A federal jury convicted a Tulsa man on Wednesday of breaking into the home of a former girlfriend and strangling her, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said.

Anthony Lamont Mason II, 28, was found guilty of one count of assault of a former intimate and romantic partner by strangulation, choking and attempted strangulation and choking in Indian country and an account of first degree burglary in indian country.

“Anthony Mason posed an extreme danger to his former girlfriend and those she loves,” U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said. “A jury has found him guilty, and he will spend time in jail where he can no longer harm this victim or any other intimate partners. Federal prosecutors, law enforcement and victim experts will continue to give voice to victims of domestic violence and will work diligently to hold perpetrators of abuse accountable.

“Protecting the public from violent criminals will always be a top priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward Gray of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office. “This verdict is a clear signal that the people of Oklahoma will not tolerate any form of violence and demonstrates our shared commitment to bringing to justice those who terrorize our communities.”

According to court documents, Mason first confronted the victim in violation of a protective order on the morning of May 9, 2021, when she was out with her child in Broken Arrow. He was upset and asked her why she didn’t want to talk to him, who she was allowing into her home, then questioned her on her phone.

Later that day, Mason broke into the victim’s home and assaulted her. The victim was home to spend Mother’s Day with several friends, her child and her child’s friend. After his last adult friend left the residence, the victim received a call from a private number and, out of concern, closed the front blinds. She then looked out the window and saw Mason approaching the house. The victim attempted to call 911, threw his phone under the bed, hid the children in a closet, then returned to the front of the house where Mason had broken open the front door. The victim’s doorbell camera captured 25 seconds of the incident, showing first a hand covering the camera, then the sound of the victim screaming and terrified pleading for him to stop.

Inside, Mason grabbed the victim by the neck, demanding to know where his phone was. He pulled her by the hair, choked her until she almost passed out, poured water over her mouth and nose, continuing to prevent her from breathing, then hit her with what appeared to be the handle of a pistol. He told the victim that if she told anyone he would kill her, then walked over to where she had hidden the children. To protect the children, the victim tried to distract the accused by running out of the house screaming, knowing that he would follow her and try to stop her. Surveillance video from a nearby home captured Mason chasing the victim down the street, throwing her onto the concrete, then continuing to flee the scene.

During the trial, federal prosecutors presented numerous other acts of domestic violence committed by Mason against the victim before the attack on May 9, 2021, which showed an escalation in violence. The victim reported that Mason had strangled her multiple times since March 2020, smashed the driver’s side window of her car in anger, and broke into her home while she was not present on February 27, 2021. While she was home, he turned the victim over. mattress, searched his room and broke several electronic devices. Mason also repeatedly breached a March 2021 protective order.

Mason also faced previous domestic violence charges involving other intimate partners, including a conviction in Tulsa County District Court.

The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chantelle D. Dial and George Jiang are prosecuting the case.