Indian gang member accused of running drug ring from prison cell

Monday, February 1, 2016  

Federal authorities in Oklahoma announced charges against eight people in connection with a drug trafficking ring that an Indian gang member allegedly ran from his prison cell.

Cody McClendon, 35, has been incarcerated at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary but that didn't stop him from trafficking methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Eastern Oklahoma said. He used a contraband cell phone to arrange the distribution and sale of the drug through phone calls, text messages and even Facebook, according to a 43-page indictment filed in federal court.

McClendon belongs to the Indian Brotherhood (IBH), according to authorities. The indictment alleges he worked with seven other people -- including Michael Lincoln, 39, another gang member who was also incarcerated at the state penitentiary -- to sell meth in northeastern Oklahoma.

The six others indicted as part of Operation Home Of The Brave are: Amber Claphan, 33; Donald Trammel, 40; Samantha Smith, 21; Teresa Chagolla; Jacob Masters; and Nathan Green, 27. All are from northeastern Oklahoma, according to authorities.

McClendon is a member of the Cherokee Nation, The Cherokee Phoenix reported in January 2005 when he lost two of his young children in a house fire. He was arrested on drug charges two days after the December 2, 2014, incident, the Associated Press reported at the time.

McClendon and Lincoln used Muscogee words like mvto (thank you) and enkv (okay) in their text messages, according to the indictment.

Get the Story:
Eight Arraigned On Federal Drug Charges Linked To OSP (The McAlester News-Captial 1/30)
Feds arraign 7 for allegedly dealing meth on behalf of state inmate (The Tahlequah Daily Press 1/29)
Two in OSP charged with leading meth distribution (The Muskogee Phoenix 1/29)
Oklahoma inmates accused of operating drug ring from inside prison (Fox23 1/29)