News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2008
Contact: Terri K. Wyatt
Special Agent/PIO
Number: 214-366-6900

Last Defendant Sentenced In Operation ‘Big Mac & Fries’

JUN 19 -- (Muskogee, OK) - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JACK RICE, age 62, of Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, was sentenced on conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to carry on unlawful activities, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371 and Title 18 U.S.C., Section 1952(a)(3). RICE is the last defendant to be sentenced of the 13 co-defendants indicted on July 19, 2007, by a federal grand jury. He pled guilty to the charges on October 26, 2007.

“RICE was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 24 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $100.00,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling.

“The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over today’s sentencing. The Court ordered the defendant to report to the U.S. Marshal Service by noon on July 1, 2008, to begin serving his sentence.”

“Eleven men and two women were charged with a McAlester - area drug conspiracy that has been under investigation since 2003,” U.S. Attorney Sperling reported. “The charged conspiracy involves large quantities of methamphetamine distribution. Federal sentences of imprisonment are not subject to parole.”

“Charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics, Drug Enforcement Administration, District Attorney Drug Task Forces 18 & 22, Hughes and Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Departments, McAlester Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma National Guard, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.”

“The conspirators engaged in financial transactions in criminally derived property to further drug business and conceal the true source of assets. The co-defendants used a portion of money derived from the sale of methamphetamine to purchase additional methamphetamine. Additionally, they invested a portion of the proceeds of their illegal drug sales in assets in such a manner to obscure and hide the true source of the money. As part of the conspiracy they purchased assets using currency in such an amount, quantity and form so that the true source of the funds used to purchase the assets were hidden from law enforcement. It was further part of the conspiracy that they titled purchased assets in the names of nominee owners to avoid potential exposure to forfeiture provisions of drug and money laundering statutes in an effort to preserve their ill gotten gains,” continued U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“All other defendants in this case have begun serving their sentences,” U.S. Attorney Sperling reported.

• “On May 7, 2008, BRIAN FRY, age 25, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.00.” FRY pled guilty on October 30, 2007, to money laundering conspiracy, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Sections 1956(h) and 1956(a)(1)(B).”

• On May 7, 2008, SHANNON FRY, age 34, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release for Count One, and 60 months imprisonment and 36 months supervised release for Count Two, to run consecutively. The defendant was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $200.00.” FRY pled guilty on November 19, 2007, to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to carry on unlawful activities, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Sections 1956(h) and 1957(a), Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371 and Title 18 U.S.C., Section 1952(a)(3).”

• “On May 21, 2008, JARED MACCHIRELLA, age 32, of Stuart, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $200.00. On November 26, 2007, MACCHIRELLA pled guilty to two counts of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Section 1952(a)(3).”

• “On May 21, 2008, MICHAEL FRY, age 30, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $200.00. On November 19, 2007, FRY pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to carry on unlawful activities, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Sections, 1956(h) and 1957(a), Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371 and Title 18 U.S.C., Section 1952(a)(3).”

• “On March 25, 2008, JENNIFER MARTIN, age 32, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment, 12 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment of $100.00. MARTIN pled guilty on August 27, 2007, to use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C., Section 843(b).”

• “On March 25, 2008, HEATHER MCGEE, age 30, of Hanna, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment, 12 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment of $100.00. MCGEE pled guilty on September 21, 2007, to use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C., Section 843(b).”

• “On March 26, 2008, JAMES SHELTON, age 45, of Owasso, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 24 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment of $100.00. SHELTON pled guilty on October 25, 2007, to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, in excess of 500 grams, with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Section 371 and Title 21 U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1).”

• “On January 31, 2008, JOEL SENNETT, age 29, of McAlester, Oklahoma. SENNETT was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment of $100.00, for interstate travel in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Sections 1952(a)(3).”

“Warrants remain outstanding for APOLONIO MENDOZA, age 42, and FERNANDO VAZQUEZ, age 26, both of Dallas, Texas, who are considered fugitives. MENDOZA is charged with Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C., Section 846, Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C., Section 843(b) and Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(3). VAZQUEZ is charged with Conspiracy, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C., Section 846 and Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C., Section 1952(a)(3). Anyone having information on their whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshal Service or your local law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Sperling concluded.

“Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States at today’s sentencing.”

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