Idabel Resident Sentenced for Arson

MUSKOGEE, OK—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Cheyenne Blackowl, aka, Cheyenne Fairless, age 19, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment, followed by 60 months of supervised release, for arson in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 81, 1151 and 1153. The defendant was also ordered to pay $69,800 in restitution.

Charges arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Blackowl was indicted in June 2011 and pled guilty in July 2011.

The indictment alleged that on or about April 26, 2011, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and within Indian Country, the defendant, a member of the Choctaw Nation, did knowingly, willfully, and maliciously set fire to a dwelling structure, which caused a total loss of the dwelling structure.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over today’s hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending transportation to the designated federal prison at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.