Northern District of Oklahoma
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Repeat Felon Sentenced for Sexually Abusing a Child Under 12Read the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A repeat felon was sentenced today for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Blake Alan Miller, 42, of Muscogee to 360 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Miller will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Court dockets show that Miller has a lengthy criminal history that spans more than 20 years. In 2016, Miller was arrested and charged in state court on drug-related charges. Shortly after, Miller was indicted and detained in the Eastern District of Oklahoma on federal charges of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, among other charges. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment in 2018. Once he was imprisoned, a minor victim disclosed that Miller sexually abused them from 2011 through 2016, until his arrest. Court records show that Miller sexually abused the child victim and introduced that prepubescent child to pornography. The child told a case worker that they felt safe coming forward once Miller was in prison.
Miller is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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
January Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January 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.
Whitney Lynn Adney. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Adney, 36, of Kinta and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. The FBI and the Pryor Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-019
Rigo Alberto Amaya-Vasquez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Amaya-Vasquez, 38, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2018 and Sep. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-020
Mark Wayne Craine. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Craine, 65, 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 October 2025 through January 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-021
Samantha Ann Demaro. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Demaro, 32, of Owasso, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-032
Osiel Garcia-Estrada. Fraud and Misuse of Visas and Permits. Garcia-Estrada, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing a fraudulent Social Security card. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-022Nicolas Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gonzalez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2017 and Aug. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-025
Jason Allen Matthew Harjo. Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12. Harjo, 55, of Oklahoma City and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in and causing sexual contact with a minor child under 12 years old. The FBI and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-023
Allontae Taquon Jackson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jackson, 22, 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 Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-024
Carmen Ana Llompart Cruz. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Llompart Cruz, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is further charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-031
Deaunte Khyree Spirlin. 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. Spirlin, 36, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Spirlin is charged with using a firearm during 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 Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-026
Former Church Intern Sentenced for Sharing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Sand Springs man was sentenced for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Terence Kern sentenced Austin Ryder Sewell, 25, to 174 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Upon his release, Sewell will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Kern further ordered
Sewell to pay $15,500 in restitution. That money goes directly to the victims identified in the child sexual abuse material that Sewell possessed.Court records show that between March and July 2025, the social media application, Kik, submitted more than 10 cyber tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The reports indicated that Sewell was sharing videos that contained the sexual abuse of children. The investigation showed that Sewell had multiple Kik accounts and had been encouraging others to join chat groups focused on exchanging child pornography. During the investigation, law enforcement found that Sewell’s Facebook profile identified him as an intern at a church in Tulsa.
Law enforcement found several chats on Kik where Sewell discussed sexual interest in children with other users.
Among those chats, they found more than 98 videos and 24 images showing children, infants, and toddlers being sexually abused. The child sexual abuse material found was sent to NCMEC’s Child Victim Identification Program. They helped identify at least five known victims.Sewell will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office 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 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Prior Felon Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearm and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and Drug Conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Kenneth Wayne Toney, 41, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Toney was indicted in 2024 after being found in possession of a stolen firearm. During a routine traffic stop, Toney claimed he was driving a borrowed car and stated that he did not have a driver's license. After further investigation, officers found that Toney had a suspended driver’s license and arrested him. After a search of the vehicle, officers found methamphetamine and a loaded firearm, which was reported stolen. While booking Toney into jail, officers found an empty holster on Toney’s waistband.
In a separate case, Toney was indicted for drug conspiracy with several others. Toney fled to California to avoid prosecution, was arrested, and brought back to the Northern District for prosecution. Court documents show that Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a group of people believed to be distributing methamphetamine in the Northern District of Oklahoma. After further investigation, the group was working with a Mexican drug trafficking organization and distributed more than 9.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in a month. Toney admitted to conspiring and working with others to distribute methamphetamine.
Court records show that Toney was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including robbery with a firearm and kidnapping. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Sapulpa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.
Sex Offender Living Near School Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A sex offender living near a school in Tulsa was sentenced today for failing to register as a sex offender, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Mark Joseph Vossler, 53, to 27 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon his release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in 1994, Vossler was convicted of sexual battery after he forced a 19-year-old woman to have sex with him while he held the victim down. After pleading guilty, Vossler was sentenced to a five-year deferred sentence and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service. After violating the conditions of probation, Vossler was ordered to serve five years in the Department of Corrections.
In a second sexual assault incident in 2013, Vossler grabbed the victim by the hair while he was driving. He told the victim he had a gun, was a member of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, and said that he would blow the victim's head off if she did not have sex with him. Vossler pulled the vehicle over and sexually assaulted the victim. He pled guilty to sexual battery in 2015, was ordered to serve five years, and was required to register as a sex offender.
Court records show that Vossler was previously convicted in 2006, 2016, 2020, and 2023 for failing to register as a sex offender. He was federally indicted in August 2025 for failing to register as a sex offender from March through July 2025. Records obtained by the U.S. Marshals show that Vossler was using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and reported that he was homeless. However, after further investigation, marshals located Vossler living in a prohibited apartment in Tulsa near a school.
Vossler will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.
Jury Finds Jenks Man Guilty of Assault After Breaking Girlfriend's Leg in Three PlacesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, a federal jury convicted a Jenks man of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country after breaking his girlfriend's shin and ankle during an argument.
In May 2025, Jamon Charles Phetsacksith, 27, was indicted for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, 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 at Phetsacksith’s work, the two began arguing.
In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the victim testified that she exited the vehicle and began walking away. 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. 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.
A trauma surgeon testified 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 until sentencing is scheduled at
a later date.The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
January Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2025-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.
Gelvin Garcia-Alvarado. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Alvarado, 43, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in April 2008, October 2014, February 2017, and March 2019. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-010
Ruben Manuel Barraza Reyes. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Barraza Reyes, 26, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Additionally, Barraza Reyes is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. The FBI Oklahoma City and Anchorage Divisions, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-007Jacob Robin Gilmartin. Child Abuse in Indian Country. Gilmartin, 32, of Skiatook and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with maliciously injuring, torturing, and maiming a minor child by throwing a knife at him and striking him. The FBI and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-008Austin Wayne Haley. Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country (Counts 1 through 7) 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. The FBI and the Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-009
Erik Antonio Ortiz-Mora. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ortiz-Mora, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-003
Sasha Jamece Phillips. Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer While Endangering Others in Indian Country. Phillips, 28, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with operating a motor vehicle and eluding law enforcement while endangering others. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-004
Ramiro Rincon-Castro. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rincon-Castro, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-002
Andrew Mark Southey. Sexual Exploitation of a Child; Receipt of Child Pornography. Southey, 57, of the Dominican Republic, with dual citizenship in New Zealand, is charged with coercing a minor child to produce images and videos of sexually explicit conduct. Further, Southey is charged with receiving images and videos of a minor child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The FBI is the investigative agency. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI LEGAT office in the Dominican Republic assisted in the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-005
Lajon Anthony Walker. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Walker, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-006Mexican National Sentenced After Being Found in the United States Unlawfully for a Fourth TimeRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Miguel Gabino Trujillo, 32, to 46 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Gabino Trujillo was previously removed from the United States on three separate occasions. In March 2015, he was removed after receiving a five-year suspended sentence in State Court for possessing a controlled substance and obstructing an officer. Seventeen days after being removed, Gabino Trujillo was arrested in the Southern District of Texas and removed a second time in August 2015.
Gabino Trujillo was removed for a third time in December 2023 after being convicted of a drug-related offense in the Northern District of Oklahoma. He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after conspiring with others to distribute more than 490 grams of cocaine.
