Description: Tulsa, Oklahoma criminal defense lawyers represented Defendants charged with carjacking.

Ulysses Semion Washington, 34, and Derius Donovan Ledet, 32, each pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, and informant by corrupt persuasion.

“Maintaining the integrity of our justice system is of the utmost importance. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate any act that seeks to obstruct our federal court processes,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

In late March of 2022, Ledet was being held at the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center on charges related to an armed carjacking incident. On March 23, 2022, Ledet called Washington several times to discuss ways to get Ledet released from detention. Ledet instructed Washington to “put in some footwork” in an effort to prevent two witnesses from communicating with law enforcement about the case and to prevent their testimony in official court proceedings. Ledet also told Washington to pay off the witnesses with money obtained from selling one of Ledet’s cars.

Days later, Washington offered to pay the witnesses money if they would write affidavits that stated they would not cooperate in the pending carjacking case. Both witnesses were subpoenaed to make appearances in federal proceedings but neither showed.

Even after being indicted and as recently as July 5, 2022, Washington continued his attempts to contact one of the witnesses.

Per the stipulations in his plea agreement, Washington faces eight to 13 years in prison. Ledet faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. A federal judge will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors when determining appropriate sentences for both men. They will be sentenced at a later date.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and Ben Tonkin are prosecuting the case.

18:1512(k), 1512(h), and 1512(i): Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion; Forfeiture Allegation: 18 USC 924(d) and 28 USC 2461(c): Firearms Forfeiture
(2)
18:1512(b)(1), 1512(h), and 2: Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion; Forfeiture Allegation: 18 USC 924(d) and 28 USC 2461(c): Firearms Forfeiture
(3)
18:1503(a), 1503(b)(3), and 2: Corruptly Obstructing Due Administration of Justice; Forfeiture Allegation: 18 USC 924(d) and 28 USC 2461(c): Firearms Forfeiture
(4)

Outcome: 07/20/2022 74 MINUTES of Proceedings - held before Judge Gregory K Frizzell: Pretrial Conference held on 7/20/2022 as to Ulysses Semion Washington (Court Reporter: Brian Neil) (clb, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
07/20/2022 75 MINUTES of Proceedings - held before Judge Gregory K Frizzell: Change of Plea Hearing held on 7/20/2022 , guilty plea entered, striking/terminating deadline(s)/hearing(s) as to Ulysses Semion Washington (Re: 22 Indictment ) (Court Reporter: Brian Neil) (clb, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
07/20/2022 76 WAIVER of Right to Trial by Jury approved by Judge Gregory K Frizzell by Ulysses Semion Washington (clb, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
07/20/2022 77 PETITION to Enter Plea of Guilty and ORDER Accepting Plea by Judge Gregory K Frizzell as to Ulysses Semion Washington (clb, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
07/20/2022 78 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Ulysses Semion Washington (clb, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 07/21/2022)
07/20/2022 79 SEALED PLEA SUPPLEMENT (clb, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 07/21/2022)

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