PRESS RELEASES - February 2007
February 08, 2007 - HUNNICUTT, Jesse Wayne
February 08, 2007 - NEVELING, Karen Lynn
February 08, 2007 - RODGERS, Katrina Marie
February 08, 2007 - SOTELO, Catarina
February 12, 2007 - CHAPPLE, William M.
February 13, 2007 - BROWN, Dymond Charles
February 14, 2007 - JASSO, Clemente
February 14, 2007 - ORTEGA-ZALETA, Edgar
February 16, 2007 - FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS:
BERTRAM, Eric Nelson
HAND, Lisa Marlene
JOHNSON-HEATH, Cathy Rynea
SIMS, Brian
TATUM, Jason Allen
WARLEDO, Lucas
February 16, 2007 - STEWART, Terry Diane
February 22, 2007 - HUNTER, Sean Randall
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FOR RELEASE: February 08, 2007
SUBJECT: HUNNICUTT, Jesse Wayne
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JESSE WAYNE HUNNICUTT, age 34, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of an Unregistered Short-Barreled Shotgun.
“HUNNICUTT was sentenced to sixty (60) months imprisonment, and twenty-four (24) months supervised release for each of the two charges, to run concurrently. The defendant was also ordered to pay a Special Assessment Fee of $100.00 per count. The defendant pled guilty to the charges in September 2006,” reported U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), involving two separate criminal investigations in Muskogee County,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling. “In July 2005, HUNNICUTT was stopped by the Muskogee Police Department for a traffic violation and officers discovered a bag containing 51.19 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle which HUNNICUTT was driving. In May 2005, HUNNICUTT was stopped for speeding by the Fort Gibson Police Department and officers seized a 12 gauge shotgun with a 15 ½” barrel from the defendant’s pickup.”
“United States District Judge Ronald A. White presided over today’s sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 08, 2007
SUBJECT: NEVELING, Karen Lynn
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that KAREN LYNN NEVELING, age 36, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced for Counterfeiting and Forging Obligations or Securities of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 471.
“NEVELING was sentenced to thirteen (13) months imprisonment, twenty-four (24) months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment Fee of $100.00. The defendant pled guilty to the charge in October 2006,” reported U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Secret Service and the Ardmore Police Department. A search of NEVELING’s hotel room in Ardmore resulted in the finding of equipment used to manufacture counterfeit federal reserve notes,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“United States District Judge Ronald A. White presided over today’s sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 08, 2007
SUBJECT: RODGERS, Katrina Marie
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that KATRINA MARIE RODGERS, age 28, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
“RODGERS was sentenced to thirty (30) months imprisonment, twenty-four (24) months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment Fee of $100.00. The defendant pled guilty to the charges in September 2006,” reported U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The charges arose from an April 2006 investigation by the McAlester Police Department and the District 18 Narcotics Task Force,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling. “Officers discovered 78 grams of methamphetamine, 188 grams of cocaine, 1778 grams of marijuana, a loaded .380 pistol and digital scales in two vehicles at a residence in the 1200 block of East Seneca in McAlester.”
“Co-defendants Phillip Gail Slade, Jr. pled guilty in September 2006, and Jonathan Cavenaugh Bell was found guilty by a federal jury in September 2006 on related charges. Slade, age 28, from Oklahoma City, pled guilty to Conspiracy, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Bell, age 24, also from Oklahoma City was found guilty on three counts of Possession of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana. Both co-defendants are in custody, awaiting sentencing,” concluded U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“United States District Judge Ronald A. White presided over today’s sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 08, 2007
SUBJECT: SOTELO, Catarina
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that CATARINA SOTELO, age 45, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced for Unlawful Conversion of Social Security Income Benefits, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1383a(4).
“SOTELO was sentenced to five (5) years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,189.36 to the Social Security Administration. The defendant pled guilty to the charges in September 2006,” reported U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The charges arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling. “The defendant was receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit funds as the representative payee for a minor child. During the period of December 2004 to June 2006, the defendant converted the funds for her own use and benefit without getting permission from the Social Security Administration to do so,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“United States District Judge Ronald A. White presided over today’s sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 12, 2007
SUBJECT: CHAPPLE, William M.
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - United States Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling announced that WILLIAM M. CHAPPLE, age 42, of Muskogee, Oklahoma was resentenced today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, at Muskogee. The Honorable James H. Payne presided over today’s sentencing.
“The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld and affirmed the defendant’s convictions on two counts of mailing threatening communications. The Court disagreed with the guidelines calculation on the original sentence,” explained U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“In September 2005, Judge Payne sentenced the defendant to 33 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release,” reported U.S. Attorney Sperling. “Today, Judge Payne upheld his original sentencing of 33 months in prison, citing the unique characteristics of the communication in this case. Because the communications the defendant mailed, which were delivered to a business and intercepted at the Muskogee Post Office, were indiscriminate in nature, they created a number of victims. Even though the Circuit Court determined this body of victims to be indirect, Judge Payne ruled they are in fact the people who directly came in contact with material mailed by the defendant. Thus, the correctly calculated guideline range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines does not adequately take into consideration the number of victims or the nature of the threat communicated by the defendant. As a result, pursuant to 3553(a)(1), Judge Payne found an upward variance is appropriate in this case.”
