Indictments Include Bunch Woman

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in announced this week that Waylon Lee Williams, 37, Chassidy Dawn Burke, 36, Jesse Ryan Catron, 37, Evonnie Marie Simmons, 38, and Josh Caleb Simmons, 38, all of Stilwell; Amber Rae Kirk, 36, of Lincoln, Ark.; Carl Alvin Cushing, 59, of Westville; Megan Charise Watkins, 26, and Kris Lee Hall, 40, both of Stilwell; Sharon Eloise Davis, 51, of Bunch; and Brianna Lillian Smith, 47, and Donnie Dean Burke, 34, both of Westville, were each indicted for drug conspiracy, punishable by not less than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $10,000,000 fine or both. 

Waylon Lee Williams and Chassidy Dawn Burke had previously been indicted on Feb. 18 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, punishable by not more than 20 years imprisonment, and up to a $1,000,000 fine or both.

The original indictment alleged that on or about July 28 Williams and Burke knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable quantity of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

In March, the Grand Jury returned an indictment which superseded the original indictment. The Superseding Indictment alleges that Williams, Burke, Catron, Evonnie Simmons, Josh Simmons, Kirk, Cushing, Watkins, Hall, Davis, Smith, and Donnie Dean Burke, beginning in 2014, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, and continuing until on or about Jan. 29, combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States.

The charges arose as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN), the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the District 27 District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Stilwell Police Department, the Broken Arrow Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “As we all know, methamphetamine is destructive to individuals, families, and communities, and the cost to society is beyond measure. Attacking a serious problem requires a serious commitment. The agencies that participated in this investigation gave the citizens of Adair County and Eastern Oklahoma that commitment. The agents worked thousands of hours and sacrificed their nights and weekends, and missed family gatherings for the sake of completing a professional, thorough investigation into the drug trade in and around Adair County, Oklahoma. The lead agents, who are with the DEA and OBN, worked closely with members of the United States Attorney’s Office and were assisted by prosecutors in the District 27 District Attorney’s Office. The teamwork that was involved throughout this investigation from beginning to end is an example of how federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies should work together for the benefit of the public we all serve.”

District 27 District Attorney Jack Thorp said, “Rural Oklahoma communities have been hit hard by methamphetamine. Long term, multi-agency investigations, targeted at suppliers of methamphetamine, are extremely important to our local efforts to protect the public. An investigation of this magnitude would not be possible without the participation of all the agencies involved. I am proud to have been a part of this effort and know that the citizens of Adair County and the surrounding area appreciate the resources devoted to fighting against the sale of methamphetamine.”

A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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