United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma

09/10/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/10/2021 12:25

Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- September

Acting United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September 2021 Federal Grand Jury A.

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.

Maidel Aguilar-Morales. Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Alien Illegally in the United States. Aguilar-Morales, 31, of Sapulpa, is charged with being an alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of a Byrco Arms .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, Sapulpa Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-404

Karee Dawn Alvarez. Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On May 27, 2021, a hospital security officer investigated a complaint that possible gun shots were heard in the medical center's parking lot. During that investigation, the security guard approached Alvarez in a parked car. Alvarez, 20, is alleged to have pulled a firearm from the glove compartment and shot him. The officer returned fire, striking the defendant. Alvarez did not own the vehicle nor the firearm. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department and Hillcrest Security are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-383

Preston James Campbell. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Campbell, 38, of Bristow, is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded Charter Arms Corp. Bulldog .44 caliber pistol and ammunition. He is also charged with being a drug user in possession of the pistol and ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Creek County Sheriff's Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-39

Keith Vann Cone. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Cone, 26, of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon by pointing a firearm at the victim and threatening to kill him on Aug. 21, 2021. The FBI and Bixby Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-395

Julian Cruz Reyes. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cruz Reyes, 40, was found in the United States after having been deported on June 23, 2007, near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-405

Jeffrey Carl Cunningham.Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (counts 1, 2). Cunningham, 44, of Eucha, allegedly sexually abused two male victims under 12 years of age. The first crime is alleged to have taken place on Sept. 21, 2003, and the second crime on Jan. 1, 2011. The FBI and Delaware County Sheriff's Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-384

Jordan Matthew Dement; James Dylan Buchanan. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Dement, 19, and Buchanan, 20, both of Sand Springs, allegedly broke into a Sand Springs home from an outer window in order to commit a burglary on Aug. 9, 2021. The FBI and Sand Springs Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-396

Robert Burnett Dixon Jr.: Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country. Dixon Jr., 44, of Tulsa, allegedly strangled an intimate partner on Aug.22, 2021. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-406

Robert William Fulton.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). Fulton, 31, of Tulsa, allegedly fired his gun at a female victim on May 13, 2021, after she followed him from her home believing he was stealing plumbing supplies while he was working there. Later the same day, Fulton is also alleged to have pulled his firearm, approached a male victim in a pick-up truck, and shot the victim through the vehicle's windshield. He is further charged with two counts of brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. RĂ©gal is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-385

Raul Hernandez-Moreno; Nicole Marie Hughes; Carlos Alfredo Arroliga. Carjacking (Counts 1,3); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 2,4); Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Alien Illegally in the United States (Count 5); Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Count 6). Hernandez-Moreno, 20, Hughes, 27, and Arroloiga, 26, all of Tulsa, are charged with brandishing a firearm and carjacking a victim, taking his 2006 Mazda 3 on Oct. 26, 2020. They are also charged with brandishing a firearm and carjacking a second victim, taking his 2010 Chevrolet Silverado the same day. Hernandez-Moreno is further charged with being and alien unlawfully in the United States and possessing a Bersa 9x19-caliber handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition. Finally, Hughes is charged with being a felon in possession of a Bersa 9x19-caliber handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina S. Gilmore is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-386

Jose Guadalupe Jimenez-Barrios; Humberto Diaz-Rivas; Aleph Zain Farias-Jimenez; Miriam Jimenez; Gerardo Rodales-Morales. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 2); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises Counts 3, 4, 5). Jimenez-Barrios, 33, of Mounds; Diaz-Rivas, 36, residence unknown; Farias-Jimenez, 34, residence unknown; Jimenez 33, of Mounds; and Rodales-Morales, 35, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring together and with others to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. They are further charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Finally, they allegedly maintained a residence in Mounds for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine and maintained two residences in Tulsa for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine. All defendants except Miriam Jimenez are aliens unlawfully in the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Tonkin is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-398

Christopher James Johnson. Receipt of Stolen Property in Indian Country; Eluding Police Officers in Indian Country. Johnson, 39, of Tulsa, is charged with receiving stolen goods, specifically a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado that had a firearm and $900 worth of tools inside. The vehicle was stolen on Aug. 23, 2021, in Bixby. Later that day, a Tulsa Police officer saw the vehicle. When the officer pulled up behind the pick-up, Johnson allegedly sped away. The vehicle eventually went airborne as Johnson crested a hill then crashed. The defendant exited the vehicle and was pursued by the officer. He was tracked by a K-9 and later found hiding beneath a parked truck. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-400

Derek Lee Lovell. Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony in Indian Country;Attempting to Influence, Delay, and Prevent Testimony Through Corrupt Persuasion (superseding). Lovell, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to kidnap a female victim on Jan. 28, 2021. He is further charged with assaulting the victim when he attempted to kidnap her. In this superseding indictment, he is also charged with urging the victim to make false statements to use in his defense at a pretrial hearing and at jury trial. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-48

Jesse Thomas Moore. Lewd Acts With a Child Under 16 in Indian Country (Count 1); Burglary in the First Degree in Indian Country (Counts 2,3,5); Attempted Sexual Abuse by Threat in Indian Country (Count 4) Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (Count 6); Attempted Production of Child Pornography (Count 7) ;Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography (Count 8) (superseding) Moore, 19, of Tulsa, broke into a home and allegedly ejaculated on or near a minor under the age of 16 on May 6, 2020. According to the indictment, Moore also broke into a different individual's home with intent to commit a crime by forcibly entering the outer door of the house on Nov. 8, 2020. On Dec. 13, 2020, he broke into another home and allegedly attempted to rape a female victim after he told her to 'get the f**k up and don't say anything or I'll f**king kill you.' In this superseding indictment, Moore is also alleged to have coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography from January 2021 to August 2021. He further requested she send the sexually explicit videos and images of herself to him via the program 'JailATM' while he was in federal custody. You can find further details in the press release covering a second complaint filed against Moore in August 2021. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-47

Catherine Lee Petersen. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Catherine Lee Petersen, 59, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Pietro Bereta .40 S&W caliber pistol and ammunition. She is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Finally, she is charged with possessing the firearm to further her drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney is prosecuting the case. 21-cr-388

Daren Gilson Puffinbarger. First Degree Murder in Indian Country. On Aug. 18, 2021, Puffinbarger, 32, of Inola, is alleged to have killed Lucas Sanders by shooting the victim in the head six times while the victim was in bed at his home in Locust Grove. He then allegedly set the victim's bed and body on fire. The fire caused substantial damage in the bedroom. Agents located two small propane torch kits in the bedroom, one on the bed and the other sitting upright on the floor next to the bed. The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff's Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-382

Jesus Jose Quezada-Rios.Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Alien Illegally in the United States (filed as an Information).Quezada-Rios, 40, of Tulsa, is charged with being an alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of a Glock 19XGen 5 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-380

Juan Hector Romero. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of Unregistered Silencers. Romero, 35, of Austin, Texas, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock GMBH 9mm Luger caliber pistol and 86 rounds of ammunition. The firearm is alleged to have been modified into a machinegun. Romero is also charged with possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine. He is further charged with possessing a machinegun/firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. Finally, Romero allegedly possessed two silencers not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko A. Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-389

Aron Wayne Simon. Kidnapping of a Minor in Indian Country. Simon, 32, of Okmulgee, is charged with kidnapping a minor on Aug. 5, 2021, after he stole a car with an infant inside. The FBI and Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-401

Victor Scott Stephens. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Stephens, 49, of Parkhill, is charged with assaulting the victim on Aug. 12, 2021, resulting in serious bodily injury. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Harder is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-390