Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach has sentenced Patrick Nile Starkey, 57, to 108 months in prison for possession of an unregistered destructive device and being a felon in possession of ammunition. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
"With the help of the FLOCK camera system, agents were able to identify the defendant," stated U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. "Starkey was a threat to public safety, and I commend law enforcement for working together swiftly to detain him."
The case began on June 12, 2024, when the Osage County Sheriff’s Office investigated an explosion in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. Court documents revealed that Starkey placed two explosive devices and notes inside a mailbox on private property belonging to an uninvolved third party as part of an attempt to harass his ex-wife. FLOCK cameras in the area assisted law enforcement in identifying Starkey as the suspect. A search warrant executed at Starkey's residence uncovered ammunition and several homemade explosive devices matching those used in the mailbox incident.
Upon questioning by agents, Starkey admitted to setting off the devices and unlawfully possessing ammunition. He will remain in custody until his transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Tulsa Police Department, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Joshua M. Carmel prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by bringing together various levels of law enforcement with community partners to enhance neighborhood safety. The Department launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, aimed at reducing violent crime through principles such as fostering trust within communities and supporting organizations that prevent violence.
For more information about PSN, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
