident, she testified that she was the only person invited by the Tennisons to celebrate Larry’s 60th birthday. She went on describing in detail how the Tennisons both sexually abused her.
A deputy with the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office testified and described what was found in the Tennisons’ home after the search. When deputies searched the home, they found various sex toys and a jar of purple and green beer bottle caps that the Tennisons saved, matching the victim's description. An FBI agent testified about the meeting with the victim and how she described the events that took place when she was 15 years old.
The federal jury then heard Larry’s interview with FBI agents after he was arrested. Larry described quickly selling their property and planning to drive to Florida to buy a boat to live on, but then tropical storms hit. He described dumping their cellphones, living in their van in the desert, and in various parks before eventually going to Montana. When they got to Montana, Larry said they came up with alias names, and he started working as a handyman.
When agents asked how he knew about the warrants, Larry described going home after the search warrant and discovering that Gretchen was arrested for keying a car. He met with an attorney to help secure Gretchen's bond and showed the attorney the search warrant. Larry claimed he didn’t know what the search warrant was for. When agents asked if he knew what the warrant was for now, Larry said they “were accused of doing something to a girl.” Without being told who the victim was, Larry began describing how he knew the minor victim. He explained how the minor victim started staying the night with them, and that he felt like “they didn’t have a chance…because of her side of the story…” The jury heard Larry describing multiple details that were not in public court documents.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The FBI and the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office
in Montana.Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Christopher Kelly prosecuted the case.
NDOK Announces Charges Related to the 2026 National Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, United States Attorney Clint Johnson announced a criminal charge and a civil complaint in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and the Child Care Development Block Grant Program. These charges are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
The National Health Care Fraud Takedown (Takedown) is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history.
In the Northern District of Oklahoma, Jeremy Michael Bowles, 41, of Bixby, Oklahoma, was charged by Indictment with 16 counts of Healthcare Fraud. Court documents allege that Bowles was the operator of 3 pharmacies and submitted the false billings on behalf of those pharmacies, which he controlled. In doing so, Bowles allegedly attempted to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by submitting false claims for reimbursement for COVID-19 tests.
Additionally, a civil forfeiture complaint was filed against real property located at 6303 and 6311 Tecumseh Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Court documents allege that Tamara and Qunicy Reid, brother and sister, and Dameion Ray are owners of the properties. In December 2022, Dameion Ray applied for a Child Care Desert Grant. This federal funding is part of the Child Care Development Block Grant Program and is awarded through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Dameion Ray was allegedly awarded $600,000 and improperly used approximately $300,000 of those funds to purchase the subject real property.
Nationally, during the two-week Takedown, law enforcement received unprecedented international cooperation that resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctors’ offices to corporate boardrooms.
This coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
- Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
- 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
- Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
- 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.
The cases within the Northern District of Oklahoma are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Greenough, Reagan Reininger, and David Whipple. They worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed: The Office of the Inspector General – Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the United States Secret Service is the investigative agency, with assistance from the Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy.
Descriptions of cases involved in the Takedown are available on the Department’s website here. The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia participated in the investigation of federal cases announced.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IT Group Agrees to Repay $7 Million in CARES Act FundingRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A civil settlement was unsealed showing that a group of IT companies agreed to pay $7 million after receiving funding from the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program for which they were ineligible, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
In 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly known as the “CARES Act.” Qualifying businesses were authorized to obtain a forgivable disaster loan to preserve jobs in industries impacted by COVID-19. When the CARES Act was amended, applicants were allowed to seek a second round of disaster relief funding, with eligibility limited to small businesses with 300 or fewer employees.
Under the Federal False Claims Act, private individuals act as qui tam, “whistleblowers,” and may bring lawsuits against entities that have committed fraud against the government. A qui tam Civil Complaint was filed by GNGH2, Inc. in December 2024, alleging that Speridian Technologies LLC, BenefitAlign, LLC, Xelleration LLC, TrueCoverage LLC, Business Advantage Consulting Inc., and Helix Business Solutions LLC (Speridian Group) violated the False Claims Act. The principal locations for the businesses are Washington, New Mexico, California, and Tennessee. Court documents show that the Speridian Group allegedly employed more than 300 people and provides various IT and internet-based services globally.
The Speridian Group companies each sought a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the CARES Act in 2021 and 2022. Collectively, the companies within Speridian Group received $4,896,758.73 in loans processed by BOK Financial, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After receiving the funds, they applied for and received forgiveness for each loan.