His latest arrest was in June 2025 when officers were patrolling downtown Tulsa and saw an occupied parked vehicle with a glass bottle on the ground outside the passenger side door. Gabino Trujillo and the driver of the vehicle refused to comply with the officers' commands and exit the vehicle. After several minutes, officers broke the window and pepper balled the vehicle. When Gabino Trujillo exited the vehicle, they found two bags of cocaine. He pleaded no contest in State Court for possessing a controlled drug and was sentenced to 25 days in jail.
While being booked into jail, agents discovered that Gabino Trujillo was unlawfully in the United States. He will remain in federal custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
The Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon prosecuted the case.
Transient Man Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping, Beating, and Sexually Assaulting an Elderly WomanRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A transient Tulsa man who was retried and found guilty a second time was sentenced to life in prison, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced.
Today, U.S. District Judge John F Heil, III, sentenced Elga Eugene Harper, 43, to life imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of Kidnapping in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.
According to court documents, in May 2022, Harper showed up at Ellen Finlay's (Ellie) house unannounced. She was a nun and knew that Harper was homeless. Ellie would pay Harper to fix things around her home. Ellie told Harper that she had no work for him. He requested to use the restroom, and Ellie allowed him to.
When Ellie testified, she stated that Harper had been gone for a while and that she went to check on him. When she found Harper, he was in her bedroom naked and immediately attacked her. Ellie described to the jury how Harper bound her arms and legs and tied a noose around her neck. Then Harper made her move to the shower, where he sexually assaulted her. Harper physically and sexually assaulted her for more than four hours, went through her home, and took some of her possessions.
Harper was found guilty during his federal trial in February 2023, and sentenced a few months later in July. Harper then filed an appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court, and the guilty verdict was overturned in October 2024, causing a retrial. While awaiting retrial, Ellie passed away on February 4, 2025.
In August 2025, a new jury was selected when Harper was retried. Law enforcement and witnesses retestified to the events
that happened in 2022. The jury heard audio from the 911 call where Ellie cried for help and described being physically assaulted. During the 911 call and on the officers' body cameras, Ellie can be heard saying that “Elga Harper” was the person who
attacked her.Body camera video and photos shown to the jury displayed the brutality of the violence that Harper committed on Ellie.
During sentencing today, a victim impact statement written by Ellie in 2023 was read on her behalf. In that statement, Ellie said:
“Everyone who knows me knows that I am a practicing Christian. As such I have an obligation to forgive my enemies, to bless those who curse me and to pray for those who despitefully use me. I am struggling to fulfill this obligation with sincerity. I pray that God will turn Mr. Harper’s heart from evil to good, will lead him to repentance and will give him the knowledge and understanding that he is loved by the God who created him and who grieves for the great wrong he has done.
I also, as a Christian, have the obligation to love my neighbor as myself and my neighbor, most assuredly, is the next woman out there who may well fall prey to Mr. Harper’s horrific propensity for violence if he were to be a free member of society at any point during the remainder of his life. It is my honest conviction that he should not ever, ever, ever be free again.”
Harper is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. 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 Melody Nelson, Valeria Luster, and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.
Dodge City, Kansas, Man Sentenced for Possessing More than Eight Pounds of CocaineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Dodge City, Kansas, man was sentenced for possessing more than eight pounds of cocaine that he knowingly transported from Texas to the Northern District of Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Alejandro Aldave, 37, for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Judge Hill ordered Aldave to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release.
In April 2025, law enforcement became aware that Aldave was distributing large amounts of cocaine out of a home in Tulsa. After receiving a search warrant, an agent installed a tracking device on Aldave’s vehicle. His vehicle was tracked from Tulsa to Odessa, Texas. After staying in Odessa for less than twenty minutes, Aldave’s vehicle headed back to Tulsa.
During a traffic stop in Tulsa, Aldave admitted to Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Troopers also smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, Troopers found marijuana vape pens and a hidden compartment with four one-kilogram bundles of cocaine. After arresting Aldave, agents executed a search warrant at his home in Tulsa. Agents found a firearm, ammunition, more than 700 grams of cocaine, and more than 3,000 counterfeit Xanax pills that contained a synthetic opioid commonly known as U-47700.
Data provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shows that nearly 70% of all drug poisonings and overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, and that U-47700 has been linked to at least 46 confirmed overdose deaths. The DEA notes that U-47700 is frequently pressed into pill format and marketed as a wide variety of prescription opioids.
Aldave has two prior convictions related to the distribution and possession of illicit drugs. Court documents show that he has never served time for those convictions. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney prosecuted the case.
Tulsan Sentenced for Two Counts Related to Receiving, Sharing, and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for two counts related to possessing, receiving, and sharing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Robert Nicholas Long, 27, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Hill ordered Long to serve 262 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Long will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation revealed that Long was receiving and sharing child sexual abuse material through the application, Discord. Law enforcement served a search warrant on his home and found more than 215 images and one video that showed children being sexually abused. Court records show that many of the files depicted infants, toddlers, and prepubescent minors being sexually exploited by adult males.
Additionally, Agents found messages between Long and minor children where he solicited sexually explicit content and discussed traveling to meet for sex. In one chat, Long coerced a 15-year-old victim to share sexually explicit images and requested to meet in person for sex.
Court records show that in 2016 and 2017, Long was convicted of several counts of indecent exposure after being caught masturbating in public and exposing his penis. He was also convicted in 2024 for failing to register as a sex offender.
Long will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
December Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December 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.
Edyn Aguilar Lara. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Aguilar Lara, 33, a Honduran national, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Additionally, Aguilar Lara is charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-464
Antonio Alfonso Chavez Dominguez. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Chavez Dominguez, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. Further, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2009, May 2014, and Apr. 2015. Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-465
Keith Dwayne Cochran. Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Cochran, 47, a transient, is charged with attempting to receive visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children after being convicted of a felony child pornography offense. Further, he is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minor children after being convicted of a felony child pornography offense. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-466
Kevin Dale Coyle. Escape from Federal Custody. Coyle, 52, 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. 25-CR-470
Daniel Christopher Edwards. Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device. Edwards, 37, of Broken Arrow, is charged with possessing a destructive device that was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-471
Stephen Matthew Kite. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Kite, 53, of Broken Arrow, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl 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. 25-CR-467
Garrett Lee Monroe*. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Threat and Fear in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Monroe, 37, of Vinta and a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, is charged with engaging in sexual activity by force. He is further charged with engaging in sex with the victim by threat and fear. Lastly, Monroe allegedly assaulted the victim with the intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse. The FBI and the Vinita Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-468
Ronaldo Ramos Quintero. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearm. Quintero, 21, a Mexican national is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-469
Devin Charles Staller. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Stalled, 38, of Tulsa and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim, resulting in serious bodily injury. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-472
*Garrett Lee Monroe was tried by a federal jury in April 2026. He was acquitted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Threat and Fear in Indian Country and Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Monroe was found guilty of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force in Indian Country.
Tulsa Drug Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years After Being Convicted for Fentanyl Related Death of a 29-Year-OldRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, a judge ordered Brandon Jerome Silas to 25 years imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him in May, for the fentanyl related death of 29-year-old Haley Nicole Scruggs.
In May, a federal jury convicted Silas, 45, of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death; four counts of Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony; and Money Laundering.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Silas to 300 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
“Silas will be close to 70 years old when he is released from federal prison after killing Haley Scruggs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I am grateful for our federal and state partners who worked together to stop Silas from dealing deadly drugs in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”
“This sentence sends a message to those who distribute and profit from the distribution of poison in our communities,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division, which covers the State of Oklahoma. “The men and women of DEA and their law enforcement partners work tirelessly hold accountable those praying on the addictions of others, never wavering in the pursuit of justice.”
In February 2022, Haley Scruggs fought with her boyfriend about wanting to purchase opioids. After completing drug rehabilitation, her boyfriend discovered that she was relapsing and told her that he would help her stay clean. But if she relapsed, they could not stay together.
