Oklahoma man convicted of methamphetamine and firearm charges

OKLAHOMA CITY — Following a two-day jury trial, an Oklahoma man was convicted Thursday of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and two counts of illegally possessing a firearm.

These convictions were announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester, Western District of Oklahoma.  The convictions resulted from an investigation by the following agencies: Enid Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; with assistance from the District Attorney’s Office for Garfield County, Oklahoma.

An indictment filed on Nov. 13, 2018, charged Jerry James Kendall Ritchie, 32, of Enid, Oklahoma, with possessing 13.9 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Beginning on April 9, 2019, a jury heard evidence that Enid Police Department officers stopped a Buick SUV driven by Ritchie on Oct. 19, 2018, at 7:06 p.m. for a traffic violation.  When officers apprehended Ritchie after he fled on foot, he refused to place his hands in the air and was pulled to the ground and handcuffed while yelling and cursing.  Officers ultimately discovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the SUV, along with bags with a white substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and two digital scales.  Ritchie is alleged to be a member of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood.

Jurors returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all three counts earlier today.

U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk will sentence Ritchie in about 90 days.  For the drug conviction, Ritchie could be imprisoned up to 20 years, be fined up to $1 million, and be subject to three years of supervised release.  He could be imprisoned for 10 years and face up to three years of supervised release for being a felon possessing a firearm.  Additionally, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking carries a mandatory term of five years of imprisonment beyond any other sentence and three years of supervised release.  If, however, the court determines Ritchie qualifies as an armed career criminal, he would be subject to a mandatory prison term of 15 years up to a maximum of life.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Patterson and Wilson D. McGarry, Western District of Oklahoma.