An Oklahoma City man, Donald Eugene Cooks, 50, has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for mail theft and witness tampering, as announced by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Cooks was charged with conspiracy to commit mail theft, possession of stolen mail, and witness tampering by a federal grand jury on October 3, 2023. Following a three-day trial that concluded on March 28, 2024, a jury found Cooks guilty on all counts.
Trial evidence showed that Cooks conspired with co-defendant Irvin Herbert Sawyer, 41, of Norman, to steal mail from an Oklahoma City Post Office. Sawyer, employed as a rural carrier associate, provided Cooks with an access code to enter the facility. Cooks reportedly entered the Post Office after hours on July 19, 2022, successfully stealing mail and storing it in his motel room. During a subsequent attempt to steal more mail, an alarm was triggered, and police arrived before the theft could be completed. Cooks fled but was later apprehended, leading to the discovery of stolen mail in his motel room. In July 2023, while in jail, Cooks attempted to intimidate a government witness to prevent them from testifying at his trial. Sawyer pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges on July 18, 2023.
At the sentencing hearing on March 26, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti emphasized the need to deter future crime and protect the public. Cooks’ sentence was influenced by his continued criminal behavior while in custody and a history of serious offenses. Sawyer received 36 months of probation on April 15, 2024.
Cooks’ prior felony convictions include various theft and escape charges spanning several years. The investigation was carried out by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bow Bottomly and Charles Brown.
The public can consult further court documents for more information.