News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2008
Contact: Terri K. Wyatt
Special Agent/PIO
Number: 214-366-6900

Joel Sennett, aka Big Mac, Sentenced in Operation ‘Big Mac and Fries’

FEB 01 -- MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JOEL SENNETT, age 29, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced for Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Sections 1952(a)(3).

“SENNETT was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 36 months supervised release, and ordered to pay a Special Assessment of $100.00,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling.

“SENNETT was one of 13 co-defendants indicted in July, 2007.  Between December, 2006, and January, 2007, SENNETT traveled from Texas to Oklahoma, to possess and distribute methamphetamine,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Oklahoma City District and McAlester Resident Offices, assisted by various Federal, State and local agencies successfully dismantled the Jared Macchirella and Brian Fry methamphetamine Drug Distributing Organization (DTO), also known as Operation Big Mac & Fries, based out of McAlester, Oklahoma.  This Priority Target Organization distributed in excess of 20 pounds of methamphetamine per month in East Oklahoma and North Texas since 2003.  Special Agents of the DEA led their team of law enforcement partners through the execution of a two-phased investigation consisting of the execution of eleven federal & state search warrants, undercover purchases of methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine,  the cultivation of over 30 confidential sources / cooperating defendants, wire intercepts, pen registers / toll analysis, investigative grand jury and electronic / aerial surveillance.  An extensive financial investigation was conducted, including document search warrants, cash flow analysis, ex-parte tax orders, analysis of cash trade assets, asset tracing and analysis of real property,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“The DEA Oklahoma City District and McAlester Resident Offices conducted this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, District Attorney Drug Task Forces 18 & 22, Hughes and Pittsburg County (Oklahoma) Sheriff’s Departments, and the McAlester, Oklahoma Police Department,” U.S. Attorney Sperling continued.

“This investigation resulted in the arrests of 53 defendants, the seizure of over 115 firearms and the removal of approximately 7,000 rounds of ammunition.  In addition, the abstraction of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine and the seizure of passenger vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and real estate ensued.  The federal prosecution of started with thirteen defendants by the United States Attorney, Eastern District of Oklahoma, two of which were never arrested, and anticipated seizures of real property and assets, in excess of three million dollars, are expected, added U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“This is yet another domino to fall in such a significant drug enforcement case for the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma. These types of conspirators only mean pain and grief to our state while making enormous monetary profits. We need more than simply disrupting these home-grown terrorist but we must totally dismantle them to the core.  As a state, we must have great resolve when dealing with these groups and will fight for every town, every county in our state in our quest for a drug free Oklahoma,” added Director R. Darrell Weaver of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

“The Honorable Ronald A. White, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over today's sentencing.  Judge White ordered the defendant to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 3, 2008, to begin serving his sentence.   Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the government."               

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