OKLAHOMA CITY — Today, Jerry Drake Varnell, 26, of Sayre,
Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 25 years, followed by a lifetime term of
supervised release, for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction at
BancFirst in downtown Oklahoma City.
United States Attorney Timothy J. Downing of the Western
District of Oklahoma, Special Agent-in-Charge Melissa R. Godbold of the FBI’s
Oklahoma City Field Office, and Chief Wade Gourley of the Oklahoma City Police
Department made the announcement.
"The U.S. Government identified Jerry Drake Varnell
after learning of his intent to commit this attack," said U.S. Attorney
Downing. "This case required
thorough investigation and careful coordination among agents and prosecutors in
a matter that is our highest priority—terrorism," said U.S. Attorney
Downing. "The investigation and
prosecution stopped an attempt to seemingly replicate the deadliest act of
domestic terrorism in our Nation’s history.
The sentence imposed today will hold accountable Varnell for his crime
and deter others from engaging in this conduct.
I want to thank the agents, analysts, law enforcement officials, and
prosecutors whose dedication is responsible for this case."
"The investigation of Varnell was the result of the
tireless efforts of the FBI Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force and nearly
100 of our partners from federal, state, and local law enforcement. We cannot
thank these departments enough for their work to bring Varnell to justice,”
said Melissa Godbold, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Oklahoma City Field
Office. “I remind the public that combatting terrorism, both domestically and
internationally, has been and will continue to be the FBI’s number one
priority."
OCPD Chief Gourley said: "This case is extremely
poignant considering we are approaching the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma
City Bombing. This event not only
scarred the community of Oklahoma City, but had a profound effect on the nation
and set about a response known as the Oklahoma Standard. This Standard was evident in the teamwork and
cooperation among agencies in the successful investigation, apprehension, and
prosecution of this case. My thanks go
out to all involved for their hard work and commitment to prevent another devastating
attack in our community."
In February 2019, a federal jury deliberated four hours
before they returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on one count of attempting
to use an explosive device to damage a building used in interstate commerce and
one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against property
used in interstate commerce.
The FBI arrested Varnell at approximately 1:00 a.m. on
August 12, 2017, after he attempted to detonate what he believed to be an
explosives-laden van he had parked in an alley next to BancFirst, at 101 North
Broadway. The arrest was the culmination of a long-term
domestic terrorism investigation involving an undercover operation, during
which Varnell had been monitored closely for months as the bomb plot
developed. The explosives were inert,
and the public was not in danger. FBI
had received information that Varnell initially wanted to blow up the Federal
Reserve Building in Washington, D.C., with a device similar to the 1995
Oklahoma City bombing because he was upset with the government.
On October 17, 2017, a federal grand jury charged Varnell
with attempting to use an explosive device to damage and destroy BancFirst’s
corporate offices. After a psychological
evaluation, the court entered an order on November 21, 2017, that found him
competent to stand trial. The grand jury
returned a superseding indictment on April 17, 2018, that added one count of
attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.
At trial, the jury heard testimony from an informant who
made recordings of his conversations with Varnell. It also heard from the undercover FBI agent
who helped Varnell build what he thought was a bomb, an FBI bomb technician,
and others. It listened to numerous recordings
in which Varnell planned the attack and reviewed numerous written electronic
communications that corroborated his intent.
Furthermore, it heard the testimony of a defense expert concerning
Varnell’s mental health. Through its
verdicts, the jury concluded any mental health problems did not prevent Varnell
from forming the intent required for conviction. It also determined the FBI did not entrap
him.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Joint Terrorism
Task Force, including members from the Oklahoma City FBI; Homeland Security
Investigations, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Oklahoma
City Police Department; the Edmond Police Department; the Oklahoma Highway
Patrol; and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. The FBI worked in conjunction with BancFirst
during the investigation. Oklahoma
District Attorney Angela Marsee, of District 2, also provided assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Matt Dillon and Mark R. Stoneman, with assistance from the Justice
Department’s Counterterrorism Section.
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