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. Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Arson 12/23/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Aaron Welch Earley, age 42, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Arson in Indian Country.  The Court also ordered Earley pay restitution in the amount of $130,268.91.On March 28, 2024, Earley pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on March 14, 2023, Earley willfully and maliciously set fire to an insured Westville, Oklahoma, residence for financial benefit.  The total reported loss exceeded $100,000. Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime 12/23/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Carl Ward, age 69, of Vian, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.On June 3, 2024, Ward pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on January 2, 2024, agents discovered Ward in possession of possessed gallon-size baggies containing crystalline methamphetamine, two sets of digital gram-weight scales, and smaller plastic baggies filled with crystalline methamphetamine.  In total, Ward possessed over 575 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended to distribute. Muskogee County Resident Pleads Guilty To Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material 12/20/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Thomas Edward Gailus, age 51, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.The Indictment alleged that between April of 2018 and March 23, 2023, Gailus knowingly accessed and possessed visual depictions from the internet of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that Gailus accessed the images intending to view them. Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Charge 12/19/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clint Rogers Chuculate, a/k/a Clint Robert Chuculate, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.The Indictment alleged that on September 19, 2024, Chuculate knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended to distribute. Muskogee Residents Sentenced For Child Neglect 12/18/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Allen Maher, age 33, and Azalee Louellen Maher, age 28, both of Muskogee, Oklahoma, were sentenced to five years supervised release for child neglect in Indian country.On April 15, 2024, Andrew Maher and Azalee Maher each pleaded guilty to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country.  According to investigators, on August 18, 2023, Muskogee officers responding to reports of an accidental firearm discharge at a Muskogee residence discovered a two-year old child with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the lower abdomen.  EMS workers successfully resuscitated and stabilized the child, who was transported for life-saving surgery.  As part of the plea, both defendants admitted failing to provide adequate supervision to the child in their care, resulting in the child accessing a firearm. Idabel Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime 12/17/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Teresa Leona Dean, age 55, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 6 years in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.On June 5, 2024, Dean pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on August 17, 2023, Dean distributed over 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Bartlesville Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime 12/17/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Luther Lee Taylor, a/k/a Luther Lee High, a/k/a Luther Lee Taylor High, age 44, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.On August 27, 2024, Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 21, 2024, law enforcement intercepted Taylor approximately half a mile from the Howard-McLeod Correctional Center in Atoka County carrying two large duffel bags which were found to contain baggies of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime 12/17/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Heath Tyler Bryan, age 34, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for one count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.On May 15, 2024, Bryan pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.  According to investigators, on January 1, 2024, troopers discovered Bryan in possession of a loaded .38 special revolver and one round of ammunition.  Bryan possessed the firearm and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty To Maiming 12/17/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cody Ray McFadden, age 36, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Maiming in Indian Country.The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2022, McFadden, intending to maim and disfigure, disabled the victim. Ardmore Resident Pleads Guilty To Felony Assault Charge 12/17/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Alan Chastain, age 52, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea of one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2024, Chastain assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, with intent to do bodily harm. Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge 12/17/2024 07:00 AM EST MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rickey Everett Ballard, age 29, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.The Superseding Indictment alleged that between May 1, 2024, and May 29, 2024, Ballard knowingly possessed a semiautomatic .300 blackout caliber pistol and twenty-nine rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. 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