OKLAHOMA CITY—As the result of a
multi-year investigation into the narcotics trafficking activities by a
neighborhood street gang operating on the Northeast side of Oklahoma City, a
total of 51 individuals have now been convicted and sentenced in federal court
to a combined total of 4,808 months in federal prison, announced United States
Attorney Sanford C. Coats, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in
Charge James Finch, and Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty. An additional
five defendants were sentenced to 168 months in state prison. Together, this
investigation resulted in the federal and state convictions of 56 defendants
who were sentenced to a collective total of 4,976 months in prison—over 414.6
years.
“The Oklahoma City metro area will be
safer because those prosecuted in this case will be removed from our community
for a long period of time,” said U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats. “We will
continue to use all resources and tools at our disposal to disrupt and
dismantle gangs wherever they exist, and we will be aggressive in stopping
their criminal activities and bringing them to justice.”
“This investigation shows the dedication
of the FBI and its law enforcement partners to investigate violent gang members
who have chosen to violate the law,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jim
Finch. “We will continue to investigate these violent gangs to ensure the
safety of the citizens in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.”
“The arrest and prosecution of so many
dangerous individuals can only be accomplished with the combined efforts and
cooperation of federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Oklahoma City
Police Chief Bill Citty. “The multi-agency investigation along with the
aggressive prosecution of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oklahoma City have made
a tremendous impact on reducing violent crime in our community.”
In August 2007, the FBI, Oklahoma City
Police Department (OCPD), and Midwest City Police Department, as part of the
Safe Streets Task Force, initiated an investigation targeting a neighborhood
street gang operating on the Northeast side of Oklahoma City. Intelligence
gathered from OCPD indicated that this was one of most violent gangs operating
in Oklahoma City. The investigation initially targeted a key supplier of crack
cocaine, which led to evidence that this supplier was also selling a variety of
other drugs, not only to other drug dealers, but to other members of violent
gangs. Ultimately, the investigation led to the supplier’s sources and to
others associated with the gang’s illegal activities.
On January 14 and February 23, 2010, a
sweep by law enforcement resulted in the arrests of numerous gang members,
high-level drug suppliers, and street-level drug dealers. Additional
individuals were later charged and convicted in connection with this
investigation. Most of the crimes related to narcotics trafficking where the
primary drugs sold were cocaine (powder and crack), marijuana, methamphetamine,
and PCP. Several defendants were also convicted of firearms offenses.
A total of 56 defendants were prosecuted
and convicted in federal and state court.
Of the 51 defendants prosecuted in
federal court, four defendants exercised their right to jury trial: Reginald
Lancaster, Tyrone Hill, Ladell Pace, and Detrek Tucker.
■A jury convicted Reginald Lancaster on
four counts including possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and
marijuana, offenses he committed beginning in August 2008. Lancaster had prior
convictions for violent crimes, including robbery and other drug offenses, and
had been released from prison in June 2008. Lancaster was sentenced to serve
151 months in federal prison.
■A jury convicted Tyrone Hill on 11
counts involving use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense
and possession with intent to distribute cocaine powder. Hill’s criminal
conduct occurred from March 2009 until July 2009; at the same time, he was
serving a deferred sentence for felony domestic abuse. Hill was sentenced to
serve 140 months in federal prison.
■A jury convicted Ladell Pace on five
counts involving use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense
and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine during late 2009.
Numerous witnesses, including admitted prostitutes, testified that Pace had
sold them crack cocaine regularly for several years. Pace had no prior criminal
convictions. Pace was sentenced to serve 228 months in federal prison.
■A jury convicted Detrek Tucker of eight
counts including use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense,
possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a
12-gauge pump shotgun and numerous rounds of ammunition. Tucker has numerous
prior convictions for offenses involving firearms and drugs and has served
three nine-year prison terms, running concurrently, in the Oklahoma Department
of Corrections. Tucker was sentenced to serve 262 months in federal prison.
In addition to the 51 defendants
prosecuted in federal court, five more defendants were convicted in related
cases in Oklahoma County District Court by the Oklahoma County District
Attorney, David Prater:
■Emily Barnes—seven-year sentence on
August 16, 2011 for possession of CDS;
■David Anthony Burkley—five-year
suspended sentence on June 17, 2011 for endeavoring to possess CDS;
■Tasha Nicole Gurley—five-year suspended
sentence on November 10, 2010 for endeavoring to possess CDS;
■Herman Eli Hall—five-year deferred
sentence on November 10, 2010 for endeavoring to possess CDS; and
■Erika Denise Johnson—seven-year
sentence on May 19, 2010 for distribution of CDS.
These cases were investigated by the
Safe Streets Task Force including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Oklahoma City Police Department, the Midwest City Police Department, and the
Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. The 51 federal cases were
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Maye and Assistant U.S. Attorney
Lori Hines.
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