In the Settlement Agreement, the Speridian Group admitted that they were members of a single corporate group for purposes of determining PPP loan eligibility and exceeded the 300-employee threshold. As a result, they received a second PPP loan that was forgiven, even though they were not eligible. To resolve the civil claims against it, the Speridian Group agreed to pay the United States $7,000,000, of which $5,101,881.63 is restitution. After the restitution is paid to the Small Business Administration, the United States will pay GNGH2, Inc. $700,000 as its statutory share under the False Claims Act for bringing the suit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Cooper represented the Northern District of Oklahoma, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel assisted in the litigation of this case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
June Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Joel Alvarado Davila. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Alvarado Davila, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2013 and on three separate occasions in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-240
Miguel Guadalupe Aquino Paez; Jose Alfredo Razon Rodriguez. Drug Conspiracy; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Aquino Paez, 25, and Razon Rodriguez, 20, both Mexican nationals, are charged with conspiring with each other and others to distribute fentanyl and maintaining a residence for drug distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-227
Reynaldo Balboa Longoria. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Balboa Longoria, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in April 2008. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-238
Erick Omar Cedano Navarro. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Cedano Navarro, 26, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-224
Cody Joe Cobler. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country. Cobler, 43, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with strangling his intimate dating partner. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-225
Levi Edward Dalton. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Dalton, 25, of Sapulpa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Creek County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-242
Benton Staffaun Turner Dorsey. Cyberstalking. Dorsey, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with using electronic devices to cause substantial emotional distress to two victims. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Steve Briden are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-241
Devin Kelly Hartzell. Escape from Federal Custody. Hartzell, 31, a transient, is charged with escaping federal custody and knowingly departing the Turley Residential Center without permission. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-235
Fernando Jorge Garcia. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Jorge Garcia, 56, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2010 and 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-239
David Martinez Moralez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Martinez Moralez, 48, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2007 and 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dill is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-237
Nobeli Valentin Montes Zuniga. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Montes Zuniga, 27, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-236
Zachary Christian Speegle. Receipt of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country; Cyberstalking. Speegle, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly receiving and possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He is additionally charged with using a computer to harass and intimidate a minor child. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-243
Gary Wayne Stancle, Jr.; Grace Oliva. Felon in Possession of Firearms; Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Stancle, 40, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing firearms knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Stancle and Oliva, 26, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring with each other to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and intentionally possessing cocaine for distribution. Oliva is charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of drug distribution. Stancle is additionally charged with possessing methamphetamine for distribution and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-228
Diosdado Zadiu Ramirez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Zadiu Ramirez, 22, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-226
Adrien Jesse Zorrilla. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Zorrilla, 25, a transient, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from August 2025 through June 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-223
Mexican National Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jose Guadalupe Naranjo Cruz, 29, to 78 months' imprisonment. Upon his release, Naranjo Cruz is expected to face removal proceedings. If Naranjo Cruz returns to the United States lawfully, he would be required to register as a sex offender and would be supervised for life by the United States Probation Office.
In August 2025, Homeland Security Investigations was contacted by the United States Consulate in Mexico regarding Naranjo Cruz having an inappropriate relationship with a minor child. Agents began investigating Naranjo Cruz and discovered that he had an outstanding warrant after he had previously been ordered to leave the United States in 2024. Agents detained Naranjo Cruz and seized numerous electronic devices from his home during the investigation. On the devices, agents found 148 images and 22 videos of child sexual abuse material, including videos of minors under the age of 12 and infants being sexually abused.
Naranjo Cruz will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the assistance of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A child sexual predator living in Collinsville was sentenced today for recording children in the bathroom and for seeking out and possessing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Thomas Joshua Keizer, 34, for two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. Keizer was ordered to pay $11,000 in restitution and serve 300 months' imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Keizer will be required to register as a sex offender.
In November 2024, Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Court documents show that Keizer used Discord, the social media application, to have sexually graphic messages with a minor child who was only 12 years old. The investigation revealed that Keizer sought out minor children to groom and have sexually explicit conversations with.
When agents executed a search warrant at his home, they recovered several electronic devices in the home. Agents reviewed the contents of the devices and found that Keizer possessed 568 images and 11 videos of children being sexually abused, including prepubescent children and toddlers being forced to have sexually explicit acts with adults.
Agents further discovered that Keizer had hidden a recording device in a bathroom to capture children using the restroom. Court records show that from July 2020 through August 2024, Keizer captured more than 1,835 images of two additional minor children under the age of 10 years old.
The child sexual abuse material found on Keizer’s devices was sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. They identified 13 children whose images were previously identified and reported to NCMEC for cataloging. They were notified and allowed to submit victim impact statements to the court. Restitution paid by Keizer will go directly to the victims who requested restitution.
Keizer will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Homeland Security Investigations and the Collinsville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Mannford Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mannford man was sentenced today for Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Thomas William Martin, 42, to 360 months' imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Martin will be required to register as a sex offender. Lastly, Martin was ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution.
According to court documents and statements during the sentencing, the Broken Arrow Police Department began investigating Martin in 2024 after receiving reports that he had inappropriate contact with minor children. After detectives executed a search warrant on Martin’s devices, they discovered 1,132 images of children, including infants, being raped and abused. Detectives discovered that Martin had taken sexually explicit images of children under his care.
The child sexual abuse material found on Martin’s devices was sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. They identified 97 children whose images were previously identified and reported to NCMEC for cataloging. Those victims live in the United States and various parts of the world. They were notified and allowed to submit victim impact statements to the court. Restitution paid by Martin will go directly to the victims who requested restitution.
Martin will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
June Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the June Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Elmer Jeovanni Argueta Alejo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Argueta Alejo, 43, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-216
James Casey Bell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Bell, 29, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-209Wilman Caballero Ramirez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Caballero Ramirez, 36, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2011, 2019, and 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-206
Abel Guerra Morataya. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Guerra Morataya, 45, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2005, 2006, and 2015. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Kelly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-217
James Dale Hall, Jr. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hall, 41, of Tulsa, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from February 2026 through the date of the Indictment. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-219Socorro Magallanes Medrano; Marco Flores Sanchez. Distribution of Cocaine (Counts 1 through 6); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Count 7); Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony (Counts 8 through 20). Magallanes Medrano, 58, and Flores Sanchez, 39, both Mexican nationals, are charged with knowingly distributing cocaine and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. They are additionally charged with using a cellphone to discuss drug distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-210
Marty Lee Martin. Production of Child Pornography. Martin, 55, of Glenpool, is charged with using a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-218
Enderbeth Jose Martinez. False Statement to Acquire a Firearm. Martinez, 31, a Venezuelan national, is charged with attempting to purchase a firearm and claiming that he was not an alien or unlawfully in the United States when he was unlawfully in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-208
Ariel Gustavo Mejia Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mejia Perez, 50, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2007 and 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augusta Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-207
Deoyonte Moore. Illegal Possession of a Machinegun; Possession of an Unregistered Weapon Made from a Rifle with an Overall Length of Less Than 26 Inches; Robbery in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence (superseding). Moore, 24, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing a handgun fitted with a machinegun conversion device. He is charged with possessing an unregistered 9mm rifle modified to be less than 26 inches. Additionally, Moore is charged with taking property of value from the victim by force and possessing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-083
Geovanny Alexander Pineda Cubias. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes (superseding). Pineda Cubias, 25, an El Salvadoran national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He knowingly possessed cocaine with intent to distribute and knowingly maintained a residence for drug distribution. Lastly, Pineda Cubias possessed firearms while trafficking drugs. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher and Stephen Flynn are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-075
Cleveland, Oklahoma, Man Charged with Threatening to Assault and Murder a United States Senator and His FamilyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, an indictment was unsealed charging a Cleveland, Oklahoma, man with eight counts related to threatening to assault and murder a Senator and his family.
David Glen Shuck, 63, is charged with three counts of Threatening to Assault and Murder a Member of Congress with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate; three counts of Interstate Communication with a Threat to Injure; and two counts of Threatening to Assault and Murder an Immediate Family of a Member of Congress with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate.
Court documents show that Shuck called a United States Senator on three separate occasions in March 2026. Shuck is charged with allegedly attempting to interfere and retaliate against a Senator by threatening to kill him and his family members.
The United States Capitol Police and the FBI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Michel and Stephane Ihler are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a
court of law.This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
Fired Middle School Teacher Arrested on Charges of Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A teacher who lives in Tulsa and worked at the Tulsa Honor Academy and Dove Science Academy was arrested today and charged with Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of or Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.
In February 2026, the Tulsa Police Department received a report regarding allegations of a lewd or indecent proposal by Zachary Christian Speegle, 32, towards a student at the Tulsa Honor Academy. Court documents show that Speegle was employed as a teacher at the Tulsa Honor Academy. Allegedly, Speegle befriended a new student at school and pressured the minor child to provide their phone number and requested nude photographs, but the minor child declined.
The Tulsa Police Department served a residential search warrant at Speegle’s home and collected several electronic devices. Court documents show that during the initial review of Speegle’s devices, officers found more than 8,000 files with recognizable child sexual abuse material, also known as child pornography. The images include prepubescent children, toddlers, and infants being sexually abused. Additionally, officers found more than 6,000 files of child erotica and age-difficult sexual abuse material.
