Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- July 2022

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July 2022 Federal Grand Jury A.

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.

James Arthur Berry. Assault of a Spouse and Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country. Berry, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with strangling an intimate partner on April 22, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-159

Daniel Thomas Giraldi.  Possession of Oxycodone with Intent to Distribute (Count 1); Possession of Clonazepam with Intent to Distribute (Count 2); Use of a Communication Facility in the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony (Counts 3-12); Interstate Travel to Aid Racketeering (Count 13); Honest Services Fraud (Counts 14-17) (superseding). Giraldi, 44, of Joplin, allegedly possessed with intent to distribute Oxycodone and Clonazepam on April 19, 2022. Giraldi and a woman also allegedly engaged in a texting conversation about Giraldi providing the woman with Xanax on April 14, 2022. He is further charged with traveling from Missouri to Oklahoma to distribute Oxycodone and Clonazepam. Finally, he is charged with honest services fraud. According to the indictment, from February 2019 until April 20, 2022, Giraldi abused his official position as an Assistant District Attorney in the Ottawa County District Attorney’s Office when he secretly used his position to provide favorable official action related to certain defendants’ criminal cases in exchange for sexual acts. Official actions included dismissing criminal charges, reducing charges and/or offering favorable plea agreements; moving court dates; reducing bond amounts and dismissing or reducing traffic infractions. Prosecutors also alleged that Giraldi took steps to cover up his activity by communicating via untraceable physical notes, using secured messaging applications, communicating in coded language, and using the trappings of his office to perform official actions for his own gain. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. McWaters is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-143

Samuel Goana-Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Goana-Gonzalez, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully being in the United States after having been removed on Sept. 9, 2008, near Hidalgo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the U.S. Marshals Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-102

Imani Neiya Jones. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Jones, 26, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute both methamphetamine and marijuana on July 29, 2018. She is further alleged to have maintained a residence for manufacturing, distributing and using the drugs and to have possessed firearms to further her drug trafficking crimes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-209

Michael Lee Knighten. Robbery in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Carjacking. Knighten, 35, of Tulsa, allegedly stole a leaf blower then pointed a firearm at the lawn maintenance worker who tried to pursue him. Knighten is further charged with pointing a firearm at a second victim when he stole the man’s Toyota Tundra pickup truck that contained numerous professional tools. Both alleged crimes occurred the morning of April 29, 2022. The Tulsa Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina S. Gilmore is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-204

Hector Prado-Jimenez. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Prado-Jimenez, 46, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material from June 1, 2020, through June 14, 2022. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Snow is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-210

Ruben Vega Escobar. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Vega, 28, an El Salvador national, is charged with unlawfully residing in the United States after having been removed the from the country on Dec. 18, 2019, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-203

Joseph Austin Wagener. Wagener, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with stealing a 2003 Acura sedan, worth over $1,000, on March 14, 2022. The Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-205

Joshua Wayne Willis.  Kidnapping in Indian Country. Willis, 25, of Tulsa, allegedly held a woman hostage at her residence on June 12, 2022. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Briden is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-206