Criminal Cases

After Multi-Agency Investigation, Drug Money Launderer Sentenced to Life In Prison

After Multi-Agency Investigation, Drug Money Launderer Sentenced to Life In Prison

A multi-agency investigation has led to the sentencing of a drug trafficker and money launderer. 

According to an official release from the IRS, Early Willard Woodmore III, a resident of Haskell County, Oklahoma, was the leader of a methamphetamine trafficking organization that operated in Haskell and Pittsburg Counties. Woodmore III was sentenced to life imprisonment for drug conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine. He will also serve a concurrent 240 months in prison for money laundering conspiracy and laundering monetary instruments.

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Credit: Andrea Pistolesi/Getty Images

This comes following joint efforts by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the District 18 Drug and Violent Crime Taskforce, the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McAlester Police Department, the Stigler Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

Woodmore III's criminal activities began in early 2018 and continued until his arrest in 2020. He personally oversaw an extensive methamphetamine trafficking organization, arranging to have "large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to addresses in Haskell County and Pittsburg County."

Once the packages were delivered, Woodmore III and others in his criminal syndicate would repackage the drugs for distribution throughout the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Subsequently, Woodmore III would launder the drug money in an attempt to hide its origins.

In addition to masterminding the drug ring, Woodmore III served as an enforcer, using violence against members of his organization who were thought to be cooperating with law enforcement officials.

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Credit: GettyImages-1401512276

 Early Woodmore III and his co-defendant, Calvin Woodmore, were convicted following trial on April 7, 2022.

United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson has this to say about Woodmore III's sentence, “The sentencing of the Early Woodmore III to life imprisonment is a fitting conclusion to a complex, multi-agency investigation. Through the exceptional efforts of many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, Woodmore and his criminal associates were investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. This sentence sends a very clear message that distributing illegal drugs will not be tolerated.”

Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Dallas Field Office, also weighed in, “This is an important victory for the American public. Not only is Early Willard Woodmore, III going to jail for his crimes, but this is a decisive blow against a drug trafficking and money laundering network."

"The special agents of CI are committed to taking the profits away from drug traffickers and putting those individuals in jail. The women and men of IRS-CI are proud to provide this financial expertise as we worked alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals like Mr. Woodmore to justice," Altemus concluded.

The Honorable John F. Heil III, U.S. District Judge presided. Both Woodmore III and Calvin Woodmore will remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals until they can be remanded to the prison system.

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Credit: Catherine McQueen/Getty Images

Neither individual is eligible for parole. 

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Rebekah Barton

Rebekah Barton

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