News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2004

Seized Assets Shared Among
Local Law Enforcement Agencies

District 27 District Attorney Richard Gray and U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling.

Aug 16--MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - United States Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling announced that federal asset forfeiture sharing checks totaling more than $100,000 were distributed to area law enforcement agencies.

Recipient Agencies and their respective representatives included Broken Arrow Police Department Major Brandon Berryhill, Tulsa County Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Edwards, Sallisaw Police Chief Gary Philpot, Sequoyah County Sheriff Johnny Philpot, Sapulpa Police Chief Jim Wall, District 27 District Attorney Richard Gray, Adair County Sheriff’s Department Jail Administrator James Clay, Internal Revenue Service Supervisory Special Agent Bob Taylor, and the Sand Springs Police Department.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue and recipient agencies provided investigators and officers who spent many hours investigating complex precursor methamphetamine chemical distribution cases. Investigators infiltrated a business which operated illegally to provide necessary chemicals for the manufacture of large amounts of methamphetamine. The federal investigation focused on operations of “legitimate” business which knowingly sold chemicals to meth cooks.

Federal convictions included three business operations. Federal non-parolable prison sentences were ordered for four defendants. Forfeiture orders totaled nearly $500,000. The shared funds distributed this week were from Doyle Brooks, who entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to a 60 month non-parolable prison term. Brooks also agreed to forfeit $125,000, which was distributed in relation to the amount of investigative resources provided by the various local, state, and federal agencies.