EVENT: Guilty Verdict

Defendant: Keith Kallstrom

OKLAHOMA MAN CONVICTED ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGES

A 57-year-old man from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was found guilty today by a federal jury in Bay City, Michigan on two counts of possessing and transporting, in interstate commerce, four hand grenades and on five counts of using the mail in the commission of a murder-for-hire scheme, United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today.

Murphy was joined in the announcement by Valerie J. Goddard, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Judith M. Chilen, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Found guilty was Keith Kallstrom, 57, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before returning the verdict, concluding a four and half day trial before United States District Judge Thomas L. Ludington.

The evidence presented at trial showed that in August, 2005, Kallstrom traveled from Oklahoma to the Pinconning/Bay City area in hopes of finding his estranged wife. Deputies from the Bay County Sheriff’s Department, acting on a call about a suspicious person playing with a set of handcuffs, reported to an area near the Pinconning Cheese House on Pinconning Road east of I-75. When deputies arrived, they confronted Kallstrom and were subsequently given consent by Kallstrom to search his vehicle. During the search deputies recovered a loaded Baretta 9mm handgun, a rifle, shotgun, a loaded magazine and four live explosive grenades. Kallstrom was placed under arrest and was subsequently indicted on the weapons charges.

While lodged at the Bay County Law Enforcement Center, awaiting trial on the weapons offenses, Kallstrom met and spoke with a fellow inmate and entered into a contract with him whereby Kallstrom would pay the inmate $5,000 in exchange for the inmate murdering James Wickstrom and Wickstrom’s son. A series of letters were sent by Kallstrom to the inmate encouraging him to follow through on the contract. Wickstrom was living with Kallstrom's estranged wife at the time in Gladwin, Michigan. The inmate immediately turned the contract and Kallstrom's letters over to the FBI and cooperated with the government.

United States Attorney Murphy said, “I personally congratulate the Bay County Sheriff's Department, as well as the Michigan State Police, the ATF and the FBI, for their fine work and cooperative effort in this case. Their swift response and excellent investigation headed off what appeared to have been a significantly violent plan of murder for hire. I commend as well the trial team for their hard work and persuasive skill in presenting the case in court."

Special Agent in Charge Valerie J. Goddard said, “Mr. Kallstrom had acquired handguns, rifles and grenades and traveled to the State of Michigan from Oklahoma looking for his estranged wife. I commend the jury for their guilty verdict and I commend the work of our agents, officers and the Federal prosecutor who are responsible for removing this violent offender from our streets.”

Murphy commended the work of the Deputies of the Bay County Sheriff’s Department, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police.

A sentencing date has not been set. Kallstrom faces a sentence of imprisonment of up to ten years. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney James Brunson.