Perkins Man Named in Gun Smuggling Scheme Died of 'Natural Causes'

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Perkins man named in a scheme to smuggle firearms into Mexico died of natural causes, according to an autopsy report.

Kyle Wooten, 28, was found dead in his Perkins home on April 23.

The medical examiner listed Wooten's cause of death as "status epilepticus," a continuous state of seizure that's life-threatening.

Wooten had a history of seizures and drug abuse, including cocaine, according to the autopsy.

Wooten was recently named in an alleged gun smuggling scheme, involving former Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics agent Francisco Javier Reyes.

Federal authorities allege that Reyes, 29, recruited several friends in the Stillwater area to buy firearms for him, which he smuggled to Mexico. Court records stated Reyes contacted a few of them at a Stillwater hookah lounge, which he co-owned. One of them was Wooten, who did electrical work at the hookah lounge. Wooten's wife and children reportedly hid in fear of his connection to the gun smuggling scheme.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said Reyes would give Wooten and others cash to make the purchases at several gun shows and gun shops around the state, and Reyes would then pay them up to $100 per firearm. One of those gun stores Wooten and Reyes visited was H & H Gun Range in Oklahoma City. The owner confirmed the two bought guns at his store.

Reyes has since resigned his position with the Bureau of Narcotics and the agency has launched its own investigation.

Reyes is currently under house arrest in Oklahoma City and facing several federal weapons violation charges.

ATF agents arrested a second person in the case on August 10.

Agents raided the Lewisville, Texas home of Gregorio Martinez Morales, 35, where they found weapons and cash, according to authorities.