Department of Justice

OKLAHOMA CITY — Last week, four defendants were sentenced to serve a total of 177 months in federal prison, and three other defendants pleaded guilty for firearms offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

"Keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited by law from possessing guns is critical to keeping our communities safe," said U.S. Attorney Troester. "I applaud the many state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies who regularly work with prosecutors in my office in a coordinated effort to reduce violent crime in Oklahoma."

The following seven defendants appeared in federal court in separate and unrelated cases:

Sentencings:

1. ROBERT LEE FISHER, 49, of Yukon, Oklahoma, was sentenced on October 11, 2022, to 14 months in federal prison. According to public record, Fisher had an active victim’s protection order (VPO) and a conviction for domestic assault and battery; he was inside a bedroom he shared with his girlfriend and in possession of a shotgun when it discharged. The round went through an adjoining bedroom wall and struck his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter in the arm. Fisher pled guilty on October 26, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsie Pratt prosecuted this case.
2. WILLIAM REECE, 32, of Woodward, Oklahoma, was sentenced on October 11, 2022, to 96 months in federal prison. According to public record, Oklahoma Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in Woodward. Reece was identified as the driver and an affiliate of a local street gang. Reece was found to have a loaded magazine on his person and a firearm in his vehicle. When deciding an appropriate sentence, the Court considered a 2019 domestic violence incident that involved the defendant pointing a firearm at his girlfriend and members of her family. Reece pled guilty on January 21, 2022. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted this case.
3. KOURDAE AMERSON, 21, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced on October 12, 2022, to 37 months in federal prison. According to public record, this case arose from several high-speed chases that led to the arrest of three defendants. All three defendants were depicted in a live video on Facebook in possession of multiple firearms. They are also members of violent local gangs. Amerson pleaded guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm. Amerson pled guilty on July 12, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsie Pratt prosecuted this case.
4. TRACI ASHFORD, 44, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced on October 14, 2022 to 30 months in federal prison. After a two-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Ashford. Evidence at trial showed that, on October 6, 2020, Ashford engaged in an altercation with his girlfriend, which resulted in Ashford brandishing an AK-47 style rifle. Soon after the altercation, Ashford was stopped by Oklahoma City Police Department officers who located the rifle in the backseat of the car driven by Ashford. Prior to being found in possession of the firearm, Ashford had been convicted of a felony domestic assault and battery in Oklahoma County, as well as domestic battery in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn Hutzell and Travis Leverett prosecuted the case.
   
   Guilty Pleas:
    
5. ASA MALEY, 36, of Chandler, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2022, to a single-count information charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms. According to public record, law enforcement was contacted regarding a domestic assault with a deadly weapon during which the victim’s vehicle, within approximately eight feet of her occupied residence, was shot at least six times. Maley was identified as the shooter and arrested shortly thereafter. A search warrant executed at Maley’s residence resulted in six firearms found unsecured and in plain view. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Connolly is prosecuting the case.
6. BRIJONRE HAMILTON, 22, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty on October 12, 2022, to four counts of making a false statement during the attempted purchase of a firearm. According to public record, Hamilton attempted to purchase a firearm after being told by ATF that he was a prohibited person (drug user) and could not buy guns. After being informed that he was prohibited, Hamilton tried at least four times to purchase firearms by lying on a Form 4473, which is required to purchase a firearm. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Powers is prosecuting the case.
7. ANTHONY WOODLEY, 28, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty on October 14, 2022, to illegal possession of a firearm. According to public record, Woodley attacked his pregnant girlfriend, threatened her with a gun, and strangled her. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Harley is prosecuting the case. Sentencings take place approximately 90 days after a plea of guilty. At sentencing, each defendant faces up to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release, for each count of illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition. Under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, after June 25, 2022, defendants prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition face up to fifteen years in federal prison for the same conduct.

These cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Woodward Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, with assistance from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, the Woodward County District Attorney’s Office, and the Custer County District Attorney’s Office.

Several of these cases are part of “Operation 922” and “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation 922 is the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. “Operation Shots Fired” targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.