A California man pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise for his role in transporting marijuana for Tong Moua Vang, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

At his hearing, David Mason Leslie, Jr., 54, of Cucamonga, California, admitted that in July 2018, he aided in the transport of marijuana for Tong Vang, of Tulsa. Leslie stated that he rented a car and trailer to transport marijuana from California to Tulsa for distribution to areas outside of Oklahoma. Leslie was arrested near Omaha, Nebraska, July 30, 2018, after law enforcement discovered 200 pounds of marijuana in the trailer.

“Crime doesn’t pay. Leslie made a costly decision simply for what he thought was easy money. He got caught up in the wrong game and now may pay the price by being sentenced to federal prison for taking part in this marijuana operation,” said U.S. Attorney Shores.

The transport of the drug was part of a marijuana distribution operation led by Kong Meng Vang, who pleaded guilty in August 2018 to drug conspiracy, money laundering and possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Tong Vang was later named to the drug conspiracy in a superseding indictment. Tong Vang purchased marijuana in California then recruited and paid others to transport it outside of state. Leslie originally hauled cars for Kong Meng Vang, and was later recruited by Tong Vang to transport the marijuana.

U.S. District Chief Judge John E. Dowdell accepted his plea and set sentencing for July 11, 2019.  Leslie remains in custody while awaiting sentencing. At that time, he faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-Criminal Investigation are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Joseph F. Wilson and Richard M. Cella are prosecuting the case

United States Attorney Trent Shores announced today the results of the March 2019 Federal Grand Jury.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in an indictment returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Glenville L. Albright. False Statement in Connection With the Attempted Acquisition of a Firearm; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Albright, 50, of Pawhuska, is charged with making a false statement on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 in an effort to redeem a Winchester, Ranger Model 120, 12 gauge shotgun that he had previously pawned. Albright lied on the form about his criminal record. He is further charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is the investigative agency.

Marissa Leigh Andrews and Danica Rae Pulley. Drug Conspiracy; Possession With Intent to Distribute Ecstasy.  Andrews, 20, and Pulley, 25, both of Fort Dodge, Iowa, are charged with conspiring to sell ecstasy and intent to distribute ecstasy. The Pryor Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies.

Anthony Dale Brannon. False Statement in Connection With the Attempted Acquisition of Firearms; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Brannon, 59, of Grove, is charged with making a false statement on the ATF Form 4473 in an effort to purchase a Remington 12 gauge shotgun and a Browning 20 gauge shotgun. Brannon lied on the form about his criminal record. He is further charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency.

Matthew F. Donovan. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Donovan, 34, of Eucha, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Model Heritage Rough rider, .22 LR caliber revolver. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive are the investigative agencies.

John Wayne Engel. Possession of Heroin With Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Engel, 32, is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and possessing a firearm and ammunition to carry out his drug trafficking crimes. He is further charged with being a felon in possession of a HS Produkt, Model XD40, .40 S&W semi-automatic pistol and 38 rounds of associated ammunition. The Tulsa Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.

Joshua Christopher Harrison. Theft by Employee of Gaming Establishment of Indian Lands in Excess of $1000.  Harrison, 22, of Broken Arrow, is charged with embezzling more than $1,000 from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation River Spirit Casino, a gaming establishment. The FBI, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Attorney General Investigator and the Office of Public Gaming are the investigative agencies.

Rufus Hicks, Jr. False Statement in Connection With An Attempted Acquisition of a Firearm. Hicks, 39, of Tulsa, is charged with making a false statement on the ATF Form 4473 in an effort to purchase a Taurus, Model 605 Protector Ply, .357 MAG caliber revolver. Hicks lied on the form about his criminal record. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency.

Cesar Lara, Jr., Angel Ricardo Gonzalez, and Juandedios Gonzalez, Jr.  Drug Conspiracy.  Lara, 23, Angel Ricardo Gonzalez, 31,and Juandedios Gonzalez Jr., 44, all of El Paso, Texas, are charged with knowingly conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies.

David Mason Leslie, Jr. Drug Conspiracy; Interstate and Foreign Travel and Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises. Leslie Jr., 54, of Cucamonga, California, is charged with conspiring to possess and distribute 100 kilograms or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of marijuana. As part of the conspiracy, the co-conspirators allegedly purchased and transported shipments of marijuana from California to the Northern District of Oklahoma. Leslie and his co-conspirators allegedly distributed the drug in the northeastern Oklahoma and elsewhere, including Minneapolis, Minnesota. Leslie is further charged with traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to facilitate and manage the drug distribution business enterprise. The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-Criminal Investigation are the investigative agencies.

Christopher P. Manzanares. False Statement in Connection With the Attempted Acquisition of a Firearm; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition While Subject to a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. Manzanares, 28, of Broken Arrow, is charged with making a false statement on the ATF Form 4473 in an effort to purchase a SCCY CPX-1, 9 mm pistol. Manzanares lied on the form about being subject to a restraining order. He is further charged with possessing a Davis Industries, Model D-32, .32 caliber derringer while subject to a domestic violence restraining order. The Broken Arrow Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.

Jason William Near, Kevin Michael Wright, and Stephanie Marie Elfman. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Near, 39, of Lakewood, New York, Wright, 46, of Jamestown, New York, and Elfman, 31, of Jamestown, New York, are charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. The Miami Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies.  

Feliciano Villarruel-Cabre. Reentry of Removed Alien. Villarruel-Cabre, 44, of Tulsa, is charged with having returned to the United States unlawfully after being deported on July 11, 2007, from Hidalgo, Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency.

Bradley Ryan Wikel. False Statement in Connection With the Attempted Acquisition of a Firearm; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Wikel, 31, of Jay, is charged with making a false statement on the ATF Form 4473 in an effort to purchase a Remington .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle. Brannon lied on the form about his criminal record. He is further charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency.

Evan Jamon Woodard. Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes; Possession of Cocaine With Intent to Distribute (2 counts); Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute (2 counts); Possession of Heroin With Intent to Distribute. Woodard, 34, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Kahr Arms, Model CM 9, 9 mm pistol and ammunition and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Additional he is charged with multiple counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies.