Michael Joseph Dias, a 33-year-old resident of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition following a prior felony conviction. This was announced by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Dias was charged on May 7, 2024, by a federal Grand Jury with being a felon in possession of ammunition. A federal jury found him guilty on October 24, 2024, after a two-day trial.
The case originated from an incident on April 2, 2024, when officers from the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a burglary report at an apartment complex. The victim reported finding his front door ajar and encountering Dias inside. After the victim managed to enter his apartment and followed Dias into the parking lot, Dias allegedly brandished a firearm and fired a shot as the victim fled. Officers later recovered a spent shell casing from the scene and arrested Dias following a foot chase.
Dias's criminal history includes multiple felony convictions such as attempted second-degree burglary and indecent exposure across various district court cases in Comanche County and Oklahoma County.
On March 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Dias to serve 120 months in federal prison with an additional three years of supervised release. The court highlighted the dangerous nature of the offense and Dias’s extensive criminal record during sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley and Travis Leverett prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. It also falls under "Operation Shots Fired," targeting cases involving firearm discharges during criminal activities like drive-by shootings or robberies.
Further information can be found in public filings.