An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Christopher Allen Thetford, 31, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III. After serving his prison term, Thetford will also be subject to three years of supervised release.
The case began in April 2024 when officers with the Broken Arrow Police Department observed a vehicle with a damaged windshield entering a hotel parking lot in an area associated with high crime and drug activity. Officers stopped the vehicle after it left the hotel. Upon approaching the car, officers detected the smell of marijuana and identified Thetford as the passenger. When asked if there was a firearm in the vehicle, Thetford denied it.
After Thetford exited the car, officers discovered methamphetamine on his person. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed additional bags of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm located under the passenger seat where Thetford had been sitting.
Court records indicate that Thetford has previous felony convictions in both Missouri and Oklahoma. He will remain in custody until he is transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation was conducted by the Broken Arrow Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dowdell prosecuted the case.
According to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson: “This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.”
He added: “On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.”
More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.
