United States Attorney's Office For The Eastern District Of Oklahoma Obtains Thirty-Five Indictments From Federal Grand Jury

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced federal grand juries sitting in Muskogee recently completed two separate June sessions and returned thirty-five felony indictments, including five superseding indictments.

The Eastern District of Oklahoma has experienced a dramatic increase in Indian Country cases for federal prosecution due to the U.S. Supreme Court decision of McGirt v. Oklahoma and recent Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals rulings. These opinions determined the reservations of the Five Civilized Tribes were never disestablished by Congress and, therefore, the United States has primary federal jurisdiction to prosecute major crimes committed by—or against—Native Americans occurring within the 26 counties of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. In response to the caseload rise, a second grand jury was empaneled in the Eastern District. This is a first for the Eastern District.

From the two grand jury sessions in June, thirty-three indictments were publicly filed and two remain sealed pending arrest of the charged defendants. All but two of the unsealed charges involve crimes arising out of Indian Country. Eleven of the unsealed indictments are for murder or involuntary manslaughter, eleven are for sex crimes, and the balance contain allegations of assault with a dangerous weapon or resulting in serious bodily injury, and robbery. The two unsealed non-Indian Country indictments involve possession with intent to distribute cocaine and rioting in a federal detention facility, assaulting a federal officer, and possessing contraband.

The following indictments were returned by the federal grand juries and filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The information listed in brackets is the county and reservation where the crime(s) allegedly occurred.

Murder:

United States v. Michael Lee Wolfe and Carlos Allen Locust – Count 1: Murder in Perpetration of Kidnapping in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1111(a), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Kidnapping in Indian Country Resulting in Death – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1201(a)(2), 1151 & 1153 [Adair County – Cherokee Nation Reservation]

United States v. David Deval Martin – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 1151 & 1153 [McIntosh County – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Robert Wayne Mitchell (superseding indictment) – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Murder in Perpetration of Burglary in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 1151 & 1153 [Seminole County – Seminole Nation Reservation]

United States v. Bernard Richard Poulin – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 1151 & 1152; Count 2: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151 & 1152; Count 3: Arson in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 81, 1151 & 1152 [Okmulgee County – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. William Clayton Brown – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151, & 1153 [Pittsburg County – Choctaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. David Glen Thompson & Keith Bruno Titsworth (superseding indictment) – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 2, 1151 & 1153 [Pontotoc County – Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. William Shirley – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 2, 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A), 1111(a), 1151 & 1153; Count 3: Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c) – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j)(1), 1111(a), 1151 & 1153 [Okmulgee County – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Lonnie Leonard Swarer III – Count 1: Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112, 1151 & 1152 [Wagoner County – Cherokee Nation Reservation]

United States v. Brittney Nicole Schmidt, a/k/a Brittany Nicole Schmidt, a/k/a Brittney Nicole Williams – Count 1: Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112, 1151 & 1153 [Bryan County – Choctaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Robert James Grass – Count 1: Murder in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 1151 & 1153 [Cherokee County – Cherokee Nation Reservation]

United States v. Dustin Randall Bulla– Count 1: Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112, 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Resulting in Great Bodily Injury – 18 U.S.C. §§ 13, 13(b)(2)(A), 1151 & 1152 & 47 O.S.A. § 11-904(B) [Carter County – Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

Sexual Assault:

United States v. Ashley Dawn Langford - Count 1: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a), 2246(2)(A), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a), 2246(2)(B), 1151 & 1153 [McIntosh County– Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Montelito Sanchez Simpkins - Count 1: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a), 2246(2)(D), 1151 & 1152 [Pontotoc County – Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Aaron Richard Eubanks - Count 1: Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241(c), 2246(2)(A), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241(c), 2246(2)(C), 1151 & 1153; Count 3: Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241(c), 2246(2)(B), 1151 & 1153 [Adair County – Cherokee Nation Reservation]

United States v. Jeffery Denton Sumka - Count 1: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a)(1), 2246(2)(A), 1151 & 1153 [Okmulgee County– Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Boyd Weldon Gross - Count 1: Coercion and Enticement of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422(b), 1151 & 1152 [Seminole County– Seminole Nation Reservation]