Court documents show that prosecutors are requesting that Speegle be held because he is a danger to others in the community. Although there are no minor children living with Speegle, one image provided to the court shows that during the search of Speegle’s home, officers found children’s panties belonging to four and six-year-olds that Speegle stole from a friend's home.
A second screenshot provided to the court shows a text message conversation between Speegle and a minor child. Speegle told the child, “I would literally rob 10 banks and kill 100 people to get [MV] back.”
A 2012 report to Congress about child pornography offenses defines child erotica as legal images or stories that are about children and of a sexual nature. Images may be overtly sexual and show children in inappropriate clothing or positions, or use of the image or video in an inappropriate manner. For example, some child pedophiles use catalog images of children in bathing suit advertisements for child erotica purposes.
State court dockets show that Speegle was charged in state court and arrested in March 2026 for lewd molestation/indecent proposal to a child and aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material. Speegle was allowed to post bond.
Speegle will be held until his detention hearing, which is set for a later date.
The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case with assistance from Tulsa Public Schools. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Augustus Forster and Stephanie Ihler are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing Rocket Launcher, Drugs, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A prior felon living in Tulsa was sentenced today for possessing a spent military rocket launcher, drugs, and firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour sentenced Deangelo LaShawn Favors, 48, for Felon in Possession of Firearms; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Favors was ordered to serve 360 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In 2024, agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics began an investigation into bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution in Oklahoma. Agents received a tip in the fall of 2024 that stated Favors was storing bulk quantities of fentanyl in Tulsa. A tracker was placed on Favors' vehicle, which led agents to his apartment and storage unit. When agents executed a search warrant on Favors' apartment and storage unit, they found a spent military rocket launcher that belonged to the United States, several firearms, more than 1.9 pounds of fentanyl, more than 4.4 pounds of cocaine, and over 14 pounds of methamphetamine.
Court records show that Favors has been convicted of several felonies, including aggravated assault, illegal drug and firearm possession in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. Favors will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Division of Drug Enforcement, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tulsa Field Office, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.
May Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Gustavo Barranco Labastida. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Barranco Labastida, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in July 2014. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-190
Agustin Alberto Becerra Ambriz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Becerra Ambriz, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in September 2013. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-195
Aaron Michael Bennett. Manufacturing a Controlled Substance; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Bennett, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with intentionally manufacturing a controlled substance, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Further, Bennett is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard are assisting in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-198
Miguel Cerrato Argueta. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cerrato Argueta, 24, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-196
Juan Cornelio Gomez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cornelio Gomez, 47, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in June 2010 and August 2015. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-200
Marcellino James Davis, Jr. Felon in Possession of Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Davis, 40, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Additionally, Davis is charged with assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The Broken Arrow Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-199
Roger Fuentes Ramos. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Fuentes Ramos, 31, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed twice in 2014 and in 2017. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-188
Terry Joe Hicks. First Degree Felony Murder in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Hicks, 34, of Vinita and a member of the Wyandotte Nation, is charged with killing Robin Sharp with malice during a burglary. He is charged with breaking into an occupied dwelling to commit a crime and assaulting Robin Sharp with a firearm. Lastly, Hicks brandished and discharged a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Grove Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Blithe Cravens are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-179
Christopher Brandon Kay. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Kay, 26, of Sand Springs and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Further, Kay is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-180
Melisa Susan Kyle. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Kyle, 46, of Crane, Missouri, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-189
Francisco Javier Pantoja Santillan. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Pantoja Santillan, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed three times in 2001, once in 2009, and once in 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-202
Servando Perez Arrollo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez Arrollo, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2008, twice in 2009, and 2013. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-197
Willie Carl Stanley. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Stanley, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-203Jamie Lynn Stephens. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Conspiracy to Tamper with Evidence by Engaging Misleading Conduct. Stephens, 48, of Miller, Missouri, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Further, Stephens is charged with knowingly misleading another person in an attempt to alter or destroy evidence on a cellular device. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-187
Victor Varona Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Varona Lopez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in 2011, 2012, three times in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022. He is additionally charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intention of distributing. Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-181
Andrew Cordario Wagoner. Escape from Federal Custody. Wagoner, 24, transient, is charged with escaping federal custody and knowingly departing the Turley Residential Center without permission. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-182
Henry Adam Watashe. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Watashe, 35, of Sapulpa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-204
Camille Jordan Winchester. Production of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Winchester, 36, of Mounds and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with using a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, he is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children and knowingly engaging in a sexually explicit act with a child under 12 years old. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-183
Phaylen Lloyd Yellow Robe. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Yellow Robe, 34, of Tulsa and a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, is charged with strangling an intimate dating partner. He is charged with threatening to inflict injury on two victims and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-201
Gang Member and Prior Felon Sentenced for Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A gang member and prior felon was sentenced for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Micah Jordan Mims, aka Micah Jordan Lester, 34, of Tulsa, to 46 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in April 2023, 911 received a call saying that Mims was waving around a gun and that he had outstanding warrants. When Tulsa Police officers arrived on scene, they were unable to locate Mims. Officers ran a records check and discovered that Mims is a certified gang member who had outstanding warrants for probation violations in Tulsa and felony theft in Kansas.
