News

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zavius Alexander Burgess, age 23, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 71 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.  The Court ordered the term to be served consecutive to any undischarged term of imprisonment imposed in Kay County District Court case CF-2020-00049.  Burgess is currently incarcerated on two concurrent life sentences on that case for convictions of one count of Murder in the First Degree

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Donyaeh King McDowell, a/k/a/ Donyaeh Akeen McDowell, age 22, of Ada, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, punishable by twenty years to life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on March 2, 2024, McDowell knowingly and intentionally distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, resulting in the death of the Victim from the use of the

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Samuel Alexander Sevenstar, age 33, of Roland, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Indictment alleged that beginning in or about June 2019 and continuing until in or about April 2020, Sevenstar knowingly engaged in sexual acts with a victim who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years, and who was at least four years younger than

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Michael Hunter, age 38, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Indictment charged Hunter with knowingly possessing one 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 35 rounds of 9mm ammunition on June 18, 2025, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that John Edward Peasha, II, a/k/a John Edward Peasha, Jr., age 44, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Indictment charged Peasha with knowingly possessing one 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition on February 6, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Thomas Richardson, age 43, of Shreveport, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The Indictment alleged that Richardson was convicted of Rape by Instrumentation, in Rogers County on September 30, 2004, and Rape in the Second Degree, in Rogers County on December 21, 2010, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from September 18, 2024, until January 17, 2026, Richardson failed to

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that eleven co-defendants pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and related charges arising from a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation.

On June 1, 2026, JERRY LEE GRIST, age 66, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by ten years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ned Elmer Johnson, age 37, of Mounds, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian country.

On August 12, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, from April 2021 until April 2023, Johnson knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a person who had attained the age of 12 years but not yet attained the age of 16 years, and who was at least four years younger than Johnson.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dwight Lowaine McGee, age 48, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Indictment charged McGee with knowingly possessing one semi-automatic pistol and 8 rounds of ammunition on December 4, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tommy Allen Winkler, age 38, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for one count of Theft in Indian Country.

On May 15, 2025, Winkler pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, Winkler was appointed guardian to manage the victims’ property and assets.  Between November 16, 2022, and June 14, 2024, Winkler unlawfully transferred funds from the victims’ bank accounts into his personal bank account and spent the money for his own benefit.

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Christopher J. Wilson, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, gathered with members of staff, community leaders, and the media today at the Muskogee non-profit, Fostering Hope, to honor Executive Director Annie Czaruk for her work with Oklahoma children and to award her the U.S. Department of Justice’s Hometown Hero Award for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Czaruk, a Muskogee native, co-founded Fostering Hope in 2016 after encountering the stark gaps in funding and resources for children entering foster care.  Seeing the need, Czaruk rose to fill

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shane Edwin Fahrenholz, age 59, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for one count of Possession of Firearm After Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.

On October 8, 2025, Fahrenholz pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, between August 26, 2024, and September 12, 2024, Fahrenholz knowingly possessed a .30-30 lever-action rifle after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in the State of Nebraska.