By Traci Chapman
Managing Editor
A man who escaped in February from El Reno Federal Correctional Institution has been recaptured – and now faces additional charges.
Oklahoma City police officers and special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation apprehended Bryan Scott Miller, 36, in Oklahoma City March 12. Even before he was found, a federal grand jury charged Miller March 1 with escape from custody, federal prosecutors said late Monday.
Magistrate Judge Gary Purcell with the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma arraigned Miller Monday on both the escape and January drug charges.
If convicted, Miller could face up to 40 years in federal prison, three years of probation and a $5 million fine on the cocaine base distribution charge; as much as 20 years in federal custody, three years supervised release and $1 million fine for the second drug distribution count; and a five-year prison sentence, $250,000 fine and three years of supervision on the escape charge, U.S. Attorney Robert Troester said.
VALENTINE’S DAY ESCAPE
Miller, of Oklahoma City, escaped from FCI El Reno’s satellite camp Feb. 14. He was held at the federal prison in connection with a January federal indictment on two counts – possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine HCL with intent to distribute, as well as 2013 charges that came back into play after his deferred sentence in connection with those was revoked.
The January indictment was brought in connection with Miller’s October 2021 arrest by members of the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Squad and Oklahoma City Police Department on new drug charges, which comprised alleged violations of the Oklahoma City man’s supervised release.
Miller was already in the federal system due to a host of charges brought against him in February 2013, court records showed. Those included distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine, and two counts of possession of a firearm after a previous conviction – a firearm that crossed state lines. He pleaded guilty in April 2013 and was sentenced in 214 to federal prison for 84 months, with three years of supervised probation.
NEW CHARGES STEM FROM 2013 CONVICTION
In January 2021, Miller filed a request for an early termination of his supervised release; the court subsequently denied that request, court filings showed.
In October 2021, federal prosecutors filed a petition for a warrant that would culminate in the November drug charges, citing several alleged violations by Miller while on probation – among those a September 2021 alleged attempt by Miller to bribe a drug collector into using someone else’s urine for a court-mandated drug test; a positive test and an admission he smoked marijuana that same month; and Miller’s failure to advise his probation officer he was contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning a missing person and possible murder.
No charges were brought against the 36-year-old concerning the missing person/potential murder as of press time, prosecutors said.
U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton in November 2021 revoked Miller’s supervised release and sentenced the 36-year-old to 24 months in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, then another 36 months of supervised release.
A jury trial in Miller’s case was set for May 10 before Judge Heaton as of press time, court records showed.