Based on that information, officers obtained a search warrant for Mims’s social media account and his home. Mims’s social media photos showed him with a firearm and supported that he was selling and trading firearms. When officers executed a search warrant on his home, they found a loaded firearm hidden in his car in the garage. When officers spoke with Mims, he admitted that the firearm was his.
Court dockets show that Mims previously pleaded guilty in Tulsa in 2015 for unlawful possession of controlled drugs with intent to distribute, leaving the scene of a collision involving property damage, and for misdemeanor larceny from a retailer. In Kansas, court dockets show that Mims was previously convicted for felony theft and a misdemeanor protective order violation.
Mims will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.
Homeland Security Task Force Wrapped up the Prosecution of Seven Illegal Aliens from Guatemala that Smuggled Aliens into the United StatesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – The last of seven illegal aliens from Guatemala was sentenced for working together and being paid to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States from Guatemala, Mexico, and other countries in Central or South America, including Asia.
From October 2021 through April 2025, the ringleader, Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez (Cidia), conspired with the defendants and other individuals throughout the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico to conceal, harbor, and transport unlawful aliens in the United States. Those aliens were from various countries in Central America, South America, and Asia.
Court documents show that Cidia used a social media application to coordinate payment to conspirators in Guatemala in exchange for transportation. The aliens were transported from Guatemala and housed in Mexico until they could cross the United States-Mexico border unlawfully. Once inside the United States, drivers and stash house operators in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas would conceal the alien. Cidia admitted that the drivers would collect payment at her direction and transport the aliens to various stash houses in Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
The indictment filed in April 2025 alleged that each alien would pay roughly $5,000 to be smuggled into the United States. All money collected from the aliens being transported was deposited into bank accounts accessible to Cidia and others. She then admitted to using those funds to purchase vehicles and real estate property. Court records show that Cidia forfeited three trucks and two ATVs that were seized during the execution of a search warrant in Oklahoma City on April 24, 2025. Additionally, Cidia is forfeiting all interest and property contained in two separate homes in Oklahoma City and three different properties in Sequoyah County.
The following defendants were sentenced for Conspiracy to Bring and Transport Aliens in the United States Illegally for Private Financial Gain:
- Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez, 40, living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was ordered to serve 33 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Cidia Lima Lopez forfeited her interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States.
- Ottoniel Castro Argueta, 33, the husband of Cidia, also living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was ordered to serve 51 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Castro Argueta forfeited his interest in the vehicles and properties listed above.
- Veronica Maribel Lima Lopez, 34, living in Oklahoma City, was ordered to serve 12 months and one day imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Additionally, Veronica Lima Lopez forfeited her interest in the vehicles listed above and $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States.
- Ariz Obdulio Argueta, 30, living in Clarksville, Arkansas, was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Obdulio Argueta was additionally ordered to three years of supervised release and forfeited his interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States.
- Pedro Cucul Gualna, 26, living in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was arrested in April 2025 and released in April 2026 after being ordered to time served. He was additionally ordered to one year of supervised release.
- Carlos Enrique Ramos Caal, 31, living in Flagstaff, Arizona, was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Ramos Caal was additionally ordered to two years of supervised release
Additionally, Cesar Rodolfo Garcia Argueta, 21, living in Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced for Attempt to Bring an Alien to the United States Illegally from Private Financial Gain. He was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Garcia Argueta was additionally ordered to three years of supervised release and forfeited his interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States. Charges against Esvin Alexander Rodriguez Luis, 27, living in Oklahoma City, were dismissed in October 2025.
All of the defendants were unlawfully present in the United States. They are expected to be deported after removal proceedings following their sentences.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Flagstaff, and Charlotte offices comprise of agents and officers from the Tulsa, McAlester and Greensboro, North Carolina Drug Enforcement Administration field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City IRS field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations field offices; and the U.S. Marshals offices in the Northern District of Oklahoma, with the assistance of several state law enforcement agencies. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, with assistance from the Western District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Western District of Arkansas.
