Ex-school administrator charged with embezzlement

The former administrator of Cimarron Montessori School was charged Monday with three felony counts of embezzlement accusing her of taking more than $25,000 from the school over a six-year period, records show.

Deborah Cribley, 45, appeared Tuesday morning before Special District Judge Brian Lovell with her attorney Steve Cameron, online court records show. Cribley posted a $1,000 bond and will appear Thursday for arraignment of the charges.

One of the charges accuses Cribley of taking more than $25,000 from the school between January 2012 and March 2018. She faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and restitution on that embezzlement charge. She faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000 and restitution on the other two charges, accusing her of taking more than $1,000 from one of the school's bank accounts and the school's Walmart credit card, records show.

On April 17, 2018, police met with Deborah Wilczek and Tara Ramos, two members of the board of trustees for Cimarron Montessori School.

Wilczek told Detective Brad Pritchett in November 2017 the school was in a financial bind, according to an affidavit filed in the case. She said she for the first time the school may not be able to make payroll. She said the board began working with Cribley to go over the financials.

Wilczek said in February 2018, the board found several discrepancies in the financials that were not explainable, according to the affidavit. She said at a March 2018 board meeting members asked Cribley for the school's bank statements to see what was happening.

Obvious discrepancies

On April 2, 2018, the board met to review the financial documents from August 2017 to March 2018. Wilczek said there were obvious discrepancies, according to the affidavit. Wilczek said the board met with Cribley and told her she could resign or they would terminate her.

Wilczek told police since April 2, 2018, the board began to look into the financials for Cimarron Montessori. She said when the statement for the school's Walmart card arrived, they noticed charges for makeup, self tanner and other items purchased that were not for the school, according to the affidavit. Ramos said while reviewing the school's Central National Bank and Alva State Bank & Trust documents, they found where Cribley was paying her personal Dillard's credit card with school funds, according to the affidavit.

Ramos said when they confronted Cribley about this, she claimed in her role as an administrator one of her jobs was to buy future silent auction items, according to the affidavit. Ramos said Cribley said she was buying the items on clearance. Wilczek and Ramos told police the only documentation they had ever seen as a board in relation to finances had come from a QuickBooks program.

The women told police there was only one debit card for the CNB account and only one Walmart card, according to the affidavit. They said Cribley was the only one to have those cards.

On April 19, 2018, Pritchett met with Cribley, her husband, Kenny Cribley, and Cameron, her attorney, records show.

Pritchett asked Cribley to tell him about her position as administrator and why she left the school, according to the affidavit. Cribley said at a March 26, 2018, board meeting it was discussed that a teacher might have to be laid off because of the school's financial situation. She said the board requested she get all of the financial documents together so the board could review them. She said she gave the board the documents March 30, 2018.

Cribley said a meeting was held April 2, 2018, and the board asked her about a couple of transactions she did not have receipts for, according to the affidavit. Cribley said after the meeting she was given the option to resign from her position or she would be fired. Cribley said she opted to resign.

When asked by Pritchett, Cribley confirmed she was responsible for Cimarron Montessori's bank accounts, according to the affidavit. Pritchett asked if anyone assisted her with those duties. Cribley said the only time anyone else was involved was when a teacher would buy something for the school on their personal bank account, then she would reimburse the teacher. She said she was the only one with control over the school's bank accounts.

Cribley said the school has three accounts: an operating account through CNB, a fundraising account through Alva State Bank and a money market account at Security National Bank, according to the affidavit. Cribley said there was a debit card and credit card kept in a lock box in her office. When asked who had access to the cards, Cribley said, "Just myself."

Pritchett told Cribley one of the accusations from the board was she was misusing the school's debit and credit card. He asked if she had ever misused or purchased any personal items for herself on either card, according to the affidavit. Cribley said as far as misuse of the cards, she replied, "No, sir." He asked Cribley if she ever purchased personal items with the cards. Cribley said if she purchased any personal items with the cards, she would reimburse the school by making a deposit in the school's bank account.

Cribley said the school board allowed her to make purchases of personal items on the school's debit and credit card as long as she reimbursed the school for the charges, according to the affidavit. Pritchett asked Cribley if she ever purchased personal items on the school's cards. She said she was sure there times she had done this, but she could not recall.

Cribley said she was confronted by the board about using the cards for personal use, according to the affidavit. She said she told the board she could go through all the receipts, but the board would not give her access to them.

