Joshua Gabriel Blake, a 31-year-old Oklahoma State Highway Patrol Trooper from Cameron, pleaded guilty on Apr. 23 to one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The case stems from an incident on January 28, 2025, when Blake, while acting as a law enforcement officer and using a dangerous weapon, kicked a victim in the head. Prosecutors said this act willfully deprived the victim of constitutional rights protecting against unreasonable seizure and excessive use of force by law enforcement officers.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the investigation was conducted by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson accepted Blake's plea and ordered a presentence investigation report. Sentencing will be determined at a later date after consideration of federal guidelines and statutory factors. Blake was released on bond with conditions pending sentencing.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma leads federal criminal investigations and prosecutions in eastern Oklahoma and manages civil actions for the United States across 26 counties according to its official website. It also advances community wellness through trust responsibilities to sovereign Tribal Nations according to its official website.
This district is unique as it represents the only federal judicial district fully within Indian country according to its official website. Operational facilities are located in Muskogee according to its official website, supporting both criminal prosecutions and debt collection efforts for the government.
