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 three men from Tulsa for their involvement in armed robberies that took place in Catoosa and Owasso, Oklahoma. U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced the sentences, emphasizing the severity of the crimes committed by the defendants.
"These three defendants were sentenced for violent crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “They robbed the victim in an occupied hotel and shot at others recklessly in a neighborhood. They were violent and dangerous. The Northern District of Oklahoma is safer with them behind bars.”
Yonaton Perez, aged 20, received a sentence of 96 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for obstructing commerce by robbery and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Anthony Gabriel Calvillo-Rodriguez, also 20, was sentenced to 190 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for charges including obstructing commerce by robbery, carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence, and brandishing a firearm during such a crime.
Anthony Alexander Bernal-Perez, aged 23, was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release on similar charges including assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country.
Court records indicate that on April 7, 2023, Perez was found in possession of over 660 grams of methamphetamine intended for sale when approached by Tulsa Police officers in a private parking lot behind a bar.
In September 2023, Perez orchestrated an armed robbery at a hotel room in Catoosa targeting a drug dealer known for wearing flashy jewelry and carrying significant cash proceeds from drug sales. Perez, Calvillo-Rodriguez, and Bernal-Perez executed the robbery taking more than $100k worth of jewelry and cash from the victim.
A third incident occurred in October 2023 when Calvillo-Rodriguez and Bernal-Perez fired shots at juvenile robbers who had stolen from them earlier that day in Owasso. The shooting resulted in damage to several homes and vehicles but no injuries were reported.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI along with local police departments investigated these cases which were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies at all levels along with community partners focused on violence prevention strategies.