Pritchett told Cribley he had some Cimarron Montessori Walmart credit card statements he wanted to go over with her. He showed Cribley a charge for Rotel Diced Tomatoes, and Cribley said it might have been purchased for a fundraiser, according to the affidavit. He showed her charges for barbecue pizza, Totino's Pizza, Little Smokies and grilled chicken breast. Cribley said those items might have been food they were keeping at the refrigerator at the school.

When shown a charge for Axe body spray, Cribley said, "I have no idea," according to the affidavit. She was shown a charge for diced onions and cut okra, and Cribley said it was for the lunch program. When shown a charge to tanning lotion, Cribley again said, "I have no idea."

Pritchett showed Cribley a charge for an Apple TV for $159. Cribley said that was probably a personal purchase, according to the affidavit.

Pritchett asked Cribley how often she would use the Walmart card for personal use, according to the affidavit. Cribley said she kept track of her personal purchases. She said when the Walmart bill would come in, she would write a personal check for her part of the bill. She said if she did not send a personal check with the bill, she would write one to the school.

Cameron asked Cribley if this was a common practice since she had been employed with the school, and she stated, "Yeah," according to the affidavit. Pritchett asked Cribley if the school was aware she was using the Walmart card for her personal use, and Cribley said they should have been.

Fraudulent charges

During the investigation, Pritchett spoke with Kay Chatterji, who served as vice president and president of the Cimarron Montessori board of directors.

He asked Chatterji if it has ever been approved that the school administrator could use school funds for personal purchases, according to the affidavit. Chatterji said "no."

He told Chatterji when he spoke with Cribley, she said the board knew she was making personal purchases with school funds, according to the affidavit. He also told Chatterji that Cribley said the board allowed her to do this as long as she paid the money back by the end of the fiscal year. Chatterji said she has never heard of anything like that.

Pritchett reviewed the charges on the Walmart credit card using statements from Nov. 5, 2015, to March 3, 2018, according to the affidavit. The total amount of fraudulent charges on the Walmart card is $6,407.55.

Pritchett told Cribley he wanted to go over the school’s CNB account, providing her with a statement for January 2018, according to the affidavit. The first charge was to Chick-Fil-A for $42.12.

Cribley said she keeps a general ledger of transactions, and she advised the board of this. Pritchett asked Cribley if the board knew she was using the debit card to make personal purchases, and she said, “I don’t think they did.” Cribley said past boards knew she was doing this. She said her reimbursements for using the debit and credit cards were due by the end of the fiscal year, which was in July.

Pritchett asked Cribley how long she had been using the school’s debit and credit cards, according to the affidavit. She said is depended and said she had spent more on personal items in 2018 than she had in the past.

Pritchett asked Cribley if she ever used the Alva State Bank account for personal use. Cribley said she would have to go back through and look, according to the affidavit. Pritchett asked Cribley if she would be able to provide documentation showing the reimbursements. Cribley said, “Hopefully, I can.”

She said when she reimbursed the school she would put the money into the Alva State Bank account, according to the affidavit. Pritchett asked if the reimbursement would be a personal check from her and Cribley said, “Right.”

When asked how many personal checks she’d written the school since 2009, Cribley said she had no idea.

Pritchett asked Cribley if she ever made any personal credit card payments with school funds, and she said she had, according to the affidavit. Cribley said she had made payments on her Dillard’s credit card, JCPenney credit card and Old Navy credit card. She said the payments were from using her personal credit cards to purchase silent auction items for the school.

Review of accounts

Pritchett reviewed the SNB personal checking account for Cribley and her husband for checks written to Cimarron Montessori that were relevant to the investigation, according to the affidavit. There were five checks written listed in the affidavit.

• On Aug. 8, 2010, Cribley wrote a check to Cimarron Montessori in the amount of $3,350. The memo line of the check states, “Cash/temp loan/full repayment.”

• On Jan. 21, 2011, Cribley wrote a check to “Cash” in the amount of $960. The memo of the check states, “School reimbursement-Alva.”

• On July 20, 2011, Cribley wrote a check to Cimarron Montessori School in the amount of $700. The memo of the check states, “Repayment/deposit.”

• On July 20, 2011, Cribley wrote a check for “Cash Withdrawal” in the amount of $200. The memo states, “CMS petty cash repayment.”

• On Dec. 22, 2011, Cribley wrote a check to “Cash” in the amount of $235. The memo of the check states, “Silent Auction/Petty Cash.”

