A former Vian resident has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to a press release issued by the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Leiloni B. Smith, 32, of Tahlequah and formerly of Vian, was sentenced to 360 months on eight counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian County, 360 months on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, and 360 months on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child by a parent. She was also sentenced to 240 months for one count of possession of certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, with the sentences be served concurrently.

On March 21, 2024, Smith was found guilty by a federal jury at trial on 13 counts of a 14 count indictment.

On Jan. 18, 2023, Gregory N. Bias, Smith’s co-defendant, pleaded guilty to nine separate counts of child sex abuse crimes, eight separate counts of child sexual exploitation crimes, and one federal firearm crime. Bias was sentenced on July 31, 2024, to 30 years in prison for nine separate counts of child sex abuse crimes, eight separate counts of child sexual exploitation crimes, and one federal firearm crime.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to investigators, in 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerted law enforcement to a Tahlequah-area internet user exchanging electronic files containing images of child sexual abuse.

Agents identified, located and arrested Bias in January 2022 for distributing child sexual abuse materials. At the time of arrest, Bias resided with Smith.

During the investigation, searches of electronic devices belonging to Smith and Bias uncovered multiple depictions of sexual abuse perpetrated by both Smith and Bias on two children.

Smith was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a child, and possession of child sexual exploitation materials.

The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Smith will remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals pending transportation to a designated U.S.Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a nonparoleable sentence of incarceration.

Anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation is encouraged to immediately contact law enforcement.

You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)’s website at www.cybertipline. com, call 1-800–843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.