GLENCOE, OKLAHOMA – Lester Lee Bays, 69, of Glencoe, Oklahoma, is facing a potential 20-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty this week to charges of illegally possessing a firearm and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. The case, a product of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, reveals a pattern of criminal behavior for the repeat offender.
According to court documents, Bays was found in possession of both marijuana and a firearm on or around March 25, 2023. The discovery triggered a federal grand jury indictment in September, charging Bays with three counts: being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He was ordered detained pending trial on September 21st.
Bays ultimately pleaded guilty to the first two counts on November 6, 2023, admitting to both possessing the firearm despite a previous felony conviction and intending to distribute the marijuana. Public records show Bays isn’t a stranger to the legal system, with prior convictions including assault and battery with a deadly weapon (Payne County District Court case number CF-1986-60) and a previous conviction for possessing a firearm after a prior felony (Payne County District Court case number CF-2018-161). These past offenses significantly contribute to the severity of the current charges.
The prosecution, handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters, will seek up to 15 years in federal prison on the firearm charge and an additional five years on the drug charge. This case falls under “Operation 922” and “Shots Fired,” initiatives within the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, designed to combat gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” specifically targets firearms violations linked to domestic violence.
“Shots Fired” focuses on cases where firearms are discharged during criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or incidents tied to robberies and domestic disputes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma is clearly sending a message that illegal gun possession, especially by repeat offenders, will be aggressively prosecuted. This case is a clear example of that commitment.
The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods aims to reduce gun violence nationwide. Information on the program can be found at https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok. While authorities remain tight-lipped about the specifics of the original investigation, sources suggest this bust is part of a larger effort to dismantle drug trafficking operations in rural Oklahoma.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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