Acting United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August 2021 Federal Grand Jury B. The grand jury met the week of Aug. 16.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Jacquelyn Ellaine Blossom. Child Abuse in Indian Country. Blossom, 41, of Oaks, allegedly abused the minor victim by attempting to drown the child in a creek on April 10, 2021. The FBI is the investigative agency. 21-CR-352
Cody Buzzard. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Buzzard, 27, of Jay, is charged with the first degree murder of Jerry Tapp. He and others allegedly aided and abetted one another when they shot and killed Mr. Tapp on Aug. 1, 2019. In count 2, Buzzard, along with others, allegedly shot a second victim during the same incident. Finally, the defendant is charged with brandishing and discharging a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence. The FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-351
Pamela Kathryn Conley. Bank Fraud (Counts 1-24); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 25-28) (2nd superseding). Conley, 59, of Catoosa, is charged with defrauding ten Oklahoma banks when she falsified and submitted documents to apply to apply for approximately $1 million in loans. Of that, Conley was able to secure more than $800,000. From September 2016 to the date of the second superseding indictment, Conley allegedly executed a scheme to enrich herself by knowingly submitting loan applications containing false income and employment information at ten banks and credit unions. According to the indictment, Conley forged earning statements which she provided to the financial institutions as proof of income. Conley falsified the statements to reflect that she held positions such as manager and chief financial officer, earning a salary of more than $100,000 annually or approximately $10,000 or more a month.
The indictment alleges that on occasion, when loans were secured with collateral, Conley created fictitious lien releases for the collateral, using the notarized signature of unwitting financial institution employees. Conley then caused the bogus lien releases to be filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which in turn provided Conley with titles to the collateral, free and clear of any liens. Conley would then approach new lenders to obtain loans secured by collateral she did not own free and clear. IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-64
William Colby Cox; Laura Kay Sawyer. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (counts 1 and 2); Drug Conspiracy (count 3); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 4); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 5); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 6). Cox, 37, and Sawyer, 33, both of Tulsa, are each charged with being felons in possession of a FEG 9mm pistol, a Rohm GMBH .25 caliber pistol; an Intratec 9mm pistol; a Rohm GMBH .22 caliber revolver; a Lorcin .380 caliber pistol; a Taurus Inc. .22 caliber pistol, and more than 85 rounds of ammunition. Cox and Sawyer are further charged with drug conspiracy and with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The two are also charged with possessing the firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crime. Finally, the duo is charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine. Cox and Sawyer are alleged to be involved with the Irish Mob. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs are the investigative agencies. 21-CR 356
Dreko Donaldson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Donaldson, 22, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Springfield Armory 9mm pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition. The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-357
Robert P. Garcia. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Garcia, 39, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Smith &Wesson 9 mm pistol. He is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine. He is further charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes and with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Broken Arrow Police Department is the investigative agency. 21-CR-358
Andre Kevin Harris. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 1,3); Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 2,4); Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 5). In count one, Harris, 49, of Claremore, allegedly assaulted the victim on June 26, 2021, by shooting at her multiple times, striking her in the leg. He is further charged in count two with brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence for the assault on the first victim. As law enforcement responded to the scene, Harris shot at a responding Rogers County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, as alleged in count 3. Harris is further charged in count 4 with brandishing and discharging his firearm during a crime of violence for the assault on the responding deputy. Finally, he is charged with being a felon in possession of a Ruger 9 mm pistol. The FBI and Rogers Country Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-359
Britney Kay Hays. Financial Institution Fraud (1-4); Mail Fraud (Count 5); False Statements (Counts 6-10); Aggravated Identity Theft (Count 15). Hays, 28, of Tulsa, allegedly carried out a scheme to enrich herself. She fraudulently opened various accounts with another individual’s personal identifying information, such as date of birth, social security number and address, to conduct financial transactions on the internet or to make in-person purchases using debit or credit cards issued for the opened accounts. Hays further forged checks addressed to herself for deposit at various financial institutions or unlawfully paid to others on her behalf. Hays used the fraudulently opened accounts to conduct a series of purchases and transactions which caused an aggregate loss in the approximate total amount of at least $11,024.03. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the investigative agency. 21-CR-360
