Westville Man, Woman Arraigned For Methamphetamine Distribution

“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.”

Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that MICHAEL ALLEN COOPER, age 39 and AMANDA JO JONES, age 24, both of Westville, Oklahoma were arraigned in federal court today on charges of Conspiracy To Possess With Intent To Distribute And Distribute Five Hundred (500) Or More Grams Of mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A).

The Indictment filed on June 11, 2014, alleges that beginning in or about June 19, 2013, through on or about April 9, 2014, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants, did willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate and agree together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges arose from an investigation by the District 16 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearings. Both defendants were remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service.

The statutory range of punishment for COOPER is not less than life imprisonment and/or up to $20,000,000.00 in fines. The statutory range of punishment for JONES is not less than 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $10,000,000.00 in fines.

First Assistant United States Attorney Doug Horn represented the United States.