While her boyfriend was at work the following day, Haley called her friend, Silas, several times, and sent him more than 90 text messages. A DEA agent testified that through texts, Haley explained to Silas how to get to her house. When Silas arrived, he texted Haley that he was there. Shortly after that, Haley stopped responding to her phone.
Concerned, her boyfriend left work and discovered Haley at home, unresponsive. He immediately called 911, and she was pronounced deceased.
During the trial, two witnesses took the stand and explained to the jury how they originally started purchasing pills from Silas in 2019. When they went to Silas for fentanyl, he warned both of them to “be careful.”
Silas’ bank records presented to the jury showed that money was being digitally transferred from various peer-to-peer cash applications into his accounts. Bank records indicated that Silas deposited or transferred more than $450,000 into his accounts over 14 months.
Court records show that Silas knew of Haley’s death and continued to sell drugs. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
DEA fentanyl seizures represent over 133 million deadly doses in 2025. Click here to find additional resources or learn more about the OnePillCanKill campaign.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Oklahoma City District Office and the Broken Arrow Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.
Skiatook Man Charged with Assault After Being Released in June from Being Found IncompetentRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Skiatook man was charged today for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country after being found incompetent to stand trial and was released.
According to court documents, Jacob Robin Gilmartin, now 22, was initially charged in 2023 with Second Degree Murder in
Indian Country. Gilmartin was driving under the influence in 2021 and wrecked into another vehicle, killing Clifton Smith.
While on pre-trial release, Gilmartin was in a second wreck, injuring only himself and being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. After a medical evaluation, Gilmartin was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was ordered released in June 2025.On December 9th, seven months after being released, court documents allege that Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched in reference to a domestic violence call. The 10-year-old victim ran to a neighbor's house after receiving a severe laceration to his right arm that cut to the bone. The neighbor applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The victim told deputies he sustained the injury when Gilmartin threatened to kill him and threw the knife at him.
Court records show that deputies followed the blood trail back to Gilmartin’s residence, where he was detained.
Gilmartin is a member of the Cherokee Nation.
The FBI is investigating the case, and the defendant was arrested with the help of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is 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.
Skiatook Man Indicted for Threatening to Kill Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Skiatook man’s indictment is unsealed after being charged with ten counts related to threatening federal law enforcement officers.
Logan Christopher Murfin, 26, is charged with five counts of 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 court documents, Murfin knowingly posted several threatening and intimidating statements on social media advocating for the assault and murder of federal agents. He stated that federal agents need to be gunned down, shot, and executed. Further, Murfin encouraged people to stay armed and to kill agents when seen because the agents don’t deserve to live.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma 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.
*Murfin's indictment was superseded on April 6, 2026. He was charged with five additional counts of Threatening to Assault and Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers with Intent to Impede, Intimidate, Interfere, and Retaliate; and five additional counts of Interstate Communication with a Threat to Injure.
In April 2026, Murfin was tried by a federal jury and found guilty of five counts of 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. He was acquitted of the remaining counts.Bixby Tattoo Artist Charged with Six Counts of Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A criminal complaint was unsealed charging a Bixby tattoo artist with six separate counts of Sexual Contact in Indian Country.
Today, Austin Wayne Haley, 30, appeared before the court for engaging in unwanted sexual contact with six women whom he was tattooing. Court documents allege that from the fall of 2024 through December 2025, each victim scheduled a tattoo session with Haley at his home or tattoo studio. During the appointment and while Haley was tattooing the victims, he positioned his bare penis on the victims’ body and ejaculated on some of them.
Haley is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
The FBI and the Bixby Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
December Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December Federal Grand Jury 2025-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.
Roy C Adams. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Adams, 34, 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 Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-455
Andres Avila Pineda; Anthony Avila. Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms. Andres, 48, a Mexican national, and Anthony, 22, of Houston, Texas, are charged with conspiring with others to transport firearms knowing that possession would constitute a felony. Andres is further charged with possessing a firearm, 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. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-460
Jose Cruz-Cordova. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cruz-Cordova, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Oct. 2019. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-461
Adrian Parker Gaines. Production of Child Pornography. Gaines, 38, of Grove, is charged with using a minor child to produce a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-454
Nieves Norberto Garcia-Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Rodriguez, 44, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2010 and Dec. 2015. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-462
Leonel Longoria-Quirino. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Longoria-Quirino, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Oct. 2017. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-459
Waymer Emeterio Orozco-Orozco. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Orozco-Orozco, 27, a Guatemalan 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 Jan. 2019. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-453
Sequoyah Blake Tanner. Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. Tanner, 23, of Tulsa
and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with driving a motor vehicle after consuming marijuana and alcohol, and killing Zion Joseph Sier. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-452Rovin Alexail Vasquez-Cinto. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Vasquez-Cinto, 27, a Guatemalan national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-451
Tulsa Woman Sentenced for Stealing Disabled Army Veteran's IdentityRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa woman was sentenced today for two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft after stealing a disabled Army veteran's identity, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Monica J. Thompson, 40, to 48 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Thompson to pay $29,440.39 in restitution.
“Taking advantage of a veteran that served our country will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Thompson not only engaged in identity theft but also took advantage of a vulnerable disabled veteran for her own benefit.”
“This sentence sends a clear message that those who would exploit veterans will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South-Central Field Office. “The VA OIG is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts to achieve justice in this case.”
According to court documents, Thompson conspired with her boyfriend to defraud an elderly disabled veteran by arranging a sham marriage. After getting married to the victim, Thompson submitted false applications to the Veterans Administration (VA) to control the victim’s disability payments. Even though the victim was entitled to disability payments, he ended up being housed in an RV without food. Shortly after, the victim attempted suicide and was hospitalized. While the victim was on suicide watch, Thompson kept submitting false documents to the VA. A nurse overheard the victim providing Thompson with banking information and reported it to the authorities.
Thompson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.
If you suspect fraudulent conduct involving an older adult, don't hesitate to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline
at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or find additional resources for older adults in Oklahoma.Man Living in Ochelata Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man living in Ochelata was sentenced today for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Ramey Joe-Dawn Dill, 38, to 24 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Court records show that Dill raped an unconscious girl and was convicted of second-degree rape in 2007 in State court. He was sentenced to 12 years, with 9 years being suspended, and is required to register as a sex offender. Dill’s criminal history includes 15 convictions over the last 19 years. His convictions include rape, DUI, malicious injury, burglary, and failing to register as a sex offender.
In 2023, Dill was convicted in federal court for failing to register as a sex offender. After being released in 2025, Dill failed again to keep his address up to date with the sex offender registry.
Dill has used several aliases over the years. Court records show that he has gone by Ramey Joedon Dill and Ramey Joe-Don Dill. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and is still required to register as a sex offender.
The United States Marshal Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michele Hulgaard and Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Felon Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An Oklahoma man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Christopher Allen Thetford, 31, to 30 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In April 2024, Broken Arrow Police officers observed a vehicle with a smashed windshield pull into a hotel parking lot, in an area known for high crime and illicit drugs. When the vehicle left the hotel, officers pulled it over. When officers approached the vehicle, they could smell marijuana, and Thetford was in the passenger seat. An officer asked Thetford if there was a firearm in the vehicle, and he said no.
After Thetford got out of the vehicle, officers found a baggie with methamphetamine in his pants. When officers searched the vehicle, they found more bags of methamphetamine and a firearm under the passenger seat where Thetford was sitting.
Court records show that Thetford has prior felony convictions in Missouri and Oklahoma. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Broken Arrow Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dowdell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Prior Felon Convicted for Kidnapping and Four Counts Related to Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted a Collinsville man of kidnapping and four counts related to domestic abuse and violence.
Jerry Charles Creek, Jr., 55, was convicted of two counts of Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and
Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country;
and Kidnapping in Indian Country.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Creek began a relationship with the victim in the summer of 2023. After the victim moved in with Creek, he became jealous, possessive, and abusive. Creek isolated the victim from her family and friends. Evidence presented at trial showed that verbal abuse escalated into physical abuse.
In November 2023, Creek accused the victim of cheating and assaulted her throughout the weekend. The victim testified about being strangled, dragged around the house, and kicked by Creek when he was wearing steel-toed boots. He kept the victim from leaving by taking her keys and making her stay naked. If the victim attempted to get dressed, Creek would get enraged. After two days of abuse, Creek left the trailer briefly, and the victim was able to get dressed and escape. When she sought medical treatment, the victim had fractured ribs, a concussion, and bruises all over her body.
The victim testified that in March 2024, Creek began accusing the victim of cheating and strangled her until she lost consciousness and urinated. After regaining consciousness, Creek continued to abuse the victim. At some point she was able to escape, however once Creek noticed she was gone, he went after her, promising to take her home. Upon getting closer to the victim’s home, she testified that Creek stated he needed to go home to get gas. While at a stoplight, in fear, the victim jumped out of the truck and went to a fire station. There she waited for a family member to pick her up.
During a third incident in April 2024, the victim testified that she was at a bar with a male friend. Creek walked into the bar and told her to get in his truck. Creek was enraged again and drove erratically to the victim’s house. They argued in front of the house and went inside. Creek left the house, and she went to bed. Later that evening, she woke up to smoke in her house because it was on fire. Her cellphone was gone, and she could not break her bedroom window. After being rescued by neighbors, and before being intubated, she told her neighbor, “Jerry did it.” She was intubated and hospitalized for eleven days. She was diagnosed with several injuries that were not present before the fire, including numerous lacerations and bruises, and a fractured L4 vertebra. While in the hospital, the victim wrote a note to a family member stating that Creek tried to kill her.
Court records show that Creek was previously convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, obstructing an officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and several other felonies.
The Tulsa Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Todd, George Jiang, and Thomas Buscemi prosecuted the case.
If you are impacted by relationship abuse and need confidential help, you can text “START” to 88788.
Repeat Felon Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Salina man was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography and being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Michael Allen Dean, 40, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Dean will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Hill further ordered Dean to pay $45,000 in restitution. That money goes directly to the victims identified in the child sexual abuse material that Dean possessed.
In May 2023, a social media application reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that child sexual abuse material was uploaded. The investigation revealed that the IP address and phone number associated with the social media account were linked to Dean. Based on the cybertip, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Dean’s home and cellphone.
When agents searched Dean’s home, they found several rounds of ammunition. After searching Dean’s cellphone, agents found more than 424 videos and 213 images of minor children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Court documents show that some of the minors were under 12 years old, including material that showed toddlers and infants being sexually abused.
According to court documents, Dean was convicted in 2011 in state court for possessing child pornography. He was sentenced to a 10-year suspended sentence and spent 60 days in jail.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is the nation’s centralized reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation. Because of the growth of technology, Child Sexual Abuse Material images and videos can be found in any online realm, causing the children who were initially sexually abused to be revictimized, over and over, with each share.
NCMEC reports that its CyberTipline has received more than 195 million reports related to Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly referred to as CSAM. NCMEC’s Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed more than 425 million images and videos and identified more than 30,000 victims.
Dean will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee National Marshal Service assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
November Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November 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.
Andrew Scott Hastings. Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization; Illegal Possession and Transfer of Machineguns. Hastings, 25, of Tulsa, is charged with trying to provide firearm parts and machinegun conversion devices to a foreign terrorist organization. He is further charged with knowingly possessing and transferring machinegun conversion devices. The FBI Oklahoma City – Tulsa Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel, Matthew P. Cyran, and Elliot P. Anderson for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case with support from Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 25-CR-442
Carolyn Ann Su Honeycutt. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Honeycutt, 43, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-445
Jeremy Allen Townsley. Robbery in Indian Country; Bank Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft. Townsley, 46, of Sand Springs and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with taking keys and a truck from the victim by force and violence. He is additionally charged with fraudulently obtaining funds from the victim's bank account without permission and using the victim’s identity while committing a felony. The FBI and the Sand Springs Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-448
Julio Efrain Velasquez-Bravo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Velasquez-Bravo, 38, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-446
Elderly Man in Delaware County Defrauded by a Citizen of India in the United States on Student VisaRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A citizen of India residing in San Antonio, Texas, and in the United States on a student visa, was indicted for defrauding an elderly man in Delaware County.
Venkateswara Chagamreddy, 27, is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Demand Money and Property While Falsely Impersonating a Federal Officer; and Conspiracy to Obstruct, Delay, and Affect Commerce by Extortion.
According to court documents, the elderly victim called a phone number that he believed was Microsoft support. While speaking with “Microsoft,” the victim was told that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that information would be turned over to the federal government. The victim was then contacted by someone who identified themselves as a federal officer and provided a false badge number. The fake federal officer told the victim that his identity had been stolen and provided to criminals, which resulted in him being “investigated,” and that his identity was used to commit federal crimes.
The fake federal officer spoke with the elderly victim about his finances and stated that he would be transferred to the “treasury department.” The victim was told that his money needed to be transferred to gold and that an “officer” would pick it up the following day. The elderly victim complied and provided photos of the gold. When the fake officer arrived, the victim handed him the package of gold.
A few days later, the victim was contacted again by the fake federal officer, who demanded more funds. The victim contacted a family member, who explained that he was being scammed and contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. With the victim's cooperation, deputies scheduled another pickup.
While deputies watched the arranged location, Chagamreddy arrived, and court documents allege that Chagamreddy was on the phone with the elderly victim when deputies arrested him. When deputies searched his vehicle, they found gold and marijuana, among other things. After waiving his right to an attorney present, Chagamreddy explained that he was in the United States on a student visa and was at risk of deportation after being suspended from school. Chagamreddy alleged that he recently travelled out of state to enroll in a different college and that, upon his return, the gold was in his vehicle.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough 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.
Mexican National and Son Charged for Allegedly Trafficking More than 75 Firearms and Bulk AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national and his son were charged by Criminal Complaint for Trafficking Firearms purchased from
a gun show.Andres Avila, 48, a Mexican national, is charged with Trafficking Firearms and being an Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. His son, Anthony Avila, 22, of Houston, Texas, is also charged with Trafficking Firearms.
Agents saw two individuals, later identified as Andres Avila and Anthony Avila (“Andres” and “Anthony”), allegedly engaging in activities consistent with straw purchasing and firearms trafficking. Andres and Anthony were seen wearing backpacks and working together to purchase firearms. When their backpacks were full, it is alleged that they emptied their bags into large totes kept beneath a specific vendor’s table. Court documents show that they paid cash to purchase firearms from private sellers in an attempt to avoid law enforcement detection.
After making several purchases and spending more than six hours at the gun show, agents observed Andres and Anthony leaving in a vehicle with a Texas license plate. When law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, they found large quantities of bulk ammunition marked in the vehicle, consistent with ammo purchased at the gun show. A records check showed that Andres was not in the United States legally and is a prohibited person from receiving or possessing firearms. A second records check showed that Anthony was the son of Andres.
Agents interviewed the vendors sitting at the booth where the guns were stored in totes. They explained that Andres is not legally inside the United States and discovered that there were more than 75 firearms in the totes. Apparently, the vendors met Andres and Anthony through a Texas pawn shop and explained they would pay cash to purchase firearm magazines.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Nowata Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Sexual Abuse and Two Counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, a federal jury convicted Kaleb Scott Smith, 34, of Nowata and a member of the Osage Nation, of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country.
