NEWS RELEASE

For Release – March 12, 2009 

For Further Information Contact:  Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney or Ryan Roberts, Assistant United States Attorney  918-684-5100

  MUSKOGEE , OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, announced today that RONALD KEITH IRVING, age 35, of Muskogee , Oklahoma , and DEANDRE L. WASHINGTON, age 22, of Tulsa , Oklahoma , were charged by way of a Complaint.

        “The defendants are charged with the federal felony, Tampering with a Witness, Victim or Informant in Conjunction with Attempts to Kill Another Person,” noted U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling.  “The defendants are also listed, by way of statutory citation in the Complaint, as aiders and abettors in this charge.”

        “These charges arose from an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, officers from the Muskogee Police Department and Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling.  “Muskogee District Attorney Larry Moore and Sheriff Charles Pearson also worked with us on this investigation.” 

        “The Complaint charges that from on or about February 20, 2009 , and continuing on or about March 11, 2009 , IRVING and WASHINGTON entered into an agreement to kill Muskogee Police Lieutenant Brian Stark,” noted U.S. Attorney Sperling.

        “ IRVING is an inmate in the Muskogee County Jail, on pending federal drug charges.  The complaint asserts that IRVING solicited WASHINGTON to kill Lieutenant Stark,” U.S. Attorney Sperling said.  “Lieutenant Stark is a supervisor of the Muskogee Police Department Narcotics Squad and is a witness in the pending federal drug charge against IRVING .   WASHINGTON, a known gang member, whom the complaint avers is also known as “Monster” and “ol dude,” assertedly agreed to travel to Muskogee to kill Lieutenant Stark at his house.  The alleged price for the intended killing was at his house for $25,000.”

        “Yesterday, as the Complaint states, WASHINGTON travelled to Muskogee to carry out the murder of Stark.  WASHINGTON was apprehended by troopers of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The vehicle in which WASHINGTON was a passenger had crossed the Arkansas River Turnpike Bridge in the direction of Muskogee ,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

        “The affidavit underlying the Complaint contains graphic recorded comments made by Washington ,” U.S. Attorney Sperling added, including, “Can we do it before Thursday?”  “Do you know how to find him?”  “I won’t wound him.  I will shoot him in the face.”  “He’s a police officer.”  “I’m ready.”  “It will be ‘splat, splat.”  “We’ll ride down there and it will be ‘boom-boom.’”  “We will hit him at his house.”

        “The statute provides a term of imprisonment of up to 30 years, $250,000.00 in fines, and up to 5 years of supervised release if the court so orders,” noted U.S. Attorney Sperling.

        “We are grateful for the teamwork of federal, state, and county officers,” U.S. Attorney Sperling concluded.  “Our mantra, ‘All the badges are the same size.’ was actualized in this investigation.  Most importantly, the intended victim and his family members are safe.”

        “Finally, we have consistently expected the highest professional conduct by officers under our authority,” U.S. Attorney Sperling said.  “The flip side of that coin is that if a city, county, tribal, state or federal officer is seriously threatened or harmed and a federal hook (statute) is available, we will take appropriate prosecutorial action.”  

The above named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the filing of a Complaint.  A Complaint is a charging document that charges a federal defendant until the evidence can be presented to a grand jury.  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