The U.S. District Court in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has sentenced Marco Dionte Atkins and his mother, Sidney Brook Mayfield, following their conviction for involvement in a shooting incident and witness tampering. The sentencing was delivered by Judge Sara E. Hill after the pair were found guilty by a jury in September.
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson commented on the case, stating: "Atkins acted recklessly and violently when he shot at someone outside of an occupied business, where children were present." He further noted that both Atkins and Mayfield engaged in efforts to influence witnesses after being arrested.
The incident occurred in November 2023 when Mayfield drove into a convenience store parking lot across from a high school with five teenagers, including her son Marco Atkins. Surveillance footage captured them entering the store before an argument ensued between the teens and another individual. After leaving the store, Atkins fired multiple shots from inside their vehicle at the victim outside, hitting him in the stomach. They then fled the scene.
Following Atkins' arrest in January 2024, both he and Mayfield attempted to interfere with witnesses involved in the investigation. This led to delays in Atkins' trial initially set for June 2024 due to their actions. Evidence presented during the trial included social media posts by Mayfield identifying a witness as a "snitch" and threatening those opposing her or her son.
Atkins received a sentence of 180 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for charges including Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Mayfield was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant; Corruptly Tampering with a Witness; Victim; Informant; False Declaration Before a Grand Jury.
Both were also convicted of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness through Corrupt Persuasion and Obstructing Justice.
As citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, they remain detained pending transfer to federal prison facilities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside Tulsa Police Department conducted investigations leading up to this verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted these cases under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime nationwide through collaboration among law enforcement agencies along with community support initiatives fostering safety within neighborhoods.