The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home invasion robbery on January 27, at a legal marijuana grow site. They contacted the OSBI and requested investigative assistance. Through the course of the investigation, several suspects were identified.
Rick Lang, Stephens County Undersheriff said, “The first armed robbery of a marijuana grow Stephens County Sheriff’s Department responded to was in August of 2023. The following 5 months we had five more similar robberies. Several were very violent with victims suffering personal injury as well as property damage and loss of property.”
On January 7, 2024, the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to assist with a homicide. Earlier that morning, Okfuskee County deputies responded to a property near State Highway 48 and East 1020 Road near Castle, Oklahoma. When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered 53-year-old Harry Dam, who was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Other victims were found to be physically assaulted. OSBI special agents immediately began collecting information from the scene and determined that the property is a legal marijuana grow site and multiple suspects had forced entry onto the property.
Lang further commented, “On January 7th we learned of a robbery and homicide in Okfuskee County which appeared to have the same mode of operation as the robberies in Stephens County. On January 27th we again responded to an armed robbery with the same mode of operation. Lt. Tim Vann, who was leading the investigation, with the help of Investigator’s Leslie Richardson and Daniel Picazzo as well as multiple Stephens County Deputies, were able to gather information and link our robberies to the robbery in Okfuskee County.”
On March 7, OSBI special agents, Stephens County investigators, Texas Rangers, the Waco Police Department, and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Police Department arrested 50-year-old Yi Lee, 31-year-old Justin Stewart, 36-year-old Artist Stewart, 45-year-old Ricky Harris, and 29-year-old Timothy Evans in Texas. 35-year-old Andre Dawson was arrested several days later. They were all charged in connection to the Stephens County robbery.
On April 24, OSBI special agents, the United States Marshals Service, and the Oklahoma City Police Department arrested 24-year-old Dillon Brown, 18-year-old Isavier Dawkins, 38-year-old Holland Mason, and 23-year-old Kayla Green in Oklahoma City. Those four suspects and Lee were charged in connection to the Okfuskee County homicide and robbery.
These investigations is still ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017 or the Stephens County Sheriffs Office at 580-255-3131.
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