Texas Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Charge

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ronald James Yates, age 60, of Tyler, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by 10 years to life in prison and a $10,000,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on February 24, 2025, Yates knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Hugo Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Yates will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.