Man with Dual Citizenship Sentenced for Sharing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man with dual citizenship in the United States and Pakistan was sentenced today for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Razwan Asghar, 41, to 121 months imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release. Upon his release, Asghar will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Asghar to pay $3,000 in restitution.
In January 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from Kik that a user uploaded photographs consistent with child pornography. Officers issued a search warrant and discovered that the email address associated with the account was Asghar’s college email address. They further discovered that one of the IP addresses used by Asghar traced back to a public Wi-Fi at his workplace.
When officers spoke with Asghar, he admitted to using his cellphone to view child sexual abuse material, with some children being ages 4-5 years old. Asghar explained that he has “a lot of porn,” but working as a nurse keeps him busy. He told agents that he knew trading images and videos of children being sexually abused was illegal. However, Asghar believed it was not a crime because he was not sexually abusing a child.
After speaking with agents, court documents show that Asghar sold his car, left the United States, and flew to Bahrain to stay with his family. When Asghar returned to the United States, he was arrested at the Tulsa International Airport.
The images and videos found on his devices were sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. One individual was identified and allowed to submit a victim impact statement to the court. Restitution paid by Asghar will go directly to the victim who requested restitution.
Asghar was born in Bahrain and is a citizen of Pakistan. He is also a naturalized citizen of the United States and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Prior Felon Sentenced After Strangling His Wife & Pistol-Whipping HerRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A felon living in Tulsa was sentenced today for strangling his wife and possessing a loaded firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante sentenced Rodney Neal Stach, 45, for Assault of a Spouse by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Stach was ordered to serve 70 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In August 2025, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched to a home in East Tulsa. When officers arrived, the victim told officers that Stach was extremely irate, grabbed a loaded firearm, and began hitting the victim with the firearm. While pistol-whipping the victim, Stach stated, “I should shoot you right now. No one will find you.” The victim told officers that Stach had strangled her prior to escaping and running to a neighbor's house.
Court records show that Stach had been convicted of eight felonies prior to this incident. Some of his prior felonies include maliciously torturing and killing a pig by stabbing it to death, committing multiple burglaries, including resisting arrest and fleeing from law enforcement.
The victim is a tribal citizen, and Stach will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Kelly prosecuted the case.
If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777
Mexican National Sentenced for Unlawfully Residing in the United StatesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for Unlawful Reentry of the United States after previously being removed twice, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante sentenced Juan Carlos Nunez Reyes, 34, to 18 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, Nunez Reyes is expected to face removal proceedings.
According to court documents, Nunez Reyes was banned in 2023 from a casino after passing a counterfeit check and having drug paraphernalia in his hotel room. In 2025, Nunez Reyes entered the same casino, attempting to hide his face with a mask. Nunez Reyes was approached by security and law enforcement and provided a false name and date of birth. He eventually provided his correct identifiers and was arrested. When officers searched Nunez Reyes, they found his Mexican citizen identification and marijuana.
While booking Nunez Reyes, agents discovered that he had been removed from the United States in 2012 and 2021. Court dockets show that Nunez Reyes has been convicted of unlawfully possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle and driving without a license.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon prosecuted the case.
Foreign National Drug Courier Sentenced for Conspiring with Cartel to Distribute Fentanyl in OklahomaRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A foreign national living in East Tulsa was sentenced for conspiring with the cartel to distribute fentanyl in Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Today, U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante sentenced Jose Amadeis Sanchez Sanchez, 34, a Mexican national, for Drug Conspiracy. He was ordered to serve 37 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics began investigating a Mexico-based cartel operating in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Agents identified Sanchez as a courier in February 2025. After completing two purchases of fentanyl, agents followed Sanchez and found that he stayed at two separate drug houses in East Tulsa. Agents executed search warrants at both locations. They found $38,000 in cash, multiple cell phones, scales, a drug ledger, and nearly 2.5 pounds of fentanyl. Sanchez was present during the search of one of the homes and was detained.
When interviewed by agents, Sanchez admitted to crossing the border in 2024. Sanchez was removed from the United States after a drug house was raided in Texas, prior to coming to Tulsa. After returning to the United States, he continued to work for the cartel. Court documents allege that Sanchez believed he was coming to the United States to legally work. Instead, he was “informed” by the cartel that he would be a courier to repay the $25,000 “fee” for being smuggled into the United States. Sanchez explained to agents that he would obtain large quantities of fentanyl and would break it down into smaller quantities for distribution. Additionally, Sanchez would collect cash and provide it to a separate courier for transportation back to Mexico.
