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Press Release

Four Individuals Indicted In July 2017 Federal Grand Jury

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today the results of the July 2017 Federal Grand Jury.

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. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court. Federal prison sentences are non-parolable.

 

DECKLYN STARR, age 54, of Fort Smith, Arkansas
a/k/a IRA WOFFORD

Stalking (2 counts)
Interstate Communication Of Threat

The Indictment alleges that from in or about April 2017 and continuing through June 8, 2017, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, the defendant, DECKLYN STARR, a/k/a Ira Wofford, with the intent to kill, injure, harass and intimidate, used an electronic communication service, an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and any other facility of interstate commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that placed S.E., a person known to the Grand Jury, in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury, and caused, and attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2261A(2)(A), 2261A(2)(B) and 2261(b)(5), punishable by no more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both for each count.

The Indictment further alleges that on or about June 8, 2017, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant, DECKLYN STARR, a/k/a Ira Wofford, knowingly and willfully did transmit in interstate and foreign commerce from the State of New Mexico to the State of Oklahoma a communication via a telecommunications device, to a person known to the Grand Jury, and the communication contained a threat to injure a person known to the Grand Jury, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c), punishable by no more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow.

 

JAMES MICHAEL WEST, age 64, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Concealment Of A Material Fact
False Statement

The Indictment alleges that on or about July 14, 2005, and continuing through December 31, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, defendant JAMES MICHAEL WEST, in a matter within the jurisdiction of Social Security Administration, having knowledge of the occurrence of an event affecting the right to receive or continue to receive Social Security Disability Income payments, concealed and failed to disclose such event with the intent to fraudulently secure payment when no payment was authorized. Specifically, defendant JAMES MICHAEL WEST intentionally concealed that JAMES MICHAEL WEST secured gainful employment in order to receive and continue to receive Disability Income payments made by the Social Security Administration to him.

By such action, defendant JAMES MICHAEL WEST took approximately $266,982.00 in Social Security Disability Income payments to which he was not entitled, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(4), punishable by no more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both. The Indictment further alleges that on or about May 3, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma defendant JAMES MICHAEL WEST, did knowingly make or caused to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact to the Social Security Administration in any application for any payment or for a disability determination, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(2), punishable by no more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both.

The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Social Security Administrations’ Office of Inspector General.

Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace.

 

TYLER WAYNE JONES, age 24, of Vian, Oklahoma
THOMAS CHARLES BARDRICK, age 20, of Fort Smith, Arkansas
Interstate Transportation Of Stolen Property

The Indictment alleges that on or about April 15, 2015, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants, TYLER WAYNE JONES and THOMAS CHARLES BARDRICK, did unlawfully transport in interstate commerce stolen goods, wares and merchandise, that is, six (6) zero turn mowers, of the value of $5,000.00 or more knowing the same to have been stolen, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2314 and 2, punishable by no more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Sallisaw Police Department, the Sequoyah County Sherriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris

Updated July 25, 2017

Topics
False Claims Act
Financial Fraud
Project Safe Neighborhoods
StopFraud
Violent Crime