Pritchett reviewed the Cimarron Montessori School CNB account from Jan. 1, 2018, to March 31, 2018, according to the affidavit. The amount of unauthorized charges made by Cribley from the account in that time is $3,782.91.

A review of the account between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017, found Cribley wrote made a total of $20,093 charges to the account, according to the affidavit. There were also checks in the amount of $350 to JCP/Synchrony Bank and $288.95 to Uptown Florist written by Cribley from the account.

Pritchett also found a printed email for Life Touch School portraits, according to the affidavit. The email was a receipt for an order placed Oct. 11, 2017, by Cribley in the amount of $77 using the Cimarron Montessori debit card, according to the affidavit. Another email was printed out for Jostens.com for the purchase of 25 cards and 25 envelope seals. The email was a receipt for an order placed March 7, 2017, by Cribley in the amount of $62.32 using the school's debit card. The order shows the recipient as Karson Cribley, Deborah's child.

Pritchett also found a receipt for a yearbook for Cribley's child, according to the affidavit. The $78 purchase was made March 6, 2017, using the school's debit card.

Pritchett reviewed the records for the school's CNB account and found the following unauthorized charges for each year made by Cribley: 2016: $23,556.40; 2015: $21,221.92; 2014: $24,030.64; 2013: $15,536.58; and 2012: $5,436.86.

A review of the school's Alva State Bank & Trust account from 2012 to 2018, found Cribley wrote unauthorized checks totaling $19,145.45, according to the affidavit.

Former Broken Arrow church employee charged with embezzling nearly $245,000

A woman was charged Tuesday with embezzling nearly $245,000 from a Broken Arrow church to pay her credit card bills and purchase concert and theme park tickets, authorities said.

Candy Jean Tompkins, 47, faces five charges of embezzlement by employee for money taken from Arrow Heights Baptist Church, 3201 S. Elm Place, since 2008 when she was employed as payroll administrator, according to an affidavit.

After hiring a new company to take over payroll duties, the church’s pastor, Roger Taylor, discovered the alleged finance discrepancies, the document states.

Tompkins, who also uses the last name Butler, is accused of not withholding the agreed upon amount of insurance from her paycheck. The total amount is estimated to be $33,414.52 over the course of her employment, according to court documents.

Investigators believe Tompkins also charged approximately $100,282.00 to various employees’ company credit cards to purchase concert and theme park tickets, as well as for travel and purchases from Amazon.com.

Those cards were intended for buying church supplies, prosecutors said.

Tompkins allegedly also used church funds to pay two personal credit card debts, paying $75,548.47 on one card beginning in 2012 and $60,740.74 for another card.

For the first credit card, investigators said they chose to only search records back to 2012 because of the costs of getting that information from the bank.

Tompkins is also accused of taking $35,619.10 from funds she was supposed to deposit into the church’s bank account from tuition payments from parents whose children attend a ministry program, according to the affidavit.

Tompkins refused to speak with investigators when they initially approached her, authorities said.

When they reached out to her new employer, A-Best Roofing, officers discovered she’d been fired because of suspected embezzlement, investigators said.

She was charged with embezzlement in that case on Jan. 26, according to court records. She is accused of taking $6,133.68 from the business.

A district judge ordered a warrant for Tompkins’ arrest in relation to both cases. Online jail records indicate she has not yet been arrested.

Friend speaks out about OKC pastor accused of embezzlement in Oklahoma

Problems are growing for an Oklahoma City pastor accused of embezzlement. Velio Estrada was the leader of one of the city’s largest Hispanic congregations at El Tabernaculo de Fe.

Edwin Dubon has known him for more than 18 years and says he’s tired of hearing all the negative comments made against his friend.

“I don’t think he’s capable. I don’t think he’s done the things he’s accused of,” he said.

Dubon said that everything has an explanations, such as the poor records kept. He said that’s because he runs a small church with simple people who aren’t used to running a church like a business.

“You go to an American church and you have doctors and lawyers, business owners,” he said. “Most of the people who go to that church are waiters and roofers, not the owners, but the guys putting the roof on.”

Dubon said the legal battle with Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God of the State of Oklahoma is taking a toll on Estrada.

Recently the bank filed a foreclosure notice regarding Estrada's Edmond private estate.

According to the Oklahoma County Assessor’s Office, the home is worth about $475,000 and was titled under El Tabernaculo De Fe Inc.

