Ringleader Sentenced in Major Meth Trafficking Ring

United States Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that the ringleader of a major drug trafficking ring that supplied methamphetamine to the local area was sentenced to federal prison today.

Jason Edgar Kort, 34, of Broken Arrow, was sentenced to 135 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell. Kort is the fourth defendant in the case so far to receive a sentence to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). An additional four defendants remain to be sentenced.

The criminal organization was responsible for the importation of large amounts of methamphetamine in pound quantities from sources in Phoenix, Arizona, and locations in Texas, into the Tulsa area between December 2009 and February 2010. The defendants often used commercial airlines to fly to the source of the methamphetamine and then transported the drugs back to the Tulsa area using private vehicles and passengers on commercial bus lines. In one instance the drugs were hidden inside a pink stuffed animal. The defendants used various communication methods such as cell phones to carry out their crimes and used local banks to launder their drug money. The conspiracy was “outed” on February 27, 2010, when law enforcement officers served simultaneous search warrants on a residence in Broken Arrow and one in Phoenix, Arizona. The Broken Arrow residence, where records of multiple drug transactions were found, was in the name of defendant Jason Kort, the ringleader of the conspiracy. A federal Grand Jury charged all defendants with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute. Defendants Tanner and Millwood were also charged with Unlawful Use of Communication Facility and defendant Tanner was additionally charged with Felon in Possession of Firearm. All eight defendants pleaded guilty. Their sentencing dates and results follow:

1. Max Ray Tanner, 32, of Tulsa. Sentenced 7/15/2010 - 60 months’ BOP.
2. Beverly McPhedran, 32, of Phoenix. Sentenced 7/15/2010 - 51 months’ BOP.
3. Jason Edgar Kort, 34, of Broken Arrow. Sentenced 8/19/2010 - 135 months’ BOP.
4. Jean Ann Brenek, 39, of Wall, Tx. Sentenced 8/12/2010 - 24 months’ BOP.
5. Mark Anthony Millwood, 32, of Phoenix. Sentencing set for 9/14/2010.
6. Serena Rae Archer, 38, of Springfield, Mo. Sentencing set for 9/14/2010.
7. Cheryl Hopple, 58, of Phoenix. Sentencing set for 9/15/2010.
8. Higinio Sahuaqui, 56, of Phoenix. Sentencing set for 9/15/2010.

U.S. Attorney Woodward praised the work of law enforcement, which consisted of agents from the Tulsa and Phoenix FBI offices and officers of the Broken Arrow Police Department. The investigation that led to the uncovering of this drug trafficking conspiracy utilized multiple investigative techniques, including monitored phone calls and telephone records. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick of the Tulsa U.S. Attorney’s Office.