“The January 18, 2007 order of the Circuit Court identified three bases for consideration of a variance. They include the egregious nature of the defendant’s conduct, the psychological trauma caused to all of the victims of the crime, and the nature of this defendant’s actions in light of the threat of terror under which everyone in the nation labors daily.”
“On July 8, 2005, at the conclusion of a two day trial, CHAPPLE was found guilty of two counts of mailing threatening communications. CHAPPLE was ordered detained following the verdict and has been incarcerated since that time,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The charges resulted from an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CHAPPLE mailed two envelopes containing a granular substance to a business in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The envelopes arrived in Muskogee on separate days and were treated as bio-hazards by the Muskogee Police Department and the Muskogee Post Office. The substance was later determined not to contain hazardous materials by the Oklahoma Department of Health in Oklahoma City. The two envelopes were mailed from U.S. Post Offices in Colorado and Kansas.”
“Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the government at the trial, sentencing, and today’s resentencing,” concluded U.S. Attorney Sperling.
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FOR RELEASE: February 13, 2007
SUBJECT: BROWN, Dymond Charles
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced a jury verdict of guilty was returned late Monday, February 12, 2006, for DYMOND CHARLES BROWN, age 27, of Muskogee, Oklahoma. The federal jury found the defendant guilty of Possession of Cocaine Base with the Intent to Distribute.
“On October 6, 2006, the Muskogee Police Department dutifully responded to two calls – the first of a reckless driver and the second of an actual wreck,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling. “Muskogee Police responded. The defendant resisted arrest. Officer J. W. Folsum subdued the defendant and placed him under arrest. This officer who had never hit his emergency call button did so. The defendant was ultimately taken to Muskogee Regional Medical Center where two packages of crack cocaine were found in his pants. The jury was out for less than an hour,” noted U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge, presided over the one-day trial. Following the jury’s return of a guilty verdict, Judge White ordered the defendant detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal. Sentencing will be scheduled after the preparation of a presentence report.”
“The maximum punishment for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine is not less than five years nor more than forty years in prison. A preliminary guideline calculation rendered a prospective sentencing range of 324 – 405 months.”
“Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the government at trial.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 14, 2007
SUBJECT: JASSO, Clemente
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that CLEMENTE JASSO, age 30, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment Fee of $100.00.
“JASSO pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime in September 2006. Charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling. “JASSO was stopped by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in April 2006. The deputy found 60.22 grams of methamphetamine in JASSO’s pocket and a loaded .357 magnum pistol in the vehicle.”
“The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge, presided over today’s sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 14, 2007
SUBJECT: ORTEGA-ZALETA, Edgar
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that EDGAR ORTEGA-ZALETA, age 34, of LeFlore County, Oklahoma was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, 60 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment Fee of $100.00.
“ORTEGA-ZALETA pled guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute in September 2006. Co-defendants SUSAN ORTEGA, age 34, and ANTHONY YBARRA, age 35, both also of LeFlore County, pled guilty to similar charges in September 2006. Both remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, awaiting sentencing,” commented U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The investigation that led to the defendants’ arrests began in January 2005 by the DA’s Drug Task Force in District 16 (LeFlore County), assisted by Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Forest Service, and other local, state, and federal agencies. The defendants were part of an organized cell of narcotics traffickers in the LeFlore County area, who sold large quantities of methamphetamine ICE to undercover agents,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“The Honorable Ronald A. White presided over today’s sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 16, 2007
SUBJECT: FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS: BERTRAM, Eric Nelson; HAND, Lisa Marlene; JOHNSON-HEATH, Cathy Rynea; SIMS, Brian; TATUM, Jason Allen; WARLEDO, Lucas
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - United States Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling announced today the results of the February 2007 Federal Grand Jury.
The following named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an indictment by the Grand Jury. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Statutory maximum punishments are in parentheses. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court. Federal prison sentences are non-parolable.