Court documents list several people on the notice, which says more than $360,000 are owed on the home. Online county records also show there’s more than $24,000 owed on unpaid taxes for the last four years.

Dubon said this supports his claim that Estrada is innocent. “They say he has all that money. Why are they taking his house away if he had all that money?” he said.

A call to the attorney representing Estrada in the foreclosure case was not returned.

Allred being arraigned on embezzlement charge in Oklahoma

Jeffrey Scott Allred, the former pastor of the Journey Church in Sallisaw, will appear before Sequoyah County Associate District Judge Kyle Waters at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 18) for arraignment on felony charges of embezzlement and second-degree forgery.

Allred turned himself in to authorities Friday after Sequoyah County District Attorney Brian Kuester issued a warrant for his arrest. He was released the same day on a $7,500 bond.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Detective Lance Yoakum of the Sallisaw Police Department, covering a time period between June 2014 through December 2014, in which Allred is alleged to have fraudulently appropriated money in excess of $10,000.

The charges are separate from the civil case that has been filed by Journey Church in an attempt to recover funds the church claims Allred misappropriated  by using a credit card for his own personal gain.

A Journey Church secretary filed a report with the Sallisaw Police Department Aug. 26, accusing Allred of embezzlement after the church had an audit done, showing that Allred had allegedly used the church credit card for personal use on multiple occasions.

Yoakum said in his affidavit he was informed by Journey Church Elder Matt Caldwell the church had the forensic audit done by Beale and Barclay accounting firm.

“Caldwell advised that Allred had submitted multiple receipts that showed Allred had purchased items for the church but when compared to the credit card statements it didn’t match,” Yoakum said in the affidavit.

In the month of September 2014, Allred had submitted receipts from Lowe’s. The receipts Allred submitted showed  that he had purchased, on the church credit card, a black in color Whirlpool dishwasher for $598.99, a Nemco 4/3 counter top food warmer for $376.46, a Crosley four-burner electric oven for $1,099.99, and a Frigidaire microwave for $306.68 for a total of $2,382.12, Yoakum said in his report.

The affidavit said the actual receipt obtained from Lowe’s on this purchase by Allred showed a Whirlpool brand microwave for $279, a Bosch 800 series stainless steel dishwasher for $899.10 and a Whirlpool brand stove with a double oven and stainless steel for $989.10, which totaled $2,382.12, Yoakum said. The receipts Allred provided the church were fraudulent, according to Yoakum’s report.

Yoakum continued in the report that on June 20, 2014, Allred submitted a receipt to the church that showed he had purchased two JVC HDTV’s for $1,398 and one led 65-inch smart television for $899, totaling $2,297, plus shipping of $202.99, pushing the total up to $2,499.99. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal showed the actual purchase  was for a Samsung 65-inch smart TV for a total of $2,499.99. Yoakum said in the affidavit.

Also in June 2014, Yoakum said Allred submitted a receipt to the church showing he had purchased a glass top sitting table for $109.95. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal shows that Allred purchased a Yamaha drive G29 Fender Flare set of four for a golf car for $109.95. “Allred owns a golf cart that is reported to have multiple add-on accessories,” the affidavit said.

In that same month, Allred submitted a receipt to the church showing he had purchased a 6-foot pendant light for $94.99, plus $22.99 for shipping, for a total of $117.98. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal shows that Allred purchased a Yamaha drive cart carbon fiber steering wheel for $117.98, according to Yoakum’s affidavit.

Again, in the same month, “Allred submitted a receipt showing that he had purchased a microwave oven for $668.95. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal showed Allred purchased a Yamaha drive carbon fiber dash compartment, lighted tires and wheel combo for $668.95. Allred also submitted the same month a receipt showing he had purchased a leather armchair for $299.95. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal showed Allred had purchased a Yamaha golf cart flip folding seat for $299.95,” Yoakum said in the affidavit.

According to Yoakum’s investigation, Allred submitted a receipt to the church showing he had purchased a sink for $335. The actual receipt from PayPal show Allred had purchased a granite sink for $336.

“The church does not have a granite sink in it, nor has it had one,” the report said.

The same month, June, 2014, Allred submitted a receipt showing he had purchased a Keurig coffee maker for $149.95, with the actual receipt showing he had purchased a Yamaha LED light kit for a golf cart for $149.95. At that time Allred also submitted a receipt showing he purchased a stainless frame with tempered glass for $141.99, and the actual receipt from PayPal showed Allred purchased a dash assembly for a Yamaha golf cart for $141.95, Yoakum said in his report.

