OKLAHOMA CITY – The streets of Oklahoma City saw a reckoning this week as four men were handed significant federal prison sentences for crimes directly tied to domestic violence and illegal firearm possession. The sentences, totaling 188 months, are the result of “Operation 922,” a targeted initiative by the United States Attorney’s Office aimed at dismantling the cycle of violence stemming from abusive relationships.
Michael Dewayne Garrett, 24, of Oklahoma City, received 50 months in prison after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm following a prior felony conviction. The case unfolded after a stolen firearm, originally taken in a 2017 sporting goods store robbery, surfaced at a local pawn shop. Investigators determined Garrett forced a domestic violence victim to pawn the weapon on his behalf. U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti considered Garrett’s history of abuse when handing down the sentence, along with the illegal weapon, ordering three years of supervised release following imprisonment. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacquelyn Hutzell and Matt Anderson led the prosecution.
The violence escalated with Martrell Littlejohn, 27, of Oklahoma City, who was sentenced to 84 months behind bars. In May 2017, Littlejohn threatened a former girlfriend with a firearm, discharging it at least twelve times in a residential neighborhood as she attempted to escape. He was found to be a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Judge David Russell, overruling guideline recommendations, imposed the lengthy sentence, acknowledging Littlejohn’s history of domestic violence and the reckless discharge of the weapon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Hutzell prosecuted the case.
Kirby Donald Keith, 50, of Oklahoma City, earned an 18-month sentence despite a troubling pattern of abuse. Police responded to repeated calls regarding violations of victim protection orders (VPOs) filed by five different individuals. On August 25, 2018, officers discovered Keith with a shotgun and pistol after he fell from a tree while fleeing the scene of another domestic disturbance. Judge Scott Palk cited the seven VPOs filed against Keith, alongside the illegal firearm possession, in delivering the sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Altshuler handled the prosecution.
Perhaps the most harrowing case involved Michael Shane Mcconnell, 48, of Chickasha, who received a 48-month sentence. On July 19, 2018, police responded to a 911 call from a woman claiming Mcconnell followed her into her driveway, brandishing a gun and threatening to kill both her and himself. The assault escalated to choking and physical violence before Mcconnell fled. Two prior VPOs were already in place at the time of the incident, set to expire in April 2023. Mcconnell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester emphasized that “Operation 922” will continue to aggressively target individuals who use firearms in connection with domestic violence, sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in Oklahoma. These cases highlight the deadly intersection of domestic abuse and illegal weaponry, and the commitment of federal prosecutors to hold offenders accountable.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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