A Tulsa man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for possessing an unregistered destructive device and being a felon in possession of ammunition. U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach handed down the sentence to Patrick Nile Starkey, 57, who will also serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson stated, "With the help of the FLOCK camera system, agents were able to identify the defendant." He added that Starkey posed a threat to public safety and commended law enforcement for their swift action in detaining him.
The case began on June 12, 2024, when the Osage County Sheriff’s Office investigated an explosion in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. Court documents revealed that Starkey had placed two explosive devices and notes inside a mailbox on private property as part of an attempt to harass his ex-wife. The FLOCK cameras helped law enforcement identify Starkey as the suspect. A search warrant executed at his home uncovered ammunition and several homemade explosive devices similar to those used in the incident.
Starkey admitted to setting off the devices and unlawfully possessing ammunition during discussions with agents. He remains in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Tulsa Police Department, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Joshua M. Carmel prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime by fostering trust within communities and supporting community-based violence prevention organizations.