In December 2014, Yoakum said Allred submitted a receipt showing he had purchased Tyndale Bible software for $209.99. The actual receipt from PayPal shows Allred purchased a LEGO train level crossing set for $209.99. In the same month, Allred submitted a receipt showing he purchased Bible software archeology collection for $264.65 and the actual receipt, again from PayPal, shows Allred purchased a LEGO Maersk container train for $264.65, the affidavit said.

“Each receipt that Allred turned in to the church was fraudulent and did not depict what Allred had actually purchased. Allred used the Journey Church credit card for each of these purchases and then deceived the members and elders of the Journey Church with fraudulent receipts,” Yoakum said in the affidavit.

Yoakum continued: “The large kitchen items are reported to be inside Allred’s recently built pool house. The church does not have a golf cart or any items purchased for the golf cart. The church does not have the appliances purchased by Jeff Allred,” Yoakum’s report concluded.

Allred’s move to quash subpoena in Oklahoma church case

Jeffrey and Stephani Allred, through their attorneys, have filed separate motions to quash a subpoena seeking their financial records.

Earlier this month, attorneys for the Journey Church and the church’s elder board issued a subpoena to the National Bank of Sallisaw, demanding the bank produce the financial records of Jeffrey Allred and records pertaining to Hope Trailer Sales, owned by Allred.

Jeffrey Allred, the former pastor of Journey Church, is the subject of a criminal embezzlement investigation by the Sallisaw Police Department and civil action brought by Journey Church and its elder board.

Allred is accused of using a Journey Church credit card for personal purposes. The civil action by the church is an attempt to recoup some of the money lost in the credit card purchases allegedly made by Allred. A criminal embezzlement complaint was filed against Allred by a church member after an audit discovered the discrepancies.

Stephani Allred is not a party to either of the actions, but submitted a special appearance and objection to the subpoena seeking the financial records for the reason that she is a non-party.

The Allreds are represented by attorneys S. Greg Pittman and Wesley Carter of Winters and King, Inc., of Tulsa.

On Stephani Allred’s behalf, the attorneys claim the financial records sought by the church will illegally disclose non-party financial records in violation of the Oklahoma Financial Privacy Act.

The motion says Stephani Allred has not been served with the subpoena as required by Oklahoma statutes.

Under those statutes, the attorneys argued a financial institution is prohibited from giving, releasing or disclosing any financial record to any government authority unless it has written permission from the customer for the specific record requested, or it has been served with a subpoena issued for the specific record requested.

Stephani Allred is a non-party to the lawsuit and has not given written consent for her financial records to be released to the plaintiff (church), attorneys argued. They further said the church has not complied with requirements of Oklahoma statutes that requires a copy of the subpoena to be served or mailed to the customer (Allred) on or before the date the subpoena is served on the financial institution.

“Plaintiff has not served the subpoena on Ms. Allred, much less served her before plaintiff served the subpoena on National Bank of Sallisaw as is required by law,” the motion said.

The attorney’s asked the court to quash the subpoena and that a protective order be issued protecting her from the “unauthorized and illegal” release and disclosure of her financial records.

The attorneys filed a similar motion to quash the subpoena on behalf of Jeffrey Allred.

“Although the basis for plaintiff’s claims is that the defendant allegedly misused plaintiff’s corporate credit card by making unauthorized purchases, plaintiff seeks in excess of five years of defendant’s personal records including bank statements, investment statements and loan records. These records are neither relevant, nor could they potentially lead to relevant evidence,” the motion read.

Allred’s attorneys argue in the motion that the subpoena is overly broad and seeks information that is far outside the scope of discovery.

“Plaintiff lists seven broad categories of documents sought including 48 sub-categories. Plaintiff’s subpoena further indicates that the information sought by the subpoena includes, but is not even limited to, the 48 sub-categories,” attorneys argued.

The attorneys said the amount if information sought in the subpoena is “staggering and greatly exceeds information that is reasonably calculated to lead to evidence relevant to the plaintiff’s claim.”

The relevant information, or documents for discovery, according to Allred’s attorneys, are the church’s credit card statements and the documents related to the purchases made with the credit card.

“There is no basis for plaintiff’s need for the entirety of defendant’s financial records and documents, and such an onerous intrusion into defendant’s personal and private information appears designed to harass and annoy defendant,” the motion said.

