McMahan Sentenced to 50 Years for Double Murder in Indian Country

Austin Dean McMahan, 24, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 50 years behind bars for a gruesome double murder that shook a quiet neighborhood in Indian Country.

The heinous crimes, which took place on April 7, 2020, left two people dead at an Okmulgee residence. McMahan, in a fit of rage, shot and killed the first victim during an argument, and then fired on a second victim who tried to come to their aid. After his gun jammed, McMahan retrieved another firearm and blasted the second victim multiple times.

The investigation into the murders was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office. The case was a priority for authorities, who worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victims and their families.

On February 16, 2023, McMahan pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder in Indian Country-Second Degree. The plea deal spared him from a potential life sentence, but it did little to ease the pain of the loved ones who lost their lives at the hands of this cold-blooded killer.

The sentencing hearing was presided over by the Honorable Ada E. Brown, a U.S. District Judge from the Northern District of Texas, who was sitting by assignment in Muskogee. McMahan will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence.

U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Gang Section Trial Attorney Cesar Rivera-Giraud and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States at sentencing. The sentence is a stark reminder that violent crimes will not be tolerated in Indian Country, and those who commit such heinous acts will face the full force of the law.

The sentence handed down to McMahan is a significant blow to the community, which had been left reeling by the senseless murders. While justice has been served, it does little to bring back the lives lost or ease the pain of those who were left behind.