A Tulsa man was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court for dealing methamphetamine, brandishing a loaded gun at investigators and counterfeiting money, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Shaun Cruz Conine, 46, to 30 years in federal prison for his crimes. Conine previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 17, 2019, admitting to possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and other controlled substances, brandishing a firearm at officers and counterfeiting U.S. currency with intent to pass it off as genuine.
“Since taking the oath as United States Attorney, ensuring public safety has been my most urgent and paramount priority. I want for every citizen in northern Oklahoma to have a safe neighborhood with safe streets. The centerpiece of our enforcement efforts is Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that promotes partnerships,” said U.S. Attorney Shores.
“Conine, a drug dealing and gun wielding Alpha criminal, is experiencing firsthand the results of our PSN partnerships. Federal and tribal law enforcement agencies worked seamlessly, side-by-side to investigate and arrest Conine. This was truly a team effort between investigators and my federal prosecutors. Conine’s 30-year sentence in federal prison is not only appropriate, it is just. Tulsans are safer with Shaun Conine behind bars.”
Conine was arrested on September 19, 2018, after he ran a stop sign and fled from Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse officers who were attempting to question him in reference to a death that occurred at the River Spirit Casino. During the investigation, Conine was identified as last being seen with the individual and is known to have supplied her with drugs.
As Conine fled, he brandished a loaded revolver at the pursuing investigators. He eventually crashed and rolled his vehicle.
Inside the vehicle, investigators discovered multiple drugs including methamphetamine, fentanyl and pills; syringes; digital weight scales; glass pipes; and multiple firearms including a shotgun, two rifles and a revolver. Investigators also found credit cards, passports, social security cards and Oklahoma identification cards bearing different names as well as counterfeit currency and multiple electronic devices that were used for counterfeiting.
Conine remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department, Secret Service, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal Liaison Shannon Cozzoni and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Proctor prosecuted the case.
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