MUSKOGEE, Okla. - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that the following individuals were indicted on charges stemming from a drug conspiracy. All defendants are charged with Drug Conspiracy; and various defendants are charged with related crimes, including, Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine; Distribution Of Methamphetamine; Use Of A Communication Device In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking; Possession Of Firearm In Furtherance Of A Drug Trafficking Crime; and Felon In Possession Of Firearm; and a Drug Forfeiture allegation:
Cody Mcclendon, 35, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Michael Lincoln, 39, of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Amber Claphan, 33, of Stilwell, Oklahoma
Donald Trammel, 40, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Samantha Smith, 21, of Muskogee, Oklahoma
Teresa Chagolla, 54, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Jacob Horton Masters Jr, 54, of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nathan Rowden Green, 27, of Hulbert, Oklahoma
Dusty Allen Drywater, 33, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Ashley Noel Steele, 29, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Jimmy W. Sequichie Jr., 24, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Regina Ann Ballard, a/k/a Regina Hummingbird, 37, of Stilwell, Oklahoma
Matilda Kay Birdtail, 20, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Frederic Petersen Beck Jr., 53, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Gary Wayne Wilder, 35, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Brenda Aileen Airington, 54, of Kellyville, Oklahoma
Bryan Steven Lafavor, 34, of Checotah, Oklahoma
The Superseding Indictment alleges that from beginning in or about the end of 2013, and continuing until on or about Jan. 27, 2016, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire, confederate and agree with each other, and with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine.
The Investigation revealed that Cody McClendon III, a/k/a Cody-Mac, an Indian Brother (IBH) gang member, while an inmate with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in McAlester, Oklahoma, was utilizing a contraband cell phone that he kept hidden on his person and inside his prison cell to facilitate the sale and distribution of methamphetamine. McClendon was doing this by using the cell phone to communicate with co-conspirators via audio phone calls, text messages, and by communicating on Facebook. The defendants, through their affiliation with the IBH prison gang, promoted a climate of fear through threats of violence and attempted to commit acts of violence to protect and expand the drug organization’s criminal operations.
The charges arose from a joint investigation entitled “Home of the Brave" coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. OCDETF is an initiative led and coordinated by the Office of the United States Attorney. The agencies involved in the investigation were the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the McAlester Police Department, the Tahlequah Police Department, the Muskogee Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, Districts 13, 18, 25 and 27 District Attorney’s Drug Task Forces and Violent Crime Task Forces, the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the McAlester and Tulsa Offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearings. All defendants were remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States.
An Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. An Indictment is a method of bringing charges against a defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court.
