Defendant Sentenced to 5 Years for Involuntary Manslaughter

In a shocking turn of events, 21-year-old Chase Lane Rocha of Boswell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. This conviction marks the end of a long and grueling investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Lighthorse Police, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Oklahoma.

According to investigators, the incident occurred on January 24, 2023, at a Boswell-area residence. During a dispute, family members had disarmed Rocha twice, but he returned a third time, armed with a revolver. In a tragic turn of events, Rocha shot and killed the victim. The crime took place in Choctaw County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Rocha was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick M. Flanigan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at trial.

Rocha’s conviction serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless behavior. Involuntary manslaughter is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences for victims and their families.

The case was a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, and it highlights the importance of working together to bring justice to those affected by crime.

As a community, we must come together to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

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