In September 2024, a 14-year-old told a parent that Smith had sexually abused her. She also showed her parents a photo taken with Smith. The minor victim's parents testified that they contacted local law enforcement to report the incident, showed the photo to law enforcement, and provided the 14-year-old’s cellphone for search. The photo presented to the jury showed the 14-year-old cuddling with Smith under a blanket. Smith’s arm is wrapped around the child, and his hand is resting on her upper thigh.
When the minor victim testified, she stayed overnight with Smith’s 14-year-old daughter while Smith was celebrating his birthday in July 2024. The minor victim said that Smith flipped the waistband of her clothing and touched her butt. The next morning, Smith showed the 14-year-old a photo of himself naked in front of a mirror.
Witness testimony from Smith’s daughter and the minor victim described a second incident. They stated that Smith rented a hotel room at a casino with two beds. While in the room, both witnesses described lying on a bed to watch social media videos, and Smith laid with them. Smith was cuddling with the minor victim under a blanket and began rubbing his crotch on her back. The victim moved to the second bed. Smith followed her and rubbed his crotch against her butt.
During a third incident, Smith’s daughter, the minor victim, and their 14-year-old friend stayed the night at his house in September 2024. All three girls testified about the evening. Smith was with the minor victim in his bedroom with the door closed. The friend heard giggling and opened the bedroom door. She saw Smith on top of the minor victim in bed, felt uncomfortable, and closed the door. Later that night, Smith asked the minor victim to come back to his bedroom. After going back to the bedroom, evidence and trial testimony showed that Smith sexually abused the minor. A few days after the abuse, the minor victim told her friend what happened. A DNA expert confirmed that Smith’s bodily fluids and the minor victim’s DNA were found together on his bed.
When law enforcement interviewed the friend about the incident in September, she further disclosed that Smith had been inappropriate with her on several occasions. When she was 13 years old, Smith would make comments about her body and slap her butt. After turning 14, Smith made comments about her while she was in a towel and touched her breast.
Smith is a member of the Osage Nation and was taken into custody pending sentencing at a later date.
The Bartlesville Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Matthew Cyran prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Mounds Man Sentenced for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mounds man was sentenced today for Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced Dylan Ray Yahola, 33, to 200 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Yahola will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Johnson further ordered Yahola to pay $33,000 in restitution. That money goes directly to the victims identified in the child sexual abuse material that he possessed.
In December 2024, Yahola got into an argument with his girlfriend. During that argument, Yahola’s girlfriend discovered that he was sexting with a 16-year-old he knew through social media. His girlfriend then reported this to the police.
Investigators obtained a search warrant and found that Yahola requested the minor victim to produce nude photos and videos of themselves and to share them with him. In return, Yahola sent the minor victim naked photos and videos of himself. During the investigation, officers found that Yahola had previously downloaded and saved more than 30 images and over 800 videos that showed children being sexually abused. Some images included toddlers being sexually abused.
Yahola is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is the nation’s centralized reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation. NCMEC reports that its CyberTipline has received more than 195 million reports related to Child Sexual Abuse Material, commonly referred to as CSAM. NCMEC’s Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed more than 425 million images and videos and identified more than 30,000 victims.
Through technology, CSAM images and videos can be found in any online realm, causing the children who were initially sexually abused to be revictimized, over and over, with each share. Families of exploited children often feel alone and overwhelmed by the impact CSAM has on their lives. NCMEC provides assistance and support to families impacted by child sexual exploitation. They work with the victim's family by referring them to appropriate local professionals for longer-term support. NCMEC also has a volunteer program that connects families to others who have experienced the crisis of a sexually exploited child.
The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Harris and Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Prior Felon Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possessing a Loaded Firearm and Five Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Broken Arrow man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced Christopher Michael Helton, 48, to 168 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In September 2024, Tulsa Police officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle that Helton was driving. Instead of pulling over, Helton led officers on a pursuit through neighborhoods, and he tossed a black pack from the vehicle. Officers deployed “stop sticks” that slowed Helton down. After driving through a brick wall, several yards, and fences, Helton jumped out of the vehicle and ran.
Officers found Helton nearby and detained him. After searching his vehicle, officers found a loaded handgun, several magazines, and 480 rounds of ammunition. Officers searched the backpack that Helton tossed and found five pounds of methamphetamine.
Court records show that Helton has a lengthy criminal record that includes domestic assault and battery, kidnapping, possessing a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest, and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.
Helton 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 John W. Dowdell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
October Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October 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.
Miguel Barrios-Luevano. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Barrios-Luevano, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in May 2010. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-399
Swain Vann Foreman. 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; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Foreman, 29, of Twin Oaks and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Foreman is charged with using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and for possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Flynn and Melissa Weems are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-393
Yareli Gonzalez-Vallejo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gonzalez-Vallejo, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-400
Mario Alberto Ortiz Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ortiz Lopez, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jun. 2009. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-401
Aaron Mitchell Robinson. Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 1 & 2); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 3); Possession of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 4); Witness Tampering. (superseding). Robinson, 49, of Sperry, is charged with intentionally distributing methamphetamine. He is additionally charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of drug distribution and possessing a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. Lastly, Robinson is charged with intimidating and threatening the victim to prevent them from testifying in an official proceeding. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-361
Edwin Soto. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Soto, 27, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Lastly, Soto is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in Mar. 2020. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Heign and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-395
Sugar John Thomas. Escape (Count 1); Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 2 & 7); Possessing Contraband in Prison (Count 3); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Count 4); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 5); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 6). Thomas, 44, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is charged with escaping a residential center where he was lawfully confined at the direction of the Attorney General. He is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition in Aug. and Sep. 2025, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies, plus attempting to provide an inmate at the residential center with a firearm. Thomas assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm, and used a firearm while committing an act of violence. Further, Thomas is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The U.S. Marshal Service, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-396
Christopher Scott Weeden, Jr. Child Abuse in Indian Country. Weeden, 23, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with willfully and maliciously injuring, torturing, and maiming a child under 18 years old, and causing bruising and head trauma. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-409
Two Cuban Nationals Charged with Several Counts of Sex and Labor TraffickingRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Two Cuban nationals living in Tulsa are charged with several counts of sex and labor trafficking crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Oscar Alejandro Laborde Ricardo, 24, and his wife, Yenney Muir Naranjo, 24, of Cuba, are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking; Sex Trafficking; Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor; Forced Labor; and Interstate Travel to Aid Racketeering. Laborde is additionally charged with Document Servitude.
Court records show that law enforcement received a tip from a concerned citizen that a local exotic dancer was a possible victim of human trafficking in July. When law enforcement met with the victim, she told officers that Laborde promised an opportunity to work in the United States in exchange for $50,000 fee.
Once in the United States, Laborde took the victim’s Cuban passport and birth certificate. She was required to live with the defendants until her “debt” was paid in full, and they also charged her for rent and food. Laborde allegedly forced the victim to work as an exotic dancer. The victim told officers that she was forced to give her earnings to Laborde and Muir to work off her “debt.”
Court documents allege that the victim was required to cook and clean the house and was not paid for this housework. The victim was further forced to engage in a commercial sex act and was allegedly assaulted by Muir, while Laborde watched.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and John Brasher are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint and indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If you are a victim of trafficking, you can get help by calling 1-888-373-7888, texting 233733, or chatting with someone at humantraffickinghotline.org. If you suspect that someone is being trafficked, you can call 1-866-347-2423
or complete the web form.Federal Jury Found Bartlesville Man Guilty of Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, a federal jury convicted a Bartlesville man of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
According to court documents, Dylan Ray Alexander, 32, was indicted in February 2025, followed by a superseding indictment in March 2025. Evidence presented at trial showed that on February 2, 2025, Bartlesville Police officers were dispatched in reference to a 911 call of an injured man in the street.
