David Edward Ainsworth, 53, of Atoka, Oklahoma, stood before the federal bench this week and admitted to distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm—crimes rooted in a May 2015 drug deal that triggered a federal case nearly a decade in the making. Ainsworth pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, charges that carry a maximum of 40 years and 10 years in prison, respectively, along with steep fines totaling $5.25 million.
The guilty plea, entered in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, stems from events on or about May 27, 2015, when Ainsworth knowingly distributed at least 5 grams of actual methamphetamine within the jurisdiction. The charge, filed under Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), exposes him to up to 40 years behind bars and a $5,000,000.00 fine. The act was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern uncovered during a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation.
Simultaneously, Ainsworth admitted to possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon—a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The weapon in question: a Savage Model 94 Series M, 20-gauge shotgun, illegally assembled and confirmed to have crossed state lines. That single firearm, forged in another state and wielded by a man barred from owning one, triggered a separate federal charge carrying a maximum 10-year sentence and a $250,000.00 fine.
The DEA’s probe, methodical and unrelenting, tied Ainsworth to both the drug transaction and the weapon. Federal prosecutors did not mince words: a felon with access to drugs and guns poses a clear danger to public safety. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Hammer, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the gravity of Ainsworth’s actions, noting the calculated nature of the distribution and the inherent risk of armed drug offenders operating in rural communities.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven P. Shreder accepted the guilty plea and ordered a presentence investigation report, a standard step before formal sentencing. Ainsworth will remain in federal custody under the watch of the United States Marshals Service until that date, which has yet to be scheduled. No deals or reductions were disclosed, leaving Ainsworth facing the full weight of federal sentencing guidelines.
This case underscores the federal government’s continued crackdown on methamphetamine trafficking and illegal gun possession, particularly in high-risk zones like southeastern Oklahoma. For residents of Atoka and surrounding counties, the arrest and plea serve as a grim reminder: in the shadows of small towns, crime may simmer—but the feds are watching.
Related Federal Cases
- Tucson Man Pleads Guilty to Okla. Meth, Weed Distribution · Oklahoma
- Brandon Jevar Pittman Pleads Guilty to Meth Distribution · Mississippi
- Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 262 Months for Meth Distribution · Washington
- Westville Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth Distribution Conspiracy · Oklahoma
- Muskogee Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession · Oklahoma
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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