United States v. Tyler James Stephens (superseding indictment) - Count 1: Stalking – 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B); Count 2: Extortionate Interstate Communications – 18 U.S.C. § 875(d); Count 3: Video Voyeurism in Indian Country (Misdemeanor) – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1151, 1152, & 1801(a); Count 4: Attempted First Degree Burglary in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1151, 1153, & 21 O.S.A. §§ 44 & 1431; Count 5: Attempted Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2242(1), 2246(2)(A), 1151 & 1153; Count 6: First Degree Burglary in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1151, 1153, & 21 O.S.A. § 1431 [McIntosh County– Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Christopher Wayne Webb - Count 1: Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2242(2)(B), 2246(2)(C), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a), 2246(2)(C), 1151 & 1153 [Bryan County– Choctaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Brian Douglas Nicholson (superseding indictment) - Count 1: Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241(c), 2246(2)(B), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. § 2243(a), 2246(2)(B), 1151 & 1153; Count 3: Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. § 2241(c), 2246(2)(D), 1151 & 1153; Count 4: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. § 2243(a), 2246(2)(D), 1151 & 1153 [McCurtain County– Choctaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Dustin Bristow (superseding indictment) - Count 1: Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241(a), 2244(a)(5), 2246(2)(A), 2246(2)(D), 2246(3), 1151 & 1153 [Pittsburg County– Choctaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Jerry Dewayne Rogers - Count 1: Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2241(c), 2246(2)(C), 1151 & 1152; Count 2: Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2244(a)(5), 2246(3), 1151 & 1152; Count 3: Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2243(a), 2246(2)(C), 1151 & 1152 [Sequoyah County– Cherokee Nation Reservation]

United States v. Joshua Michael Carter - Count 1: Lewd and Indecent Proposals to Child Under 16 in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1151, 1152, 13, & 21 O.S.A. § 1123(A)(1) [Sequoyah County– Cherokee Nation Reservation]

Other violent crime in Indian Country:

United States v. Tyler Cheyenne Ned – Count 1: Robbery in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2111, 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(C)(1)(a)(i), (ii) & (iii); Count 3: Assault With a Dangerous Weapon With Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country - §§ 113(a)(3), 1151 & 1153  [Carter County – Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Cameron Dale Bowden – Count 1: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151, & 1153 [Haskell County– Choctaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Charles Bradley Vinson – Count 1: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151, & 1152; Count 2: Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6), 1151 & 1152 [Okmulgee County– Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Derek Scott Frazier – Count 1: Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6), 1151, & 1153 [Pontotoc County– Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Hunter Ray Kelley – Count 1:  Robbery in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 2111, 1151 & 1152 [Muskogee County– Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation]

United States v. Darius Keshawn Seals – Count 1:  Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Use, Carry Brandish and Discharge a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i)(ii)(iii); Count 3: Use, Carry and Brandish a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i)(ii)  [Marshall County – Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Michael Wayne Pinnick – Count 1:  Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6), 1151 & 1153 [Johnston County– Chickasaw Nation Reservation]

United States v. Tyler Wilson Hediger – Count 1:  Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151 & 1153; Count 2: Possession of an Unregistered Firearm – 26 U.S.C. §§ 5845, 5861(d) & 5871; Forfeiture Allegation – 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c), 49 U.S.C. § 80303 & 26 U.S.C. § 5872  [Sequoyah County– Cherokee Nation Reservation]

United States v. Shylow Shane Young - Count 1: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country – 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3), 1151, & 1153; Count 2: Use Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i)(ii)(iii); Count 3: Felon in Possession of Firearm – 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) & 924(a)(2) [Sequoyah County– Cherokee Nation Reservation]

Non-Indian Country offenses:

United States v. Edgar Rodriguez – Count 1: Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine – 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 841(b)(1)(A) [Okfuskee County]

United States v. Matthew Dewayne Carter, Anthony Drake Ahaisek, Joshua Ryan Green, Jabaica Lee Tecumseh, Richard Loyd Jack, Samuel Wayne Washington, Jason Don Rowan, David Hurl Lemmon, and John Cole Haeberle – Count 1: Rioting in a Federal Detention Facility – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1792 & 2; Count 2: Conspiracy to Commit Assault on a Federal Officer – 18 U.S.C. § 371; Count 3: Assaulting a Federal Officer – 18 U.S.C. §§ 111(a), 111(b) & 2; Count 4: Possessing Contraband in Prison – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1791(a)(2), 1791(d)(1)(B), 1791(d)(1)(F) & 1791(d)(1)(G) [Okmulgee County]

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.