U.S. Department of Justice
Eastern District of Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE , OKLAHOMA - United States Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling announced today the results of the July 2008 Federal Grand Jury.

“The following named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an indictment by the Grand Jury.  A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt.  A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant.  A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  Statutory maximum punishments are in parentheses.   United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court.  Federal prison sentences are non-parolable”.

JOEL T. STRINGFELLOW, age 54, and TERRY L. STRINGFELLOW, age 51, both of Calera, Oklahoma.   
Money Laundering and Bankruptcy Fraud.

The twelve count indictment relates to bankruptcies filed in 2003 by Sioux Redi-Mix, Inc. and Sioux Aggregates, Inc., in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.  The indictment alleges that Joel Stringfellow fraudulently transferred the companies’ assets in anticipation of the bankruptcies, fraudulently receiving the corporations’ assets while they were in bankruptcy and money laundering.  Terry Stringfellow is charged with making false declarations under penalty of perjury in the bankruptcy cases. The defendants are husband and wife. Charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Trustee Program, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice which acts in the public interest to promote the efficiency and to protect and preserve the integrity of the bankruptcy system.  The charges are in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 1957 and 2; Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 152(5) & (7) and 2; and Title 18, U.S.C. § 152(3).

(Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or fine (Joel Stringfellow), and up to 5 years imprisonment and/or fine (Terry Stringfellow.)
Assistant United States Attorney Gay Guthrie and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Newman

LEE WAYNE ELLISON, age 35, and BRIAN MANGRUM, age 41, of McIntosh County, Oklahoma.
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. 

The defendants allegedly possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(A) and Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2.  The offenses allegedly took place on or about the 8th day of April 2008 in McIntosh County.  Charges arose from an investigation by DEA agents in California who were monitoring another target in that state.  ELLISON and MANGRUM were allegedly associates of the target in California.   After a local investigation by the DEA, the defendants were located at a motel in Checotah, Oklahoma. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found in the motel room.  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted the DEA in the investigation.

(Not less than 10 years imprisonment and/or $4,000,000.00 in fines.)
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson