Tahlequah man sentenced for federal firearm charge

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that a Tahlequah man was sentenced to three years in prison.

According to reports, Richard Dale Lea, 43, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Charges against Lea arose after a probe by the Tahlequah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On April 9, 2023, Lea was in possession of two loaded semi-automatic pistols. Lea was previously convicted of a crime at the time he possessed the firearms. He pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm on Feb. 14, 2024.

Honorable Judge John C. Coughenour presided over the hearing and Lea will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly prosecuted the case.