Hugo Gunman Pleads Guilty to Machine Gun Possession

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – In a grim turn of events, John Thomas Worthy, the 51-year-old Hugo resident, has entered a guilty plea to Possession of a Machine Gun. The charge stems from his alleged possession of a firearm modified to fire more than one round without manual reloading.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Worthy faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This comes after an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) uncovered the illegal firearm.

Worthy’s sentencing is now in the hands of the court, with the Honorable Gerald L. Jackson accepting his plea and ordering a presentence investigation report to be completed. The final sentence will be determined by U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Worthy will remain free on a personal recognizance bond until sentencing is imposed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States in this case.

The ATF investigation led to Worthy’s arrest, and his illegal possession of the machine gun highlights the ongoing battle against firearms trafficking in Oklahoma. The public is reminded of the dangers associated with unregistered weapons and the importance of adhering to federal firearm laws.

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