United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI - A.D. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paul C. May, Sheriff, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, John J. Burke, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law (FDLE), Fort Myers Regional Operation Center-Sebring Field Office, and Susan Benton, Sheriff, Highlands County Sheriff’s (HCSO) announce the filing of federal charges against 15 defendants for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamines, in and around Okeechobee and Highlands Counties.  The defendants have been charged in a single indictment in the matter of United States v. Steven Lee Oakes, et. al., 2015-CR-14046-Martinez.  In addition to the federal indictment, 29 individuals have been charged by the Office of the State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida for their alleged participation in a related conspiracy to commit narcotics involved racketeering offenses.  This coordinated takedown to combat the drug epidemic is one of the largest in the history of Okeechobee and Highlands Counties. 

The federal indictment charges 15 defendants in the Southern District of Florida for their alleged participation in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  Charged in the ten count indictment are Steven Lee Oakes, a/k/a “Wildman,” 59, of Davenport, Jetta Lyn Frake, 45, of Lorida, Lacy Junior Locklear, 47, of Davenport, Stephen Patrick Hall, Jr., 35, of Dundee, Daniel John Alsdorf, 58, of Okeechobee, James Ledger Carter, a/k/a “Buddy,” 61, of Lake Port, Teresa Lee Green, 45, of Okeechobee, Tanner Lyn Carter, 22, of Lake Port, Felisha Michelle Leitner, 28, of Okeechobee, David Allen Sparks, 49, of Okeechobee, Jamie Lea Hewitt, 35, of Okeechobee, Jessica Marie Bell, 28, of Okeechobee, Vickie Lynn Johnson, 47, of Okeechobee, Travis Wayne Carr, 23, of Okeechobee, and Timothy Dale Reid, 49, of Okeechobee.

The indictment alleges that all 15 defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from as early as July 2014 and continuing to and including August 6, 2015, in Okeechobee and Highlands Counties, in the Southern District of Florida, and other locations, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, a number of defendants were also indicted for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in various amounts up to 50 grams or more, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).

• Steven Lee Oakes was charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on October 8, 14, and 28 of 2014, December 5, 2014 and April 26, 2015.  Oakes was also charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on December 17, 2014.
• Lacy Junior Locklear was charged with possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine on April 26, 2015.
• Daniel John Alsdorf was charged with possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine on April 28, 2015.
• Teresa Lee Green was charged with possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectible amount of methamphetamine on March 10, 2015.
• Vickie Lyn Johnson was charged with possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine on March 31, 2015.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 18 pounds of methamphetamine.

If convicted in federal court, the defendants face the following possible statutory sentences: a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for the conspiracy to distribute and/or possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine; and up to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectible amount of methamphetamine. 

An indictment and state charging instruments are only accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA Port St. Lucie Resident Office, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force, FDLE’s Fort Myers Regional Operations Center Sebring Field Office, HCSO, the Okeechobee Police Department, Glades County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Pierce Police Department, the Fort Pierce Offices of the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security (ICE-HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (ATF), Port Saint Lucie Police Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, United States Border Patrol, and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.  The federal defendants are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.  The state defendants are being prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida.