Lansing, Michigan Man Pleads Guilty To Failure To Register As Sex Offender

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that THOMAS ZACHARY PETERS, age 32, of Lansing, Michigan, pled guilty to FAILURE TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDER, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2250(a)(1), 2250(a)(2)(B) and 2250(a)(3) and FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

The Indictment alleged that from in or about November 2015, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, until on or about June 1, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and elsewhere, the defendant, THOMAS ZACHARY PETERS, an individual required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, after having received a felony conviction from the State of Michigan, in Eaton County, on or about April 7, 2005, for the offense of Criminal Sexual Conduct-2nd Degree, traveled in interstate and foreign commerce and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

It further alleged that from in or about November 2015 until on or about June 1, 2016, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, THOMAS ZACHARY PETERS, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce, firearms, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Unites States Marshal Service.

The statutory range of punishment for each count is not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.

The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  Sentencing will be scheduled following its completion.  The defendant will remain in the custody of the Unites States Marshal Service pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States.