Christopher Allen Thetford, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Oklahoma 2024

Tulsa, OK – A 31-year-old Oklahoma man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

A Broken Arrow Police Department investigation led to the arrest of Christopher Allen Thetford, 31, after officers observed a vehicle with a smashed windshield pull into a hotel parking lot. The area is known for high crime and illicit drugs. When the vehicle left the hotel, officers pulled it over and found Thetford in the passenger seat.

According to court records, Thetford had prior felony convictions in Missouri and Oklahoma. When officers approached the vehicle, they could smell marijuana. An officer asked Thetford if there was a firearm in the vehicle, and he said no. However, when officers searched the vehicle, they found a baggie with methamphetamine in Thetford’s pants and more bags of methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Under the passenger seat where Thetford was sitting, officers found a firearm. Thetford will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dowdell prosecuted the case. The Broken Arrow Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal program that brings together law enforcement agencies and community organizations to prevent violent crime and gun violence. The program is based on core principles of fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

Thetford’s sentence is a result of his prior felony convictions and the discovery of the firearm and methamphetamine in his possession. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime and gun violence in Oklahoma communities.

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