Okemah Man Sentenced To 180 Months For Sexual Abuse Of A Minor

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Johnny Wayne Harjo Jr., age 41, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for Sexual Abuse Of A Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1153, 2243(a) and 2246. These charges arose from an investigation by the FBI’s Oklahoma Safe Trails Task Force. Investigative agencies included the Creek Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
                
The Indictment alleged that on or about January 25, 2018, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the defendant, an Indian, knowingly engaged and attempted to engage in a sexual act as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2246 with the victim, who had attained the age of 12 years but had not yet attained the age of 16 and was at least four years younger than the defendant. 

United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Sexual abuse investigations are difficult. It is not easy for victims to come forward to tell their stories to family members, investigators, or prosecutors, and requires a great deal of courage to do so. This investigation and prosecution began with a courageous victim who overcame fear and embarrassment so we could seek justice for the victim, the victim’s family, and the community. The defendant’s depravity and cowardice were defeated by the victim’s courage.”

The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Snow represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.