USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Offense 04/10/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lawrence Eugene Blue, age 65, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possessing a firearm after being previously convicted of a felony offense.  This sentence is to be served concurrently with an 18-month term of imprisonment imposed for violating supervised release. On June 7, 2023, Blue pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.  On December 1, 2022, a United States Probation Officer discovered Blue in possession of a .22 caliber revolver and assorted ammunition.  At the time, Blue was on supervised release for one count of a federal drug conspiracy conviction, a felony crime, and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Oklahoma City Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge 04/09/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lebron Earl Samuels, age 41, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On September 7, 2023, Samuels pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on July 12, 2022, Samuels was discovered in possession of a 9mm pistol and a loaded extended magazine after a high-speed pursuit in which Samuels tried to evade arrest on an outstanding warrant.  At the time of the possession, Samuels had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. Ardmore Nurse Sentenced For Tampering With Pain Medication 04/05/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rebecca Elaine Holloway, age 33, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for one count of Tampering with Consumer Products, a violation of Title 18, United Sates Code, Section 1365. On August 31, 2023, Holloway entered a guilty plea, admitting to stealing fentanyl and hydromorphone intended for intensive care patients while she was employed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  According to investigators, Holloway removed the pain medication from their vials, refilled the empty vials with tap water, and returned the tampered vials to the controlled storage locker.  Holloway admitted she did so despite knowing the pain medication vials were intended for patients in acute pain and distress, and that by depriving patients of the medication, she knew she was placing them at risk of death and bodily injury. Pontotoc County Resident Sentenced To 19 Years For Assault And Explosives Offenses 04/05/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Craig Hollars, age 44, of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 235 months in prison for a prolonged assault ending at the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building in September of 2022. Hollars was sentenced to 115 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, 115 months for one count of Assault of a Dating Partner in Indian Country, 115 months for one count of Attempt to Damage and Destroy by Explosive, and 115 months for one count of Making a Firearm in Violation of the National Firearms Act.  These sentences are set to be served concurrently.  Hollars was sentenced to an additional 120 months in prison for one count of Carrying an Explosive During the Commission of a Felony, to be served consecutive to the other sentences. On September 7, 2023, Hollars pleaded guilty to the charges.  On September 6, 2022, Hollars strangled the victim, threatened her with a homemade bomb, chased her as she fled to the Chickasaw Nation Treasury Building, struck her in the back of the head, dragged her from the building as she sought shelter, then attempted to light the bomb, with intent to injure her and damage the Treasury Building. Wewoka Resident Sentenced To 12 Years For Armed Assault 04/05/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darian Ty Farris, age 27, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months for one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and 30 months in custody for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  The terms are set to be served consecutively. On August 10, 2023, Farris pleaded guilty to the charges.  According to investigators, in the early morning hours of March 2, 2023, Farris approached a Wewoka residence and yelled through the front door, challenging the occupant to a fight.  When the occupant stepped outside, Farris intentionally shot the victim in the abdomen with a firearm and fled.  Law enforcement investigating the crime issued a warrant for Farris's arrest.  On April 18, 2023, law enforcement uncovered the outstanding warrant during a routine traffic stop.  Faced with arrest, Farris led officers on a chase at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and fired upon pursuing officers. Idabel Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime 04/04/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cedric Jamara Cherry, age 42, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a felony offense. On August 8, 2023, Cherry pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on March 15, 2023, Cherry possessed a loaded .40 S&W pistol after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Ada Resident Sentenced For Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury 04/03/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Amya Elise Walker, age 20, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. On September 25, 2023, Walker pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on May 13, 2023, Walker violently attacked an elderly woman at an Ada residence, leaving the victim with multiple bruises and lacerations requiring medical care. Durant Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearms Crime 04/03/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bobby William Wells, Jr., age 33, of Durant, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition. On June 8, 2023, Wells pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.  According to court documents, Wells admitted to having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and to possessing ammunition despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so. Broken Arrow Resident Sentenced For Desecrating A Human Corpse 04/02/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lauren Ann Jackson, age 35, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for burning the body of a murder victim. On June 8, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty in federal district court to one count of Desecration of a Human Corpse in Indian Country.  According to investigators, between November 15 and 16 of 2021, Jackson assisted in burning the body of a victim murdered by Dayan Banks hours before.  On January 29, 2024, Banks was convicted by a jury in state district court of one count of Murder in the First Degree—Deliberate Intent, and one count of Desecration of a Human Corpse. Wilburton Couple Sentenced For Role In Murder-For-Hire Scheme 03/29/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Courtney Nicole Deatherage, age 28, and Dustin Keith Deatherage, 27, both of Wilburton, Oklahoma, were sentenced for their roles in a murder-for-hire plot. On March 27, 2024, Courtney Deatherage was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Use of Interstate Facility in Murder-for-Hire, and Dustin Deatherage was sentenced to 97 months in prison for one count of Use of Interstate Facility in Murder-for-Hire. In July of 2023, the Deatherages each pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 21, 2021, Courtney Deatherage contacted an individual to request a murder-for-hire and to negotiate terms.  Over text messages, Courtney Deatherage specified the target, gave instructions, and agreed to an upfront fee, with the same amount to be paid out after the murder.  On January 22, 2021, Courtney and Dustin met in person with the individual they believed they were hiring to perform the murder, paid a down payment on the contract, and produced a loaded 12-guage shotgun to be used in the murder.  Courtney and Dustin Deatherage were arrested by law enforcement shortly after completing their transaction, and the target of the murder-for-hire plot was unharmed. Inmate Sentenced To 15 Years For Federal Carjacking During Escape 03/29/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Preston Shawn Whittington, age 28, of Waurika, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a statutory maximum sentence of 180 months in prison for Carjacking. On May 31, 2023, Whittington pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, Whittington was an inmate at the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester, Oklahoma, serving a state sentence for kidnapping.  On March 30, 2021, Whittington assaulted the victim, stole the victim's vehicle, and escaped.  During the assault, Whittington threatened to kill the victim.  Officers with the Davis Police Department later spotted the victim's vehicle at a local gas station with Whittington inside.  Whittington led police on a high speed chase, exceeding speeds of 100 mph before crashing the victim's vehicle and fleeing on foot.  Whittington stole a second vehicle before being captured in Wichita Falls, Texas, one day after his escape from prison. 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