Federal Jury Finds Sequoyah County Resident Guilty Of Five Counts Of Sexual Abuse Of A Minor In Indian Country

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Michael Allen Farris, age 48, of Bunch, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of five counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1151, 1153, 2243(a), and 2246(2)(A).

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, November 29, 2021, and concluded on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, with the guilty verdicts. Based on the jury’s verdicts, the defendant is facing up to 15 years of imprisonment for each count.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between June 2019 and August 2019, the defendant sexually assaulted the 13-year-old victim.

The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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 crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, 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. Farris was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Marek and Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.