During this investigation, agents have seized approximately 30 kilograms of fentanyl, 11 kilograms of methamphetamine,
4 kilograms of heroin, and $250,000 in bulk currency. More than 35 individuals have been arrested and are linked to the
same cartel.According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. Removing thirty kilograms of fentanyl from the United States has the potential to save millions of people from overdosing or being poisoned.
Sanchez will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.
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.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Loaded Firearm and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A prior felon was sentenced today for methamphetamine and firearms possession, announced U.S. Attorney
Clint Johnson.U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Wyatt Eugene Rogers, 39, for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Rogers was ordered to serve 90 months imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release.
Sapulpa Police officers pulled over Rogers for a traffic violation in September 2024. During the traffic stop, Rogers told the officer that he did not have a valid driver’s license or car insurance. After a records check, officers learned that Rogers was previously convicted of drug possession. Court documents show that officers observed Rogers moving around in the vehicle and reaching under the passenger seat. Officers asked Rogers to exit the vehicle while a K9 officer conducted a free-air sniff. The K9 officer alerted its handler that drugs were present in the vehicle.
Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun under the passenger seat and 73.51 grams of a crystal-like substance containing methamphetamine. Rogers initially denied knowledge of the firearm and the methamphetamine, but later admitted that it was his.
Court dockets show that Rogers has a lengthy criminal history, including domestic assault, prior convictions related to methamphetamine distribution, and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
Rogers will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sapulpa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.
May Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Henry Curiel Arias. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Ammunition; Illegal Transfer of a Machinegun. Curiel Arias, 47, a Venezuelan national, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, he is charged with transferring a machinegun conversion device solely used to convert a semi-automatic firearm to fire automatically. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-160
Hector Contreras Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Contreras Perez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in January 2004, February 2005, May 2008, and June 2016. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting
the case. 26-CR-171Marco Cruz Ruiz. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cruz-Ruiz, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. He is additionally charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in September 2012. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-169
Johnny Ray Leonard, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Leonard, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-130
Simon Martinez Gonzalez. Kidnapping of a Child; Witness Tampering by Physical Force (second superseding). Martinez Gonzalez, 44, a Mexican National, is charged with kidnapping a minor child in Dec. 2024. Additionally, he is charged with using physical force against a victim with the intent to hinder communication with law enforcement. The Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Ammon Brisolara are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-029
Jerald Michael Scott Newell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Newell, 33, of Sand Springs, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-161
Mylan Derayl Owens. Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. Owens, 20, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing a machinegun conversion device. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-162
Octavio Rendon Gonzalez. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rendon Gonzalez, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in July 2011. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-170
Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Aguirre. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Possession of a False Immigration Document. Rodriguez Aguirre, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May and July 2019. Additionally, he is charged with knowingly possessing a false Green Card. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-165
Jeremy Sertich. Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Sertich, 34, of Duluth, Minnesota, is charged with knowingly transporting a minor victim across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Sertich is charged with coercing a minor child to engage in a sexually explicit activity. Homeland Security Investigations, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Duluth Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-163
David Michael Staley. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Staley, 58, of Willard, Missouri, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-164
Devan Miquel Velasco Tampering with a Witness by Corrupt Persuasion. Velasco, 28, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly persuading a witness with the intent to hinder testimony in an official proceeding. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-172
Jenks Man Sentenced After Breaking Girlfriend’s Leg in Three PlacesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Jenks man was sentenced after being found guilty by a federal jury for breaking his girlfriend’s shin and ankle during an argument, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jamon Charles Phetsacksith, 27, to 33 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release.
In January, a federal jury convicted Phetsacksith of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. In November 2024, Phetsacksith was drinking and hanging out with his girlfriend. Phetsacksith had a key to his work and drove his girlfriend to pick up his paycheck after hours. After arriving, the two began arguing.
The victim testified at trial and explained to the jury that she attempted to de-escalate the situation by leaving. Video surveillance shows Phetsacksith chasing after the victim and keeping her from leaving. He is then seen pushing the victim.
The jury heard the defendant's 911 call, where he claimed that she had fallen down a flight of stairs and was in need of medical attention. When the victim was separated from Phetsacksith, she told EMSA personnel that he assaulted her. Tulsa Police officers responded to the scene and spoke with EMSA, the victim, and Phetsacksith. The body camera played for the jury showed Phetsacksith explaining that they were drunk, had a fight, and “it got out of hand.” He later told officers that he threw her around.
When the trauma surgeon testified, he explained that the victim broke her leg in three places. Her left ankle was fractured, and her tibia and fibula bones were broken in half, requiring surgical rods and screws to be implanted.
