Robert J. "Bob" Troester U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
A Lawton resident, Jeremiah Alexander Dearing, 20, has entered a guilty plea for the unlawful possession of a machinegun. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
The legal proceedings began when a federal Grand Jury indicted Dearing on December 3, 2024. He faced charges for being a drug user in possession of firearms and unlawful possession of a machinegun. An affidavit related to the case details an incident from October 9, 2024, where Dearing participated in a video call with an inmate at Grady County Jail. During this call, officers from the Lawton Police Department (LPD) observed him showing an AK47-style pistol and making gang signs.
Due to Dearing's age, which prohibits him from legally carrying firearms under Oklahoma state law, LPD detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence. The search revealed five firearms in his bedroom, including one without a serial number. All were loaded and equipped with high-capacity magazines. Additionally, officers seized a machinegun conversion device (MCD), which can transform a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. They also found approximately 92 fentanyl pills.
Dearing admitted to possessing the machinegun unlawfully on February 11, 2025. He now faces up to ten years in federal prison and may be fined up to $250,000 upon sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lawton Police Department conducted the investigation leading to these charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. It is also associated with "Project Switch Off," focusing on illegal machinegun conversion devices within the Western District of Oklahoma as part of PSN's local efforts.
For more details about PSN initiatives, visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
