United States Attorney Clint Johnson has announced the federal indictments returned by the February 2025-A Grand Jury in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The indictments charge multiple individuals with a range of offenses, including firearms trafficking, benefits fraud, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, sex trafficking, and immigration violations.
Among those indicted are Andres Avila Pineda, Anthony Avila, Andres Avila Jr., and Ranferi Manriquez. These individuals face charges related to a conspiracy to transport firearms illegally. Andres is also accused of possessing a firearm while unlawfully residing in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation.
Robin Christopher Black from Tulsa is charged with conspiring to obtain money from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) by selling stolen benefits for cash. He is also accused of acquiring SNAP funds against Department of Agriculture regulations. This case was investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and local authorities.
Bryan Abisai Costeira-Hernandez faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as unlawful reentry into the United States after previous removal in September 2022.
Willis James Gray, identified as a member of the Cherokee Nation from Bartlesville, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition and assaulting an individual with a dangerous weapon during a crime involving violence.
Other cases include Crawford Don Harper Jr., charged as a felon in possession of a firearm; Romiro Leonardo Hernandez for illegal firearm possession and repeated unlawful entry into the U.S.; James Robert Hurley for failure to register as a sex offender; Jose Brian Jimenez Contreras for possessing false immigration documents; Arturo Rodriguez Aguero for unlawful reentry; and John Edgar Williams IV along with seven others facing numerous charges related to sex trafficking—including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, transporting individuals for prostitution, distribution of child pornography, sex trafficking minors, and involvement in child exploitation enterprises.
The agencies involved across these investigations include ATF, HSI, FBI, local police departments such as Tulsa Police Department and Bartlesville Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Oklahoma Department of Health Services – Office of Inspector General, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office among others.
According to Johnson: “The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law which must be proven in court beyond reasonable doubt to overcome presumption of innocence.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell, Kenneth Elmore, Augustus Forster, Mike Flesher, Tara Heign, Alicia Hockenbury, Michele Hulgaard, Ammon Briolara (or Brisolara), and John Brasher are prosecuting these cases.