When officers located the victim, Kevin Holden, he was lying on the road with a gunshot wound to his stomach, holding keys in his hands. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Witnesses testified that they heard Alexander arguing with a man, followed by a loud “pop.” Alexander was seen fleeing the scene after the shooting and discarded the handgun he used. Officers found the discarded firearm and Alexander the following day.
Upon questioning by detectives, Alexander claimed that he acted in self-defense because the victim attacked him with a knife. A detective later found a box knife folded and locked closed in the victim’s jeans.
Court records and additional evidence presented at trial show that Alexander was previously convicted of two felonies. He pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance and assault and battery on a police officer.
Despite six defense eyewitnesses testifying in support of Alexander’s self-defense claim, the jury unanimously rejected this defense and convicted him of involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense of second-degree murder. Alexander was acquitted of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, or Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation and was released on bond until sentencing is scheduled.
The FBI, Bartlesville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nowata County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Tara Heign prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Mexican National Sentenced for Being in the United States Unlawfully After Being Arrested at Drug Stash HouseRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Francisco Javier Garibay Isais, 46, for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Judge Russell ordered Garibay Isais to serve 21 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Garibay Isais is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.
In April 2025, Garibay Isais was arrested for driving without a license after leaving a drug stash house. While being booked into jail, records showed that Garibay Isais was unlawfully residing in the United States and had been previously removed in September 2023.
Garibay Isais was removed from the United States on two prior occasions. The first removal was in 1998, when Garibay Isais was convicted in the Western District of Texas for Fraud with Identification Documents. The second removal was in 2015. Garibay Isais was convicted in the District of Colorado for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams
or More of Methamphetamine.Court records show that law enforcement is unable to tie Garibay Isais to the drug house. However, he previously admitted to supplementing his income through “drug trading.”
Garibay Isais will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney prosecuted the case.
Saudi Arabian National Living in Tulsa Sentenced for Possessing and Attempting to Receive Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Saudi Arabian national living in Tulsa was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country and Attempted Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi, Jr., sentenced Mohamad Asaad Alhashem, 31, to 90 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Alhashem will also be required to register as a sex offender and ordered to pay $60,500 in restitution.
According to court documents, in October 2023, Alhashem began communicating with an undercover officer on social media, whom he believed was 14 years old. Over several weeks, Alhashem asked the 14-year-old about their sexual experiences and described the sexual acts he wanted to have with the minor. He also sent sexual videos of himself and requested photos from
the minor.After a search warrant was executed on Alhashem’s home, law enforcement found 195 images and 19 videos that contained the sexual abuse of children, infants, and toddlers. Law enforcement further found messages where Alhashem was attempting to purchase child sexual abuse material.
Alhashem will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Pryor Creek Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Michel prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Afton Man Sentenced After Trying to Meet a 13-Year-Old to Engage in SexRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An Afton man was sentenced today for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Clint Allen Hubble, 46, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Hubble will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In October 2024, Hubble sent a social media friend request and message to an undercover officer, posing as a 13-year-old. Hubble asked, “what is a cutie like you doing in Owasso,” and disclosed that he was 45 years old. Court documents show that Hubble engaged in sexual conversations for several days. He talked with the 13-year-old about hormones, sex, and sent photos of his erect penis. Hubble offered to provide the minor with a phone to take sexually explicit photos and requested to meet the minor to engage in sexual intercourse.
Hubble was arrested at the location where he planned to meet the minor. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Owasso Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Mexican National to Face Sixth Removal from the United StatesRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national who has been removed from the United States five times previously was sentenced today for unlawfully remaining in the country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi, Jr., sentenced Jose Juan Salas-Esparza, 48, for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Salas-Esparza was ordered to serve 18 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In March 2025, Salas-Esparza was arrested for aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, and other traffic violations. A records check indicated that Salas-Esparza was deported from the United States five times. Salas-Esparza’s most recent removal was in December 2024, after being convicted in the Western District of Texas for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and two counts of Illegal Alien Transportation.
The other four removals occurred after Salas-Esparza was driving under the influence and arrested.
Salas-Esparza will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Loaded Firearm and Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Sand Springs man was sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Clifton Darnell Brown, 47, to 151 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
In September 2024, Tulsa Police were dispatched to a gas station. Employees noticed a car was parked at a gas pump for an extended period of time, and the occupant appeared to be unconscious. When approached and awoken by officers, Brown failed to comply with their commands, and attempted to flee from them. Officers find a baggie that Brown threw and another baggie in his pants. During a search of the car, officers found marijuana and a loaded handgun. Lab forensics revealed that the baggies Brown possessed contained methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
Court records show that Brown was previously convicted of several felonies, including grand larceny, drug-related offenses, attempted burglary, and possessing a firearm after pleading guilty to felonies.
Brown 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 Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Active-Duty Army and Former Marine Reserve Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, an active-duty Army and former Marine Reserve was sentenced for Drug Conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi, Jr., sentenced David Julian Mendoza Gonzalez, 27, to 70 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Mendoza Gonzalez was arrested at Fort Carson in July 2024 while on active duty. While living
in Tulsa, Mendoza Gonzalez admitted to conspiring with others to traffic drugs. He took “orders” and directed “customers” to couriers. Mendoza Gonzalez and others took part in distributing more than one kilogram of heroin and more than 400 grams
of fentanyl.He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former IT Technician Sentenced for Stealing Coworker's Personal Data and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An IT Technician was sentenced today for possessing child pornography and obtaining personal and intimate photographs of co-workers and their families, as well as collecting data to access their personal information online, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi, Jr., sentenced Chad Henry Davis, 32, for three counts of Obtaining Information by Computer from a Protected Computer, Possession of Fifteen or More Unauthorized Access Devices, Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft. Judge Gelpi ordered Davis to serve 87 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Upon his release, Davis will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Court documents show the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip. Investigators found that Davis possessed at least 12 images and two videos that showed minor children being sexually abused. They further discovered personal and intimate photos that did not belong to Davis. When officers executed a federal warrant at his home, they found that Davis abused his access as an IT Technician and accessed his co-worker’s computers remotely.
Davis admitted to accessing and saving private photos of former co-workers that contained sensitive pictures of family members, including images of adults and one pubic area of a minor. He further admitted to collecting more than 500 usernames and passwords for personal banking, financial, medical, educational, and social media accounts that belonged to his co-workers.
Davis will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Compounding Pharmacy Owner Sent Back to PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Jenks man was sentenced today for failing to abide by the terms of his supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Christopher R. Parks, 65, to 15 months imprisonment, followed by 21 months of supervised release.
In October 2023, court records show that Parks was convicted of Conspiracy to Offer and Pay Health Care Kickbacks and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. The Court ordered Parks to pay more than $6.4 million in restitution and make monthly payments of at least $1,000 or 10% of net income, whichever is greater.
In April 2025, the U.S. Probation and Service Office (Probation) petitioned the court for a summons to compel Parks to come before the court. The petition alleges that Parks failed to make several payments. Court records show that Parks has paid only $8,450 toward his restitution since his release in January 2024.
During the investigation, Probation discovered that Parks failed to disclose several checking accounts and businesses.
He also engaged in efforts to obtain loans and/or credit and transferred assets to his family without first consulting with the Probation Office.Court records show that from March 2024 through June 2025, more than $560,000 was deposited and withdrawn from these accounts. Of the withdrawals, more than $320,000 was withdrawn in cash. Despite knowing he was facing additional prison time for noncompliance, court documents show that Parks continued to mislead Probation.
