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Suspected East Oklahoma drug conspiracy ring indicted after investigation involving over a dozen agencies

The joint case was investigated by numerous police departments, sheriff's offices, and even the DEA, ATF, and IRS.

LE FLORE COUNTY, Okla. — On Nov. 13, 2023, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Oklahoma voted to indict thirteen people, most from Le Flore County, with charges accusing them of conspiring to sell meth and fentanyl.

The defendants:

  • Heath Taylor, age 44, of McAlester
  • Aaron Key, age 46, of McAlester
  • Mallory Laird, age 36, of Poteau
  • Cody Reece, age 33, of Poteau
  • Terri Stroud, age 52, of Spiro
  • Kandi Hankins, age 42, of Poteau
  • Travis Powers, age 37, of Starr, South Carolina
  • Heather Brown, age 32, of McAlester
  • Tracie Sells, age 54, of Sallisaw
  • Jeremy Newman, age 46, of Poteau
  • Stephen Embrey, age 64, of Poteau
  • Whitney Granite-Jeffrey, age 33, of Spiro
  • Randi Gann, age 33, of Poteau

If convicted on those charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison, but in addition to the drug conspiracy charges, seven defendants are also charged with possessing meth and fentanyl.

The joint investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and supported by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRSCI).

“Dismantling a criminal drug trafficking organization requires both tenacity and teamwork.  We are fortunate to have both due to [the DEA's] partnership with the various law enforcement entities throughout Eastern Oklahoma,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez.

“I want to thank each of the federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement officers for their many hours of work in this case," said U.S. Attorney Christopher Wilson.

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