OKLAHOMA CITY — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Oklahoma, Western), published as received.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, MARCUS KELLY SMITH, 38, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve more than 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On July 5, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Smith.  Count 1 charged Smith with drug conspiracy and Count 2 charged him with felon in possession of a firearm.  On August 2, 2022, a Superseding Information charged Smith with one count of drug conspiracy and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.  On November 1, 2022, Smith pleaded guilty to both counts of the Superseding Information. 

At a sentencing hearing on March 8, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Smith to serve 188 months in federal prison.  In support of his sentence, Judge Heaton cited, among other things, the serious nature of the offense and Smith’s criminal history.  Judge Heaton also ordered that upon release from prison, Smith must serve four years of supervised release.  Smith has been in federal custody since his arrest on June 28, 2022.

Public records reflect that Smith had a lengthy criminal history.  His criminal convictions include: Oklahoma County District Court cases CF-2012-5752  – aggravated assault and battery; CF-2012-297 – possession of a firearm after felony, possession with intent to distribute, and pointing a firearm; CF-2011-4239  – possession of controlled dangerous substance and assault and battery; CF-2011-4023  – possession of controlled dangerous substance; CF-2004-6983 – possession of a firearm after felony and possession of controlled dangerous substance; CF-2004-4415 – possession of a firearm after felony and pointing a firearm; CF-2004-1115 – possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and acquiring drug proceeds; CF-2003-4500 – possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute; and Pottawattamie County District Court case CF-2000-67 – robbery with a dangerous weapon.

This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office.  Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wilson D. McGarry and D.H. Dilbeck, the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime.  In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001.

This case is also part of “Operation 922.” Operation 922 is the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. 

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.

Reference is made to court filings for further information.