Parks will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The U.S. Probation and Service Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Whipple prosecuted the case.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A career criminal living in Sapulpa was sentenced today for Drug Conspiracy and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi, Jr., sentenced Richard Joseph Schweiger, 50, to 262 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In October 2023, Schweiger messaged an undercover deputy about selling a firearm. The deputy knew Schweiger was a felon and agreed to meet up and buy the firearm. When deputies arrested Schweiger, he pulled the firearm from his waistband and threw it next to him.
Deputies searched Schweiger’s social media and discovered roughly 50,000 pages of messages documenting over two years of methamphetamine and drug distribution. In his plea agreement, Schweiger admitted to conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine in Creek County.
Records show that Schweiger was previously convicted of 17 felonies in Louisiana and Oklahoma over the past 25 years. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Creek County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Flesher, Nathan Michel, and Christopher Nassar prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
October Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October Federal Grand Jury 2025-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.
Angel Aviles-Roman. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Aviles-Roman, 55, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Dec. 2008. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-384
Estevan Barron-Ruiz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Barron-Ruiz, 48, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Nov. 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-381
Jose Luis Bonilla-Hernandez. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms. Bonilla-Hernandez, 25, a national from El Salvador, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Further, Bonilla-Hernandez knew he was in the United States unlawfully and possessed several firearms. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-371
Anthony Lee George. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. George, 43, of Tulsa, is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl from Mar. 2025 through Sep. 2025. He is additionally charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and maintaining a residence to distribute drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-373
Ohansica Tresa Ingram. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Ingram, 44, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing she was previously convicted of felonies. She is further charged with intentionally assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-370
Carlos Juan-Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Juan-Perez, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Apr. 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-383
Bobby Lee Kirk. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Kirk, 42, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with strangling an intimate dating partner. The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dewhurst is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-386
Eduardo De Jesus Parada Cortez. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises. Parada Cortez, 21, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl from Jul. 2025 through Sep. 2025. He is charged with knowingly possessing more than 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking. Additionally, Parada Cortez is charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution, and he was knowingly in the United States unlawfully and possessed a firearm. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-374
Trevor Wayne Pickett. 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. Pickett, 33, of Pryor and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with intentionally assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-380
Remigio Ramirez-Escalante. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Escalante, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jan. 1999. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-382
Jose Antonio Ruiz-Perez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ruiz-Perez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Apr. 2017. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-379
Kenneth James Sequichie. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Sequichie, 46, 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 May through August 2025. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-375
Keith George Strimple. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender – International Travel (Counts 1 through 3). Strimple, 71, of Tulsa, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender and failed to provide information required by the Sex Offender and Notification Act related to international travel on three separate occasions. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-376
La’Dontae Lavere Taylor. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1 & 2); Sex Trafficking (Count 3); Transporting an Individual for Prostitution (Count 4) (second superseding). Taylor, 27, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition in Dec. 2024 and Feb. 2025, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He is charged with benefiting financially from recruiting, harboring, and providing transportation for two individuals to engage in commercial sex acts from Oct. 2022 through the date of the second indictment. Lastly, Taylor is charged with transporting a person to engage in prostitution and other sexual activities. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-134
Man Charged with Providing a Machinegun Conversion Device to a Minor While Serving a Firearm and Drug SentenceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Broken Arrow man was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm while under supervision of the State and allegedly sold a machinegun conversion device to a minor. Derrick Carl Andrew Chatman, 24, is charged with Possession of a Firearm by Person Under Indictment, Transfer or Possession of a Machinegun, and Firearms Trafficking.
The unsealed complaint alleges that in July, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was contacted by the Tulsa Police Department about recovering a firearm with an attached machinegun conversion device commonly known as a “switch.” A parent found the gun and ammunition in their juvenile’s bedroom. With the parents’ permission, the juvenile spoke with law enforcement and disclosed that he purchased the firearm at a gun show at the fairgrounds. While at the gun show, the juvenile met a man he could buy a switch from.
The complaint alleges that Chatman sold the switch to the juvenile. Video surveillance from the gun show also shows Chatman purchasing a firearm. During a search of Chatman’s home, law enforcement allegedly found a gun, several rounds of ammunition, and a box with a shipping label from China that contained firearm switches.
Further, court records show that Chatman was charged in July 2024 with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and other crimes. In December 2024, Chatman pleaded guilty, was sentenced, and remains under the State's supervision.
The ATF and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Mexican National Sentenced for Unlawfully Residing in Catoosa After Previous Deportation for Killing his 38-Day-Old BabyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national who was found residing in Catoosa and was previously deported after killing his son was sentenced today for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Carlos Ambriz-Estrada, 53, to 24 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
In March 2025, the Fugitive Operations Team with Immigration Customs Enforcement began investigating Ambriz-Estrada due to his prior conviction of deliberate homicide in Montana and the possibility of him being present in the United States unlawfully. He was arrested in April 2025 after law enforcement discovered that he was unlawfully living in Catoosa and that he did not have permission to re-enter the United States after being removed.
Court records show that in 1994, Montana law enforcement was dispatched to the hospital to investigate apparent child abuse. Ambriz-Estrada and his wife brought their 36-day-old baby to the hospital for treatment. The detective spoke with a doctor who confirmed that the baby had five broken ribs, detached retinas in both eyes, swelling of the head, bruises on the neck and abdomen, consistent with strangulation. The doctor reported that they believed the baby was strangled and without oxygen for some time, likely causing severe brain damage.
When being interviewed, Ambriz-Estrada admitted that he was angry with his wife and took it out on the baby. While the baby was crying, he squeezed the child’s throat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the baby lost consciousness. Afterward, he put the baby in a crib. The baby woke up crying one hour later, and Ambriz-Estrada admitted to picking up the baby and shaking him. Ambriz-Estrada told detectives the baby's breathing was irregular and appeared to have a seizure.
After two days in intensive care, the baby had no brain activity and was declared brain dead at 38 days old.
After pleading guilty to deliberate homicide, Ambriz-Estrada was ordered to 40 years imprisonment and served 12 years. After being released in 2006, Ambriz-Estrada was deported. After being deported, Ambriz-Estrada returned to the United States unlawfully sometime in 2020.
Ambriz-Estrada is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ammon Brisolara and Augustus Forster 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Man Charged with Providing a “Switch” to a Minor While Serving Firearm and Drug SentenceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A complaint was unsealed alleging that a Broken Arrow man unlawfully possessed a firearm while under supervision of the State and allegedly sold a firearm “switch” to a minor. Derrick Carl Andrew Chatman, 24, is charged with Possession of a Firearm by Person Under Indictment, Transfer or Possession of a Machinegun, and Firearms Trafficking.
In July, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was contacted by the Tulsa Police Department about recovering a firearm with an attached machinegun conversion device commonly known as a “switch.” A parent found the
gun and ammunition in their juvenile’s bedroom. With the parents’ permission, the juvenile spoke with law enforcement and disclosed that he purchased the firearm at a gun show at the fairgrounds. While at the gun show, the juvenile met a man he could buy a switch from.The complaint alleges that Chatman sold the switch to the juvenile. Video surveillance from the gun show also shows Chatman purchasing a firearm. During a search of Chatman’s home, law enforcement allegedly found a gun, several rounds of ammunition, and a box with a shipping label from China that contained firearm switches.
Further, court records show that Chatman was charged in July 2024 with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, and other crimes. In December 2024, Chatman pleaded guilty, was sentenced, and is still under the supervision of the State.
