Federal Grand Jury in Oklahoma Returns 12 Indictments: Charges Include Firearms, Drugs, Kidnapping, and Child Exploitation
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson has announced that a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Oklahoma returned a dozen indictments in the May 2026-A session. The charges span a range of federal offenses, from illegal firearm possession and drug distribution to child kidnapping and sexual exploitation, involving defendants who are both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.
Source note: This article is based on a public release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The announcement, made on May 7, 2026, listed the following individuals and charges. Each indictment represents an allegation at this stage, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Grand Jury Process
A federal grand jury does not determine guilt. Instead, it decides whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and that the named individual committed it. If at least 12 of 23 jurors vote in favor, an indictment is issued. The case then proceeds toward trial or a possible plea agreement.
In the current batch, the indictments were the result of investigations by multiple federal and local agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, and several sheriff’s offices and police departments in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri.
Who Was Charged and What the Indictments Say
Below is a summary of the defendants and the federal charges they face. Each count carries its own set of potential penalties, but none of the defendants have been convicted at this time.
Henry Curiel Arias, 47, Venezuelan National
Charged with being an alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of firearms and ammunition, and with illegally transferring a machinegun. Specifically, Curiel Arias is accused of possessing and transferring a machinegun conversion device – a part that can turn a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic one. The investigation was led by HSI and ATF. Case number 26-CR-160.
Hector Contreras Perez, 41, Mexican National
Charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien. Contreras Perez is alleged to have reentered the U.S. after being formally removed on four prior occasions: in January 2004, February 2005, May 2008, and June 2016. HSI is the investigating agency. Case number 26-CR-171.
Marco Cruz Ruiz, 34, Mexican National
Charged with being an alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of a firearm and with unlawful reentry of a removed alien. Cruz Ruiz is accused of possessing a firearm while knowing he was in the country illegally, and of reentering the U.S. after a removal in September 2012. HSI and ATF are the investigating agencies. Case number 26-CR-169.
Johnny Ray Leonard, Jr., 36, of Tulsa
Charged with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, under a superseding indictment. Leonard is accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition despite a prior felony conviction, which prohibits him from doing so under federal law. The case is being investigated by ATF and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Case number 26-CR-130.
Simon Martinez Gonzalez, 44, Mexican National
Charged with kidnapping of a child and witness tampering by physical force, in a second superseding indictment. Martinez Gonzalez is accused of abducting a minor child in December 2024. He is also charged with using physical force against a victim to hinder their communication with law enforcement. Multiple agencies are involved: HSI, U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office (Texas), and the Bartlesville Police Department. Case number 25-CR-029.
Jerald Michael Scott Newell, 33, of Sand Springs
Charged with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Newell, like Leonard, faces allegations that he illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition despite a prior felony conviction. The investigation involves ATF and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office. Case number 26-CR-161.
Mylan Derayl Owens, 20, of Tulsa
Charged with illegal possession of a machinegun. Owens is accused of knowingly possessing a machinegun conversion device. Such devices are themselves considered machineguns under federal law. The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Tulsa Police Department. Case number 26-CR-162.
Octavio Rendon Gonzalez, 51, Mexican National
Charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and with unlawful reentry of a removed alien. Rendon Gonzalez is accused of possessing cocaine with the intent to sell it, and of reentering the country after a removal in July 2011. The FBI and HSI are the investigative agencies. Case number 26-CR-170.
Jose Eduardo Rodriguez Aguirre, 34, Mexican National
Charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien and possession of a false immigration document. Rodriguez Aguirre is alleged to have reentered the U.S. after being removed twice in 2019 (May and July). He is also accused of possessing a false Green Card, a document commonly used to prove lawful permanent resident status. HSI is the investigating agency. Case number 26-CR-165.
Jeremy Sertich, 34, of Duluth, Minnesota
Charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and coercion and enticement of a minor. Sertich is accused of knowingly transporting a minor victim across state lines for the purpose of illegal sexual conduct. He also faces a coercion and enticement charge related to the same minor. The investigation involves HSI, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Duluth Police Department. Case number 26-CR-163.
David Michael Staley, 58, of Willard, Missouri
Charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Staley is accused of attempting to persuade an individual he believed to be under 18 to engage in sexual activity. The investigation was led by HSI and the Broken Arrow Police Department. Case number 26-CR-164.
Devan Miquel Velasco, 28, of Tulsa
Charged with tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion. Velasco is accused of knowingly persuading a witness with the intent to hinder their testimony in an official proceeding. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigating agencies. Case number 26-CR-172.
Understanding the Charges
Many of the counts involve violations that carry severe penalties if the defendant is convicted. Below is a brief look at some of the key federal statutes involved. This explanation is based solely on the announced charges and publicly available legal definitions; it does not comment on the strength of the evidence against any individual defendant.
Alien in Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition: Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5), it is generally unlawful for any person who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident to possess a firearm or ammunition. Violations can result in up to 15 years in prison.
Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien: Found in 8 U.S.C. § 1326, this charge applies when a person who has been previously deported or removed reenters the United States without authorization. Penalties vary depending on the individual’s prior criminal history and the circumstances, but a conviction can lead to a sentence of up to 20 years.
Felon in Possession of a Firearm: Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison is generally barred from possessing firearms or ammunition. A conviction may carry up to 15 years in prison.
Illegal Transfer or Possession of a Machinegun: Federal law defines a machinegun broadly enough to include conversion devices that enable a semi-automatic weapon to fire automatically. Possession or transfer of such a device without proper registration can lead to up to 10 years in prison under 18 U.S.C. § 922(o).
Kidnapping: Federal kidnapping statutes, particularly 18 U.S.C. § 1201, make it a crime to unlawfully seize, confine, or transport a person, with enhanced penalties when the victim is a minor. A conviction can result in a minimum of 20 years and up to life imprisonment.
Witness Tampering: 18 U.S.C. § 1512 prohibits intimidating, threatening, or corruptly persuading a witness with the intent to influence their testimony. Physical force aggravates the offense. Sentencing can reach up to 30 years in certain circumstances.
Coercion and Enticement of a Minor: 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) makes it a federal crime to use any means of interstate commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense. A conviction carries a federal sentencing requirements of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity: Under 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a), it is illegal to transport a minor across state lines with the intent that the minor engage in sexual activity that is a criminal offense. This charge also carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a possible maximum of life.
Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute: 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) criminalizes the possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute it. Penalties depend on the amount and the defendant’s prior record, but can include decades in prison.
Possession of a False Immigration Document: 18 U.S.C. § 1546 makes it unlawful to knowingly possess a false document such as a counterfeit Green Card. A conviction can lead to up to 10 years in prison.
Why These Indictments Matter
Grand jury indictments are a routine but crucial part of the federal criminal justice system. They do not establish guilt, but they do show that, after reviewing evidence, a panel of citizens found sufficient cause to move forward with prosecution. The range of charges in this set illustrates several enforcement priorities of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma and its federal partners:
- Illegal firearm possession, particularly by non-citizens and felons, and the spread of machinegun conversion devices. These small, often 3D-printed or imported parts have become a growing concern for law enforcement because they can turn a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon in seconds.
- Repeat immigration violators: Several defendants have multiple prior removals, underscoring the difficulties of border enforcement and interior compliance.
- Violent crimes against children: The kidnapping and sexual exploitation charges reflect the use of federal resources to pursue cross-jurisdictional cases where local agencies need additional support.
- Witness tampering: The integrity of the justice system depends on witnesses being able to testify without fear. Federal law treats any effort to obstruct that process seriously.
- Drug trafficking: The cocaine distribution charge, while only one case, is a reminder that federal authorities continue to target the illegal drug trade.
The involvement of multiple agencies – HSI, ATF, FBI, Border Patrol, and local police – highlights the collaborative nature of many federal cases. Investigations often start with a local traffic stop or a tip and evolve into broader probes that touch on immigration, firearms, and violent crime.
What Remains Unknown
While the announcement provides the basic charges and defendant names, many details are still unavailable to the public. For example:
- The precise circumstances of each alleged offense: What led officers to encounter the defendants? Were there undercover operations or confidential informants?
- The strength of the evidence: Grand juries hear only the prosecution’s side, so the full picture – including any exculpatory evidence – won’t emerge until later stages.
- Whether any defendants are cooperating or have already reached plea agreements. The announcement lists only indictments, not case outcomes.
- The immigration history and current status of the foreign nationals named, beyond the removal dates provided.
- The identities of victims, which are withheld in child-related cases to protect their privacy.
Readers should avoid drawing conclusions about guilt based solely on an indictment. The legal process is designed to test allegations through court proceedings, and most cases resolve through some form of plea or trial, not through press releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be indicted by a federal grand jury?
An indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt. It means a group of citizens decided there is probable cause to believe the person committed the crimes listed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial or through a guilty plea.
Why are some defendants charged with both firearm and immigration violations?
Federal law makes it illegal for certain categories of people, including those unlawfully present in the United States, to possess firearms or ammunition. When authorities encounter a non-citizen with a gun, separate charges often follow for both the immigration status and the weapons possession.
What is a machinegun conversion device?
It is a small component, sometimes called a “switch,” that can be attached to a semi-automatic firearm to make it fire automatically. Federal law treats the device itself as a machinegun, and simple possession is a crime unless properly registered.
How serious are child exploitation charges?
They are among the most severe federal offenses. Charges like transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity carry federal sentencing requirements sentences of 10 years and can result in life imprisonment, depending on the details.
Will we learn more about these cases later?
Yes. As the cases move through the court system, public filings such as plea agreements, motions, and trial records will shed more light on the facts. Federal court dockets are generally accessible online through the PACER system.
Sources
This article is based on public information released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has been independently rewritten, summarized, and contextualized by Shadab Chow News. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FBI, the Department of Justice, any court, or any government agency. It may be updated as more confirmed information becomes available.