An Oklahoma City man, Charles Darnell Hunter, 50, has been sentenced to serve over 11 years in federal prison, following his conviction on firearm charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. Hunter, previously convicted of felony offenses, was found in possession of a firearm, which is a violation of federal law.
On January 20, 2024, Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) officers were called to a local hospital after a man was admitted with a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses reported seeing, a gun pointed out of a black truck on Northwest 87th Street shortly before the attack. The subsequent investigation led authorities to Hunter's home, where two firearms were seized during a search warrant executed on February 1, 2024. One of the firearms matched the cartridge cases found at the scene of the shooting.
In a turn of events that underscores the gravity of the crime, Hunter pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024. He admitted he possessed a firearm in spite of his felony record. According to public record, Hunter has previous felony convictions for robbery, firearm possession, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, which compounds the seriousness of this case.
U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Hunter on May 30, to 137 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, DeGiusti highlighted not only the severity of the offense but also, Hunter's extensive criminal past. Public records also show that Hunter has pending charges in Oklahoma County District Court related to a shooting intended to kill, among other crimes.
This conviction is part of the concerted efforts under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and "Operation Shots Fired," which aim to address and curtail violent gun crime. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nichols, Jr., following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the OCPD, according to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