Clifton Jackson. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Witness Tampering; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor). On July 28, 2021, Jackson, 48, of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted the victim by striking and beating her. He then allegedly struck the victim with gun then pointed it at her, warning the victim not to tell the police. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-372
Merle Jason Lancaster. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country. Lancaster, 42, allegedly struck the victim with a baseball bat and forced the victim to drive his vehicle to an ATM and withdraw money from his account. Lancaster took the money, forced the victim out of the car, then drove off with the victim’s Toyota Prius. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-373
Dwight Vernon Leleux. Carjacking; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Obstruction of Justice by Threatening Physical Force Against a Witness; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Witness Tampering. Leleux, 20, of Tulsa, is alleged to have brandished a firearm and unlawfully attempted to take a Honda CR-V by force on March 5, 2021. Leleux and defendant Waylon Goss allegedly pulled the victim from his vehicle and began beating him, including striking him with a firearm. The victim was able to get back into the vehicle and drive away. Leleux allegedly discharged his firearm at the vehicle as the victim drove away. Leleux is futher charged with tampering with a witness in the case. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-183
Cameron Kelly McAbee. Child Exploitation Enterprise; Sexual Exploitation of a Child by a Parent; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. From July 19, 2019, to July 26, 2021, McAbee, 31, of Broken Arrow, allegedly engaged in a child exploitation enterprise when he was involved in three or more incidents of child exploitation crimes that involved more than one victim. The defendant committed the crimes in concert with three or more others. As part of his enterprise, McAbee knowingly permitted a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse material, also known as child pornography. He is further alleged to have distributed and received child pornography via electronic means, as well as to have possessed, accessed and viewed the child pornography. The visual depictions involved at least one minor who was 12 years of age or younger. The FBI is the investigative agency. 21-CR-361
Vernon Jenedia Neel. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Neel, 42, is alleged to have held a victim down, choked her, then struck her in the face as he attempted to sexually assault her on July 3, 2021. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-362
Michael Lamont Phillips. Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Phillips, 40, of Muskogee, is charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base. He is further charged with being a felon in possession of a Forjas Taurus 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-363
Johnathan Ross Robins. Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. From June 1, 2003, to March 8, 2021, Robins, 52, of Sand Springs, allegedly distributed and received child sexual abuse material, also known as child pornography. He further allegedly possessed, accessed and viewed the child sexual abuse material from June 1, 2003, to March 4, 2021. The material involved at least one minor who was younger than 12-years-old. 21-CR-364
Adam Ray Schach. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Schach, 35, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting an intimate partner by strangling and attempting to strangle the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-365
Ricky Larson Shannon. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1- 2). Shannon, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock 30 caliber pistol on June 11, 2021, and on Aug. 13, 2021. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-366
Adam Douglas Sherwood. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 2); Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility (Counts 3-13); Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes (Count 14) (2nd superseding indictment). From January 2018 to January 2021, Sherwood, 43, of Wyandotte, co-conspirator 1, and others allegedly conspired to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. On May 23, 2020, Sherwood and co-conspirator 1 aided and abetted each other to knowingly possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sherwood further used a cell phone to send or receive at least 13 texts communicating about the distribution of the drug. Sherwood and co-conspirator 1 possessed a Lorcin Engineering Company .380 ACP caliber single action pistol and a Sturm, Ruger & Co. .22 MWR caliber double-action revolver. Additionally, Sherwood is alleged to have distributed methamphetamine to a number of drug dealers and drug users across Northeast Oklahoma for a period of over least two years dating back to early 2018. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 20-CR-307.
Kenneth Dale Walker. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Walker, 54, of Collinsville, is charged with assaulting the victim by strangling her and punching her in the head, which caused a concussion, on July 14, 2021. The FBI and Collinsville Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-374
Elisha Ethan Watashe. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Watashe, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with assaulting the victim by stabbing the victim with a knife. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-375
Shawn Duschenne Wilde. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country. Wilde, 38, of Sapulpa, is charged with kidnapping the victim by forcing her into a vehicle and driving her to another location on May 14, 2021. From May 14 through May 15, 2021, he also allegedly assaulted the victim by threatening to kill her then strangled her repeatedly until she lost consciousness. During the assault, he told the victim she was going to die. Finally, Wilde is charged with assaulting the victim, an intimate partner, by strangling her to the point she passed out. The FBI and Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-367
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