Kendall James Hopper, a 62-year-old resident of Smithville, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to time served for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The case began after law enforcement responded to a residence in Smithville on January 2, 2024. During their investigation, officers found Hopper with a lever-action .30-.30 caliber rifle. At that time, Hopper had already been convicted of an offense punishable by more than one year in prison.
Hopper pleaded guilty to the charge on June 9, 2025. The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts among federal, state, local law enforcement agencies and community groups to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice enhanced its violent crime reduction strategy under PSN on May 26, 2021 by focusing on building trust within communities, supporting prevention organizations, prioritizing targeted enforcement actions and tracking outcomes.
Chief U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the government during proceedings.