ERIC NELSON BERTRAM, age 56, of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Felon in Possession of Firearms. Charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. BERTRAM allegedly was stopped by the Muskogee Police Department for speeding. A loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol was allegedly found lying in the front floorboard with another loaded magazine and a bottle containing 9mm ammunition. The defendant also allegedly had a loaded Davis Industries 38 special derringer in his pocket. The charges are in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 922 (g)(1). (Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000.00 fines)
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson
LISA MARLENE HAND, age 41 of Seminole, Oklahoma. False Entry in the Books of an FDIC Insured Bank and/or Aiding and Abetting same; Bank Fraud and/or Aiding and Abetting same; and Forfeiture – False Entry in Bank Books or Bank Fraud. Charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. HAND was a Vault Teller and Teller Supervisor of the BancFirst branch in Seminole, Oklahoma from June 1999 to on or about June 3, 2005. In her capacity, HAND controlled the flow of money in and out of the branch’s vault, teller drawers, and automated teller machines. The defendant was responsible for preparing the daily vault cash reconciliation reports and providing them to the officers of BancFirst, as well as reconciling several general ledger accounts at the branch office. HAND allegedly created false internal bank documents showing the movement of cash in and out of the branch vault, and then separately created false internal bank documents using the general ledger accounts to cure the account imbalances due to the initial false entries. It is alleged in the indictment that the amount of proceeds obtained by HAND as a result of the offenses is equal to $3,263,696.23. The charges are in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Sections 1005 and 2; 18 U.S.C. Sections 1344 and 2; 18 U.S.C. Sections 1005 or 1344; and 18 U.S.C. Section 982(a)(2).
(Up to 30 years imprisonment and/or up to $1,000,000.00 fines)
Assistant United States Attorney Robert A. Wallace
CATHY RYNEA JOHNSON-HEATH, age 29, of Coppers Cove, Texas, and BRIAN SIMS, age 33, of Coppers Cove, Texas. Conspiracy to Commit Fraud in Connection with Access Devices; Use of a Counterfeit Access Device; Possession of Fifteen or More Counterfeit Access Devices; Possession of Device-Making Equipment; and Possession of a Scanning Receiver. Charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Durant Police Department. The indictment alleges the defendants obtained valid credit card account numbers, and with the use of necessary equipment, manufactured counterfeit drivers licenses, military identifications, and credit cards. JOHNSON-HEATH and SIMS allegedly used counterfeit credit cards to make purchases in Calera, Oklahoma and Durant, Oklahoma in February 2007. The defendants were also in possession of access devices, device-making equipment, and a scanning receiver, which are activities affecting interstate commerce. The offenses occurred in Bryan County, Oklahoma. The charges are in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 371; 18 U.S.C. Section 1029(a)(1); 18 U.S.C. Section 1029(a)(3); 18 U.S.C. Section 1029(a)(4); and 18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(8).
(Up to 55 years imprisonment and/or up to $1,000,000.00 fines).
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan M. Roberts
JASON ALLEN TATUM, age 30, of Calvin, Oklahoma, in Hughes County. Securities of the States and Private Entities. Charges arose from an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service. TATUM allegedly uttered a counterfeited check from the account of another person in the amount of $432.92, with the intent to deceive an organization. The charges are in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. Section 513(a).
(Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000.00 fines).
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan M. Roberts
LUCAS WARLEDO, age 26, of Seminole County, Oklahoma. Embezzlement of Government Funds. Charges arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and Office of Intelligence. WARLEDO allegedly obtained Social Security Income benefits to which he was not entitled in the approximate amount of $31,875.00. The alleged offenses took place from October 2000 to March 2006. The charges are in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. Sections 641 and 2.
(Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000.00 fines).
Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Hess
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FOR RELEASE: February 16, 2007
SUBJECT: STEWART, Terry Diane
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that on February 15, 2007, TERRY DIANE STEWART, age 49, of Idabel, Oklahoma was sentenced to one year probation on each of the five counts, to run concurrently, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,890.67 to the United States Postal Service. She was also ordered to pay a $25.00 Special Assessment Fee for each count.
“STEWART pled guilty to Misappropriation of Postal Funds in September 2006. Charges arose from an investigation by the United States Postal Service,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling. “The defendant converted U. S. Postal Service funds to her own personal use, in and during her official employment duties as Postmaster at the Hayworth Post Office, Hayworth, Oklahoma,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling.
“Magistrate Judge Kimberly E. West presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Paul G. Hess represented the government.”
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FOR RELEASE: February 22, 2007
SUBJECT: HUNTER, Sean Randall
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that on February 21, 2007, SEAN RANDALL HUNTER, age 24, of Ada, Oklahoma, pled guilty to Assimilative Crime – Using a Vehicle to Facilitate Use of a Firearm.
“Charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. HUNTER was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charges in January 2007. On or about December 21, 2006, the defendant fired shots at and into the gas pumps at the Chickasaw Nation Travel Plaza, in Pontotoc County, within Indian Country,” recalled U.S. Attorney Sperling. “HUNTER was sitting in a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck with Texas plates during the incident. A Ruger .270 rifle was used by the defendant with conscious disregard for the safety of other persons.”
“The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge, accepted HUNTER’s plea and ordered the defendant detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal. Sentencing will be scheduled after the preparation of a presentence report.”
“The charges are in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 13, 1151, and 1152. The maximum punishment is up to twenty years imprisonment. A preliminary guideline calculation rendered a prospective sentencing range of 24 to 33 months.”
“Assistant United States Attorney Linda A. Epperley represented the government.”
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