Federal Jury Convicts Ardmore Resident Of Involuntary Manslaughter In Indian Country

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jonathan Ray Higginbotham, Jr, age 22, of Ardmore, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. 
The jury trial began with testimony on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, and concluded on Thursday, May 19, 2022, with the guilty verdict.

The evidence presented at trial proved that on January 19, 2021, the defendant fired a 9mm Hi-Point carbine killing George Powell in a private residence in the City of Ardmore.

The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ardmore Police Department.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Scott L. Palk, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Higginbotham was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Flanigan and Casey Richmond represented the United States.