Deland Ray Sam, a 62-year-old resident of Muskogee, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 31 months in prison for the offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. This announcement was made by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Muskogee Police Department. On September 26, 2024, Sam admitted to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. The incident dates back to June 21, 2021, when Sam engaged in a high-speed chase with law enforcement that concluded near 6th and Hancock in Muskogee. Officers discovered an empty pistol magazine in his vehicle which prompted them to search nearby intersections where they found a loaded .40 caliber pistol. At that time, Sam had prior convictions punishable by over one year of imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that unites various levels of law enforcement with communities to curb violent crime and gun violence. It aims to enhance neighborhood safety through principles such as building trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
The hearing was overseen by Chief U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Until his transfer to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility for his non-paroleable sentence, Sam will remain under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States in this matter.