Hugo Gunman Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession

GRAFTON, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma reported that James Eric Diggs, a 47-year-old Hugo resident, entered a guilty plea on Thursday to Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Diggs was caught with a semi-automatic pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition on February 5, 2025, following his previous conviction for a crime that merited more than one year in jail. The feds say Diggs knew he was not allowed to possess firearms due to his prior record.

The Hugo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to this charge. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson, presiding over the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted Diggs’ guilty plea and directed a presentence investigation report be completed.

After considering the report and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, a federal district judge will determine Diggs’ sentence. For now, Diggs remains free on bond with certain conditions while awaiting his sentencing hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States in this case, ensuring that justice would be served for the violation of firearms laws in Oklahoma.