Press release
Sentencings Resulted From "Operation Kryptonite"
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the sentencing of seven defendants as a result of a multi-agency investigation referred to as “Operation Kryptonite.” They were indicted on February 14, 2018, and were sentenced on various dates from September to December 2018 following their guilty pleas and the completion of pre-sentence reports for each.
Those sentenced were: Bethany Lynn Kendall, age 28, of McAlester; Steven Alan Phifer, age 40, of McAlester; Dylan Joseph Dempsey, age 25, of Fort Smith; Conway Lee Kindle, age 43, of Stuart; Dominic Alan Giaudrone, age 38, of Krebs; Dustin Lee Hall, a/k/a Smalls, age 31, of Savanna; and Angel Reanea Henderson, age 41, of Hartshorne.
Kendall was sentenced on November 21, 2018 to 210 months in prison and five years’ supervised release for Drug Conspiracy and Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine.
Phifer was sentenced on December 6, 2018 to 84 months in prison and five years’ supervised release for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamine.
Dempsey was sentenced on November 15, 2018 to 151 months in prison and five years’ supervised release for Drug Conspiracy and Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine. Kindle was sentenced on October 16, 2018 to 133 months in prison and five years’ supervised release for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution of Methamphetamine.
Giaudrone was sentenced on October 10, 2018 to 12 months in prison and two years’ supervised release for Drug Conspiracy.
Hall was sentenced on September 13, 2018 to 120 months in prison and five years’ supervised release for Drug Conspiracy.
Henderson was sentenced on September 11, 2018 to 48 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for Distribution of Methamphetamine.
Operation Kryptonite was an investigation initiated in May 2017 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) McAlester Resident Office (“MRO”) based on information received from the McAlester Police Department (“MPD”) and further developed by an MPD Task Force Officer assigned to the DEA MRO.
The investigation involved controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Bethany Kendall and other members of the organization who were supplied pound quantities of methamphetamine from a source of supply in the Oklahoma City area. The investigation led to a court ordered intercept of Kendall’s communications.
The investigation culminated in the indictment, arrest and successful prosecution of seven federal defendants prosecuted in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and six state defendants prosecuted by the Pittsburg County District Attorney’s Office.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the United States Marshal’s Service, the McAlester Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, the Savanna Police Department, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The investigation was coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. OCDETF is an initiative led and coordinated by the Office of the United States Attorney.
“Working with state, local, and tribal agencies to identify, disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations is a priority of the Department of Justice.
This investigation reflects that priority and could not have been accomplished without participation from all the agencies involved,” said United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester.
DEA Dallas Field Division Special Agent In Charge Clyde E. Shelley, Jr. said, “It’s a constant effort to keep our communities safe.
This investigation was another example of multi-agency efforts in the state of Oklahoma resulting in large quantity seizures of methamphetamine and firearms. Our mission will always be getting the dangerous drugs and weapons off the streets.”
Sheriff Chris Morris said, “It is a constant battle to keep drug dealers off the streets, and it takes agencies working together to help make this happen.
The Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office looks forward a continuing work relationship with all agencies. Great job to all involved.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over each of the sentencing hearings.
The defendants will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-parolable sentences will be served. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Harrington represented the United States.