The ATF and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Oklahoma City Man Who Ran Nonprofit Indicted for Two Counts of Bank FraudRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An unsealed indictment shows that Victor Kensington Colbert, Jr., 60, owned and operated the nonprofit,
Oklahoma Heartland Heroes Foundation (Heartland Heroes), in Bixby.The indictment alleges that Colbert submitted at least five applications on behalf of Heartland Heroes seeking CARES
Act funds. The CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020 and included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These programs were established to support small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Of those applications, Colbert successfully obtained at least two PPP loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance, on behalf of Heartland Heroes, totaling approximately $217,000.Colbert allegedly submitted false documentation showing that he has several employees with monthly payroll expenses exceeding $55,000. He further claimed that any funds he received would be used to retain workers and maintain payroll, pay mortgage interest or lease payments, utility payments, and other covered expenses.
The Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve System is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi 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.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.
Tulsa Man Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Provide Al-Qa’ida with WeaponsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A complaint was unsealed today after a Tulsa man appeared before a federal judge for attempting to provide 3-D printed weapons to an individual he believed was receiving them on behalf of al-Qa’ida.
Andrew Scott Hastings, 25, is charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support or Resources to Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Illegal Possession or Transfer of a Machinegun.
In June 2024, the FBI learned that Hastings was on a social media application discussing committing acts of violence against United States civilians, in furtherance of global jihad. Court records indicate that Hastings was enlisted in the United States Army National Guard (Guard) and worked as an aircraft powertrain repairer and held a national security clearance. While serving with the Guard, Hastings traveled outside of the United States and failed to report his travel, as required.
Allegedly, Hastings told others within the social media group that they needed to develop cyberspace skills and to start physical training. During months of discussions, Hastings offered to provide anyone interested with numerous pages of notes, as well as Army manuals related to tactics and the manufacture of weapons. Hastings further alleged that he could 3-D print firearms, was interested in creating a nuclear weapon, and discussed the advantages of using tunnels to protect armed militants, consistent with news reports about Hamas’s use of tunnels in Gaza.
Hastings began communicating with an undercover agent who claimed to have contacts with al-Qa’ida. They discussed 3-D printed firearms, machinegun conversion devices known as “switches,” and drones. Hastings eventually agreed to sell 3-D printed switches to the undercover agent, and believed the switches would be provided to al-Qa’ida members to use during terrorist attacks. Court documents show that Hastings was seen on surveillance footage twice arriving at a postal facility to ship boxes that contained 3-D printed switches and various handgun parts to be supplied to al-Qa’ida for use in terrorist attacks.
During the pendency of this investigation, on June 6, 2025, Hastings agreed to voluntarily discharge from the Guard.
The FBI Oklahoma City – Tulsa Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Army Counterintelligence Command, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel, Matthew P. Cyran, and Christopher J. Nassar for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case with support from Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Arrested and Charged with Attempting to Provide Al-Qaida with WeaponsRead the Press Release
A criminal complaint was unsealed today after a Tulsa, Oklahoma, man appeared before a federal judge for attempting to provide 3-D printed weapons to an individual he believed was receiving them on behalf of al-Qaida.
Andrew Scott Hastings, 25, is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations and illegal possession or transfer of a machinegun.
In June 2024, the FBI learned that Hastings was on a social media app discussing committing acts of violence against U.S. civilians in furtherance of global jihad. Court records indicate that Hastings was enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard (Guard) and worked as an aircraft powertrain repairer, and held a national security clearance. While employed with the Guard, Hastings traveled outside of the United States and failed to report his travel, as required.
Allegedly, Hastings told others within the social media group that they needed to develop cyberspace skills and to start physical training. During months of discussions, Hastings offered to provide anyone interested more than 500 pages of notes, as well as Army manuals related to tactics and the manufacture of weapons. Hastings claimed that he had previously been detained and interrogated by law enforcement and explained how to avoid law enforcement. Hastings further alleged that he made a firearm, was interested in creating a nuclear weapon, and discussed the advantages of using tunnels to protect armed militants, consistent with news reports about Hamas’s use of tunnels in Gaza.
Hastings began communicating with an undercover agent who claimed to have contacts with al-Qaida. They discussed 3-D printed firearms, machinegun conversion devices known as “switches,” and drones. Hastings eventually provided the undercover agent with a link to a website where he was offering 3-D printed switches for sale. Court documents show that Hastings was seen on surveillance footage twice arriving at a postal facility to ship boxes that contained more than 100 3-D printed switches, two 3-D printed lower receivers for a handgun, one handgun slide, and various handgun parts to be supplied to al-Qaida for use in terrorist attacks.
During the pendency of this investigation, on June 6, 2025, Hastings agreed to voluntarily discharge from the Guard.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.
The FBI Oklahoma City – Tulsa Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force,
the Army Counterintelligence Command, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel, Matthew P. Cyran, and Christopher J. Nassar for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case with support from Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Child Predator Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A child predator was sentenced today to life in prison after attempting to meet a 14-year-old boy, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jeffry Alan Clain, 59, for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Clain to serve life in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. If released, Clain will also be required to register as a sex offender.
“Clain is every parent's worst nightmare. He not only tried to meet a child to engage in sex but also had hundreds of devices containing child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This sentence sends a strong message to criminals looking to exploit children. We will be relentless and find anyone looking to harm our children.”
“Our agents at HSI collaborate with our law enforcement partners daily to ensure those involved in predatory acts against children are brought to justice,” said James Carmany Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the HSI Dallas – Oklahoma Division. “With the life sentence imposed on this defendant, it is assured that he will never harm an innocent child again.”
In July 2024, Clain began communicating with someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy on a dating application. When the boy disclosed that he was only in the 9th grade, court records show that Clain said, “it’s been years since I’ve dated a young guy like you.” The conversations quickly turned sexual. Clain sent nude photos and detailed the sexual acts he would perform on the boy while bathing together. Clain then arranged to meet the 14-year-old at his home. When Clain arrived, agents took him into custody.
While speaking with agents, Clain admitted that he knew it was wrong to have sex with a minor. He told agents that they would find child pornography on his cellphone. Clain also admitted to agents that he previously engaged in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy while he was an adult.
Agents obtained a search warrant for Clain’s cellphones and home. During the search of his home, agents found more than 170 electronic devices, some of which contained multiple storage drives. In total, agents found the equivalent of more than 12,000 images depicting children, toddlers, and infants being sexually abused.
During the examination of the devices found in Clain’s home, agents found images from 2016 with a different 14-year-old boy and their conversations over the years. In the conversation, Clain provides the 14-year-old with links to child sexual abuse material and explains how to find it on the internet. The images found showed Clain performing sexual acts on the 14-year-old boy. Agents were able to identify and locate the child victim. The victim, now 24 years old, identified himself in the photos.
Clain will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department investigated this case as part of Operation Clean Sweep II. This operation partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, which aims to hold child predators accountable throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Prue Man Sentenced After Sexually Abusing a 14-Year-Old and Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Prue man was sentenced today for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and Receipt of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Caleb Paul Toothman, 43, to 365 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Toothman will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Heil further ordered Toothman to pay $3,000 in restitution.
In December 2023, Toothman connected with a 14-year-old minor victim through a website and began communicating with them via social media. On two separate occasions, the minor victim agreed to meet Toothman and snuck out of their home. Toothman picked up the minor and then drove to a park where he sexually abused the victim. Further, Toothman requested and received sexually explicit photos of the minor victim.
Toothman is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Michel and Kate Brandon prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.
Broken Arrow Man Sentenced After Attempting to Receive Child Pornography and Meet a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Broken Arrow man was sentenced today for Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Danny Lawrence Newton, 43, to 96 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Newton will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In June 2024, Newton initiated contact with a person on social media whom he believed was a 14-year-old. While chatting, court records show that Newton requested photos from the minor and talked to the minor about having sex. Newton then arranged to meet the 14-year-old in person and drove to the address provided, where law enforcement detained him.
Newton will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations, the Skiatook Police Department, the Pryor Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated it as part of Operation Clean Sweep II. This operation partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, which aims to hold child predators accountable throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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.