Phetsacksith is a member of the Osage Nation, and he will continue to remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau
of Prisons.The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777
Mexican National and Prior Felon Sentenced After Shooting at Neighbor's DogRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national living in the United States unlawfully and a prior felon was sentenced today after shooting at his neighbor's dog, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Edwin Soto, 28, for being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Soto was ordered to serve 52 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Upon his release, Soto is expected to face removal proceedings.
In August 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a “shots fired” call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness who explained that someone shot at his dog. When officers spoke with Soto, he claimed that a dog defecated in his yard and was hesitant to answer any questions about firearms. After serving a search warrant on Soto’s home, officers found four firearms.
When officers spoke with Soto, he stated the firearms were his and that he was not aware that he couldn’t possess firearms. While booking Soto into jail, records showed that he is a citizen and national of Mexico by birth. Court records show that in 2020, Soto pleaded guilty in state court for discharging a weapon into a dwelling and was previously deported from the United States.
Soto will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
Eleven Sentenced for Refund Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses to Online RetailersRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Eleven co-conspirators have been sentenced for conspiring with others to commit wire fraud. This refund fraud scheme targeted numerous online retailers and resulted in millions of dollars in losses to companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Dell Technologies, Kate Spade, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HP Inc., and Adidas, among others.
From April 2019 through October 19, 2023, the self-styled Artemis Refund Group (“ARG”) engaged in numerous refund-fraud schemes to steal goods from online retailers for its own benefit and that of others. ARG advertised their refund fraud services heavily on online messaging forums, resulting in hundreds of customers being defrauded and placing thousands of refund fraud orders. Some of these fraudulently refunded orders were shipped to the Northern District of Oklahoma, giving rise to venue in
this district.As part of the refund fraud conspiracy, ARG would instruct fraud customers to purchase a product of their choice from one of the many retailers they targeted, collect information about the order, and then contact the retailer to initiate a fraudulent refund using a variety of methods tailored to that retailer. After ARG successfully deceived the retailer into processing a fraudulent refund, the fraudulent customers would retain possession of the item but still received a full refund of the purchase price. ARG typically charged customers between 15% and 25% of the refunded item's total price. Members of ARG also engaged in the scheme to obtain stolen goods for themselves and resell them on online marketplaces for profit.
Eleven defendants have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and were sentenced:
- Wyatt Douglas Miller, 24, of San Marcos, CA, was ordered to serve 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release.
- Tyler Dewayne Rogers, 24, of Goleta, CA, was ordered to serve 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Kevin Ramses Rocha, 24, of Littlerock, CA, was ordered to serve 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Jonah Maxwell Fesman, 23, of Altadena, CA, was ordered to six months of home detention, followed by two years of supervised release.
- Antonio Ernesto Munoz, 24, of Palmdale, CA, was ordered to serve 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Juan Manuel Camacho-Zarate, 25, of Santa Maria, CA, was ordered to serve three years of probation and to pay
a $4,000 fine. - Cameron David Martin, 23, of Winter Garden, FL, was ordered to serve three years of probation.
- Ilyess Hadri Talbi, 20, of Columbus, OH, was ordered to serve three years of probation.
- Steven Lin, 27, of Philadelphia, PA, was ordered to serve three years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.
- Gilbert Immanuel, 25, of Lutz, FL, was ordered to eight months of home detention, followed by two years of
supervised release. - Prit Patel, 24, from Canada, was ordered to serve 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
Seven defendants from the Republic of Singapore and one from the United Kingdom still have arrest warrants pending.
The cyber squads of the FBI Oklahoma City and Birmingham Field Offices, as well as agents from the FBI Seattle Field Office, investigated the case. Substantial assistance and cooperation were provided by Target, Amazon’s Customer Protection and Enforcement Team, Walmart, Wayfair, Dell Technologies, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HP Inc., Adidas, Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group, and eBay’s Criminal & Regulatory Investigations Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert, Christopher J. Nassar, and Matthew P. Cyran are prosecuting the case.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Shotgun and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A prior felon living in Tulsa was sentenced for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Marcus Antonio Jones, 46, to 51 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release.
In July 2025, Tulsa Police officers were dispatched to an apartment where Jones was seen discharging a firearm. Upon arrival, officers spoke with several residents who stated Jones had been drinking earlier in the day. They told officers that Jones discharged a shotgun in the occupied apartment, with a juvenile present. Officers executed a search warrant and seized a 12-gauge shotgun from Jones’s bedroom, along with the spent shell and three rounds of ammunition.
Court records show that Jones has a lengthy criminal history, including being convicted of first-degree manslaughter, and domestic assault and battery by strangulation.
Jones will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.