Two men from Oklahoma City have entered guilty pleas to charges involving firearms, marking a significant moment in the local and federal efforts to clamp down on violent crime. Davy Eugene King, 52, and Robert Dewayne Mayfield, 23, were charged and pleaded guilty in separate cases, as noted in an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma. This prosecutorial success is part of a broader partnership intended to strengthen public safety endeavors.
King, who has a history of felony convictions, pleaded guilty on April 19, for illegal possession of a firearm. His rap sheet includes a second-degree murder conviction from 1990 among other crimes. With his latest admission, King now faces up to 15 years in federal prison and the possibility of a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Mayfield, on the other hand, admitted to possession of a machinegun — more specifically, to owning a firearm modified with a conversion device to shoot fully automatically, which violation of federal law carries a potential 10-year prison term and up to $250,000 in fines.
This legal action represents more than the resolution of individual cases; it's emblematic of a collaborative stance between local law enforcement and the federal government. This alignment leverages resources, expertises and a joint mission to tackle violent offences head-on. U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester highlighted the impact of this partnership, stating, “Our close partnership with the Oklahoma City Police Department is further strengthened with an additional prosecutor to hold accountable those who commit violent crimes under federal law in Oklahoma City.” Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy echoed this sentiment on the U.S. Attorney's Office, emphasizing the united front against gun crime in the city.
The investigations leading to these guilty pleas were spearheaded by the Oklahoma City Police Department alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laney Ellis, an attorney funded by a federal Project Safe Neighborhoods grant awarded to the City of Oklahoma City, is credited with prosecuting the cases. These efforts also align with national initiatives such as Operation Take Back America's "Shots Fired" and "Project Switch Off," which target illicit activities involving firearms and conversion devices, respectively, as mentioned on the U.S. Attorney's Office.
