“Operation Sonic Boom” Targeting Violent Crime in Oklahoma City Results In 50 Defendants Charged With Firearms And Drug Offenses

Law Enforcement Seize 193 Firearms, including 83 Machinegun Conversion Devices, Two 3-D Printers, and More Than 63 Kilograms of Drugs

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following a two-month targeted initiative called “Operation Sonic Boom” to reduce violent crime in Oklahoma City, 50 individuals have been charged in federal and state court with various firearms and drug offenses.

Today’s announcement was made by Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Jeff Boshek, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives (ATF), who led the investigation.  Other critical partners in this operation include:

• Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma County District Attorney,
• Ron Bacy, Chief, Oklahoma City Police Department,
• Johnny Kuhlman, United States Marshal,
• Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Dallas Field Division,
• Tim Tipton, Commissioner, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety,
• Donnie Anderson, Director, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs, and
• Keith Brown, Executive Director, Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
• 193 firearms, including:
  • 81 Pistols 
  • 4 Revolvers       
  • 10 Rifles   
  • 6 Shotguns        
  • 9 Machineguns, and  
  • 83 Machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), including 30 partially completed MCDs
• Two 3-D printers (used to print MCDs)
• More than 63 kilograms of drugs, with an approximate street value of nearly $750,000, including:
  • 53 kilograms of methamphetamine
  • 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl
  • 5.2 kilograms of cocaine, and
  • 3.8 kilograms of marijuana

Federal Defendants:  Forty-two defendants have been charged in federal court, some together, while others were charged individually.  Offenses with which individuals have been charged include illegal firearms trafficking, unlawful possession and transfer of machineguns, unlawful possession of firearms, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, using a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.  The names, specific charges, and potential sentences of these federal defendants, if convicted, are in the attached chart.  Reference is made to public records, including related, recently unsealed federal Indictments, for additional information.

State Defendants:  Eight defendants have been charged in Oklahoma County District Court.  Offenses with which they have been charged include aggravated trafficking of fentanyl, trafficking of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication. The names, specific charges, and potential sentences of these state court defendants, if convicted, are in the attached chart.  Reference is made to public records for additional information.

Seizures:  In addition to charging 50 defendants, law enforcement recovered the following items:

Please note that these numbers are the collective recoveries over the course of Operation Sonic Boom and are not attributable to each individual defendant.

MCDs, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” unlawfully convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns). The possession, manufacturing, and sale of MCDs violates federal law as illegal possession of a machinegun. Those charged with MCD-related offenses face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“There is no doubt that Operation Sonic Boom has had a resounding impact to make Oklahoma City safer,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.  “This Operation alone removes from our streets nearly 200 dangerous firearms and machineguns, and over 63 kilos of deadly drugs.  I commend ATF’s leadership with this effort and our law enforcement partners who worked together to make Operation Sonic Boom successful.”   

“Early mornings, late nights, time away from family, dangerous situations are all worth it for law enforcement officers when the outcome is life changing for the citizens and communities they protect. The streets of Oklahoma City are forever altered due to the excellent work by the United States Attorney’s Office, ATF, and our law enforcement partners during Operation Sonic Boom,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Operations like this highlight the importance of authentic relationships between law enforcement agencies to keep our communities safe. ATF will remain vigilant and steadfast in our fight against violent crime in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas and will continue to pursue the worst of the worst lawbreakers living amongst us.”

“We appreciate the efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement officials during this months-long operation,” said Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna. “The invaluable work they did to get these guns and drugs off the streets and out of hands of dangerous felons will ultimately keep our city and citizens safer.”

“This operation demonstrates the positive outcomes that can occur when law enforcement agencies work together to address a specific problem,” said Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy. “The partnership we have with these agencies help dismantle the networks that fuel violence by taking dangerous criminals, drugs, and firearms off the streets making our community a safer place.”

Operation Sonic Boom was funded by the Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in North Texas and Oklahoma.  HIDTA fosters and supports intra-agency cooperation strategies to target the region's drug-related and violent crime threats to public safety by using funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, out of the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

This Operation is the result of collaboration and partnership among ATF, Oklahoma City Police Department, Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs, and the Texoma HIDTA.

The public is reminded these charges are merely allegations, and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Defendant lists attached below:

Federal Defendants

State Defendants