2024-08-22
Felon Convicted of Illegal Firearm Possession after Altercation with Police
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted RONNIE GERALD WIGGINS, 60, of Norman, of illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On September 19, 2023, a federal grand jury charged Wiggins with being a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 14, 2024, a federal jury found Wiggins guilty on the charge.
According to evidence presented at trial, on October 30, 2022, an officer with the Norman Police Department made contact with Wiggins after multiple concerned citizens called 911 to report his erratic driving. During the interaction, officers learned that Wiggins had a warrant for parole violation on a 2001 Texas murder conviction. When they began to arrest him, Wiggins became argumentative and attempted to run. Once he was in custody, officers found a pistol and two loaded ammunition magazines in his vehicle.
Public record shows Wiggins has sustained multiple previous felony convictions including:
- First degree murder in Oldham County (Texas) District Court case number CR-01C-001;
- Felon in possession of a firearm in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma case number CR-00-74-C;
- Attempting to possess a prohibited object (heroin), in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas case number 93-30006-02;
- Armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Bernalillo County (New Mexico) District Court case number CR-90-00165;
- Bank robbery in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico case number CR-89-517-02;
- Theft of a vehicle in Grants County (New Mexico) District Court case number CB 89-93-CR; and
- Robbery with a firearm in Cleveland County (Oklahoma) District Court case number CF-83-535.
As a result of these prior convictions, Wiggins qualified as an Armed Career Criminal. At sentencing, Wiggins faces up to life in federal prison on this conviction.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Norman Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley and Danielle M. Connolly are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.