Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced- March 2023

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March 2023 Federal Grand Jury B.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Tyuane Lamontco Barnes. First Degree Felony Murder in Indian Country; Robbery in Indian Country; Conspiracy; Causing Death by Using and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Barnes, 22, of Tulsa, allegedly conspired with others to rob the minor victim of his firearm, resulting in the victim’s murder on Jan 24, 2023. The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Aaron M. Jolly are prosecuting the case.

Finnegan Roarke Cutter. Bank Robbery (Charged by Information). Cutter, 21, of Tulsa, is charged with using force and intimidation to rob Truity Credit Union in Bartlesville on Feb. 24, 2023. The FBI and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

Osvaldo Bravo-Roblero. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Bravo-Roblero, 34, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Nov. 28, 2018, at or near Hidalgo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case.

Ty Warren Copeland. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Copeland, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with breaking into a residence while it was occupied on Feb. 28, 2023. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case.

Ismael Borrayo Esparza; Jesus Ricardo Ornelas Virgen. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Borrayo, 34, and Ornelas, 33, both of Tulsa, are alleged to have conspired together to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; and 100 grams or more of heroin. The two are also charged with maintaining a residence to store and distribute the methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Tulsa Police Department and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema M. Onias is prosecuting the case.

Ethan Cord Melson. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Melson, 26, of Stroud, is charged with assaulting an intimate partner by strangling her on Jan. 20, 2020. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case.

Josue Ramirez-Yanez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Yanez, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Nov. 22, 2011, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case.

Joel Alberto Rodriguez-Garcia. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez-Garcia, 30, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 6, 2020, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case.

Ramon Silva-Rodriguez. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Silva-Rodriguez, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case.

Ray Alexander Villalba; Elijah Paul Titone. Conspiracy (Count 1); Kidnapping (Count 2); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 3, 5, 7, 9, 11); Carjacking (Count 4); Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery (Counts 6, 10); Obstruction of Justice by Threatening Physical Force Against a Witness (Count 8). Villalba, 21, of Goodyear, Arizona, Titone, 24, of Muskogee, and others allegedly devised a plan where they would use dating apps and cell phones to lure potential victims to discrete locations under the guise of romantic encounters then threaten and kidnap victims in order to take their vehicle and property. Specifically, in early December 2022, the two men allegedly used Grindr to lure one man to a remote location then restrained and kidnapped him. They tied the victim up and forced him into the back seat of his car. Villalba drove the victim’s vehicle while Titone allegedly sat in the back with the victim while pointing a firearm at him. Titone showed the victim decapitation videos and Villalba told him that Titone was a member of a cartel that would kill the man if he did not comply. The two then drove the man to an ATM machine and forced him to provide his pin number to obtain money. They also forced him to unlock his phone so they could download Cashapp and transfer money. They once again threatened to kill the man if he called the police then left him on the side of the rode, driving off with his vehicle and wallet. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department and Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and John E. Brasher are prosecuting the case.

Edwar Rosario Villalobos-Quintanilla. Distribution of Fentanyl; Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Villalobos-Quintanilla, 28, is charged with distributing fentanyl and with conspiring with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case.