Montelito Sanchez Simpkins, 36, of Ada, Oklahoma, is headed for a federal prison cell after being convicted of sexually abusing two young girls in Indian Country. A federal jury wasted no time, returning guilty verdicts in under 30 minutes after a two-day trial in Muskogee. Simpkins now faces more than 10 years behind bars for crimes that shattered the innocence of a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old.
The verdict, delivered on October 20, 2021, followed testimony revealing Simpkins sexually abused the first victim on July 15, 2020, and the second on September 27, 2020. Both children are members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and the assaults took place within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation in Pontotoc County—placing the case under federal jurisdiction. Simpkins was charged with Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2243(a), 2244(a)(3), 2246(2)(D), 2246(3), 1151, and 1152.
The Ada Police Department led the investigation, with critical support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, which routinely handles crimes in Indian Country when tribal members are involved. Assistant United States Attorneys Edith Singer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless secured the conviction, presenting evidence that left the jury with no doubt.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local agencies to track down predators, bring them to justice, and rescue victims. The swift trial and verdict underscore the federal government’s aggressive stance on child sex crimes, especially in tribal jurisdictions where law enforcement gaps have historically existed.
U.S. District Judge David Cleveland Joseph, temporarily assigned from the Western District of Louisiana, presided over the trial. Following the verdict, Simpkins was immediately remanded into federal custody. A presentence investigation report is now being prepared, with sentencing scheduled for a later date. Given the charges, Simpkins will likely spend a decade or more in prison.
The conviction sends a clear message: predators who target children in Indian Country will be hunted down and punished to the fullest extent of the law. As the DOJ continues to prioritize these cases, communities across Oklahoma and beyond are watching—hoping for justice, and demanding accountability.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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