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. U.S. Attorney's Office To Work With Local Partners To Reduce Domestic Violence 09/13/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.  Today, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson announced that Muskogee County, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, is included among those designated communities. The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney's offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning or possessing firearms. Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders.  They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities.  The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g).  The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence. Defendant Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry 09/13/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Basilio Antonio-Hernandez, age 40, entered a guilty plea to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The Indictment alleged that on May 26, 2024, Antonio-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States without the express consent of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after having been previously deported and removed on three prior occasions. Federal Jury Convicts Cherokee County Resident Of First Degree Murder 09/13/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Dewayne Beard, age 51, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country and two federal firearms offenses. The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, September 9, 2024, and concluded, on Friday, September 14, 2024, with the guilty verdicts. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Beard intentionally shot and killed the victim with malice aforethought.  According to investigators, Beard and the victim were romantic rivals for the same woman.  On March 29, 2023, Beard became angry and ordered the woman to remove her property from his residence while he was away.  Knowing that the victim was the woman's only ride and would accompany her to remove her items, Beard hid his vehicle, and waited inside for the two to return.  When the woman and victim arrived, Beard shot the victim in the chest.  The victim fell to the ground where Beard shot the victim in the chest again at pointblank range. Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country 09/10/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Gage Wiedel, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment of 12 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The Superseding Indictment alleged that Wiedel sexually abused four children under the age of 12 while he was employed as a teacher's assistant at St. Joseph Catholic School in Muskogee, Oklahoma. McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Crime 09/06/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy David Crawley, age 46 of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy. The Indictment alleged that between 2019 and January 2023, the defendant conspired to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, at least 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug And Firearm Crimes 09/06/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Ricky Dale Degase, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 120 months imprisonment for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  The sentences will run concurrently. On February 7, 2024, Degase pleaded guilty to the federal drug and firearm charges.  According to investigators, on March 7, 2023, an OHP trooper conducting a traffic stop arrested Degase on an outstanding warrant.  During the arrest, Degase was discovered in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol, found under Degase's seat, along with 22.36 grams of methamphetamine, which Degase intended for distribution.  Degase knowingly possessed the firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine 09/05/2024 08:00 AM EDT MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jack Dewayne Neugin, age 55, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Indictment alleged that on January 27, 2024, Neugin possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to distribute it. You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Manage your Subscriptions | Department of Justice Privacy Policy  | GovDelivery Privacy Policy Follow the Offices of the United States Attorneys on Twitter: @USAttorneys