Jeffrey R. Boyd, Firearm Possession, Pennsylvania 2018

SCRANTON, PA – A Tulsa, Oklahoma man is facing federal charges after authorities discovered he was illegally holding onto a firearm despite a court order forbidding it. Jeffrey R. Boyd, 55, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 21, 2018, accused of violating the terms of a protection order and possessing both a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the indictment alleges Boyd was under an Order of Protection as of July 31, 2018. This order explicitly prohibited him from harassing, stalking, or threatening another individual and crucially, required him to relinquish all firearms. The feds say Boyd ignored the order.

On July 31st, investigators found Boyd in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in possession of the prohibited .45 caliber pistol and multiple rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Details surrounding the initial investigation that led to the discovery haven’t been released, but it’s clear authorities were actively looking for Boyd and the weapon.

The case is a joint effort between the Department of Homeland Security – U.S. Secret Service, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski will be leading the prosecution. While the Secret Service is often associated with protecting dignitaries, they also investigate financial crimes and, in this case, collaborated on a firearms violation.

This prosecution is part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a federal initiative Attorney General Jeff Sessions revived in 2017. PSN aims to coordinate efforts between all levels of law enforcement – federal, state, local, and tribal – to reduce violent crime in communities across the country. The program focuses on partnerships and locally-tailored strategies.

It’s important to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation. Jeffrey R. Boyd is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, his sentencing will be determined by a judge, taking into account federal sentencing statutes and guidelines. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.

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