Source: United States Department of Justice News
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November 2022 Federal Grand Jury B.
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.
Jacob Thomas Arkeketa. Arson in Indian Country. On Oct. 3, 2022, Arkeketa, 41, of Tulsa, set fire to a home with the resident inside, thus placing her at serious risk of injury. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Fire Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-391
Curt Thomas Been. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Possession of an Unregistered Weapon Made from a Shotgun. Been, 52, of Collinsville, is charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon made from an Essex Gun Works 12-gauge caliber shotgun, a Winchester .22 caliber rifle, and 483 rounds of ammunition. He is further charged with being in possession of a weapon made from an Essex Gun Works 12-gauge shotgun having a barrel of less than 18 inches in length and not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-385
Jared Nathan Black. 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, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Black, 46, of Jenks, is alleged to have assaulted his stepson when he pointed a firearm at the victim’s head and pulled the trigger on Dec. 26, 2020. The gun did not go off, giving the victim and another individual an opportunity to run to the garage and call 911. The FBI and Jenks Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and Ben Tonkin are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-390
Hatcher Raymond Day. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Day, 26, of Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of fentanyl on Sept. 19, 2022. He is further charged with possessing firearms to further his drug trafficking crime. Finally, he is charged with being a felon in possession of an American Tactical Imports multi-caliber pistol; a Great Lakes Firearms and Ammunition multi-caliber pistol; a Ruger American .45 auto caliber pistol; a Glock .357 caliber pistol; a Canik 9X19 caliber pistol, and 70 rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Nathan E. Michel are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-389
Daniel Christopher Edwards. Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Arson in Indian Country; Conveying False and Misleading Information Concerning an Explosive Device; Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (superseding). Edwards, 48, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a destructive device on Oct. 5, 2022, that had not been registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The incendiary bomb, also called a Molotov cocktail, consisted of a glass jar filled with an ignitable liquid, having a wick constructed of a cloth like material. He is further alleged to have assaulted a Holy Family Cathedral employee when he slashed him with a sword multiple times, causing serious bodily injury. He then allegedly committed arson when he threw the incendiary bomb at the church. Finally, he is charged with conveying misleading information concerning an explosive device at a Tulsa Reasor’s grocery store. Edwards allegedly told several individuals that if he was approached, he would push a button that “would be worse than a bomb.” Finally, he was also charged in this superseding indictment with possessing a unregistered destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence. See the initial Complaint press release here. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert T. Raley, Nathan E. Michel, and Christopher J. Nassar are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-362.
David Gutierrez-Valezquez. Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Gutierrez-Valezquez, 28, a Mexican national, is charged with being in the United States unlawfully and possessing a Ruger 9 mm caliber semi-automatic handgun and six rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, and Osage Nation Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-386
Rahmon Lawrence Macon Jr. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Macon Jr., 30, of Tulsa, is charged with killing Aliza Renea Crook using a firearm on Nov. 6, 2022. Macon Jr. shot into the vehicle Crook was riding in, striking the victim. The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niko A. Boulieris and Ryan H. Heatherman are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-388
Justin Wade Malone; Devon Marie Larocca. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Causing Death by Using and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Evidence Tampering; Accessory After the Fact to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country (superseding). On July 8, 2022, Malone, 38, and Larocca, 36, both of Tulsa, are alleged to have aided and abetted one another to kill Cristian Amaya Hernandez, using a firearm. Malone and the victim were arguing when Malone allegedly shot him. Malone and Larocca are also charged with using a Tulsa residence for the purpose of distributing and using methamphetamine and fentanyl. They are further charged with aiding and abetting each other to remove firearms and surveillance cameras from the crime scene and to erase surveillance footage of the alleged murder to hinder an investigation. Finally, Larocca is charged with assisting Malone in order to hinder and prevent Malone’s apprehension, trial, and possible punishment. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Ryan H. Heatherman are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-235
Rodney Joe Smith. Stalking; Evidence Tampering. The indictment alleges that between Sept. 1, 2022, to Sept 18, 2022, Smith, 45, of Poteau, stalked the victim with the intent to kill, injure, harass and intimidate her. Smith allegedly installed a GPS tracker inside the victim’s rear bumper without her knowledge and would track and confront her. The defendant threw rocks at her vehicle, cracked her windshield, followed her and falsely reported her for reckless driving. He is alleged to have further harassed her via phone. He left harassing messages and sometimes used an app to disguise the phone number, making it appear as if his calls were coming from the Tulsa Police Department. In addition, he created fake Facebook accounts that purported to be the victim and publicly shared her home and work addresses. He also created a fake profile on a dating app purporting to be the victim, and the victim began receiving phone calls, texts, and unsolicited images from men who claimed to have met her online. The indictment further alleges the defendant pulled down the outside cameras that were part of the victim’s home security system. The defendant’s laptop also revealed he had conducted a google search on how to enter a home undetected. According to the indictment, law enforcement further located a trail camera, GPS tracker, the victim’s work identification card, night vision goggles, binoculars, a brown wig, a laptop which had a google search for the security radio frequency where the victim worked and a search for how to disable a particular vehicle, a cell phone, notepads with the victim’s personal information, Viagra pills, and a ghillie suit, which is a type of camouflage clothing. Then, while detained, Smith allegedly directed another individual take his cell phone to Verizon and, in a phone call, requested an employee remotely wipe the contents of his electronic devices and delete his iCloud account in an attempt to destroy evidence. The FBI, Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department and Glenpool Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Briden is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-387
Steven Ray Thompson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Thompson, 24, of Rose, is charged with being a felon in possession of Kimber 9 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of ammunition. He is further charged with possessing with intent to distribute heroin. Finally, he is charged with carrying a firearm during and in relation to his drug trafficking crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-384