Because all loans and accounts are jointly held by Jeffrey Allred and Stephani Allred, their attorneys argued the subpoena should be quashed because Stephani Allred is a non-party to the actions and has not given her permission for the records to be released.

In addition to asking that the subpoena be quashed, the attorneys also sought a protective order for Jeffrey Allred.

Court documents show former youth athletic president embezzled funds in Oklahoma

A former athletic coordinator of a metro youth athletics organization was charged with embezzlement following an investigation by Midwest City police.

According to court documents, Michael Wayne Kiesel stole more than $10,000 from an organization that supports youth athletics in Choctaw and Nicoma Park.

Court documents show that Kiesel, 51, admitted to police he used some of the money at area casinos.

Aaron McConnell said Kiesel was the former president of Choctaw-Nicoma Park Youth Athletics. McConnell has since replaced him.

"It was really a one-man show," McConnell said. "He had ladies that did all of the legwork. He was just sitting at the top handling all the finances."

The detective working the case reported Kiesel admitted to using organization funds "as if it was his own personal account," according to court documents.

Kiesel has been charged with three counts of embezzlement. Prosecutors with the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office allege the unlawful use of money occurred between June 1 and Aug. 31.

The investigation revealed detectives reviewed bank statements for the organization after members reported the misuse of funds.

"The kids obviously don't know what's going on," McConnell said. "A lot of the parents knew. We already started changing it and going in the direction we want to go."

The detective also reported he found $17,030 in cash that was withdrawn from ATMs.

"He admitted to playing $500 a week at local casinos ... Kiesel admitted that the money he withdrew at casino ATMs went toward gambling," the detective reported. 

Kiesel had not been arrested as of Friday night.  Sources tell KOCO 5 that investigators are working on an arrest warrant.

KOCO 5 reached out to Kiesel numerous times by email and phone. He did not respond for comment.

Plumber at Moore Public Schools charged with embezzlement in Oklahoma

A plumber formerly employed with the Moore Public School district was charged with embezzlement Thursday after allegedly pawning tools from the school.

Anthony Doyle Banks, 21, of Oklahoma City was charged with the felony in Cleveland County District Court.

According to an affidavit filed with the charge, during the course of Banks’ employment with MPS, he took tools without permission and pawned them. The tools were then sold by the pawn shop or recovered from pawn by Banks and never returned to the district.

The felony information filed Thursday shows two pawn shops were listed as witnesses in the case, including EZ Pawn in Oklahoma City and Cash Now Pawn in Moore.

The tools Banks took without permission have an estimated value of $650, records show.

A warrant of arrest was requested for Banks on Thursday, as well. 

Marshall Co. pastor's wife arraigned for embezzlement

The wife of a former Kingston church pastor appeared Wednesday in court to answer to embezzlement charges.

Samantha Webb was taken into custody in August 2014. Kingston Police say she's suspected of taking more than $20,000 from the Compassion Church.

Webb, 34, was in Marshall County court for a formal arraignment. She maintained her not guilty plea.

She is also facing two counts of forgery in Choctaw County.

Former Cushing School Secretary Arraigned On Embezzlement Charge

Former Harmony school secretary Mary Susan Porter was arraigned Tuesday on a felony charge accusing her of embezzling $23,823.44 from the Child Nutrition Fund while she was employed by Cushing Public Schools between August 2008 and February 2014.

Porter, 60, of Cushing, was allowed by Special District Judge Robert Hert to remain free on a personal recognizance bond pending a Feb. 2 court appearance when she can seek a preliminary hearing on the charge, court records showed today.

Cushing Police Officer Jerrod Livergood wrote in an affidavit that on Feb. 21, 2014, Cushing Public School Child Nutrition Director John Rhoten reported that Porter was suspected of embezzling money from the school.

“Rhoten said that he and Superintendent Koln Knight had a meeting with Porter in the office at 1401 N. Little on Feb. 20, 2014.

“Rhoten stated that Porter was asked to explain why the cash deposits did not match up with the totals in the main computer.

“Rhoten said the school verified that Porter embezzled $2,387 since the beginning of this school year.

“Rhoten reported Porter said she took the money and was willing to pay it back,” the Cushing police officer alleged in his affidavit.

“Rhoten said that he received a resignation from Porter along with two checks totaling $2,387.

“Rhoten advised that the Cushing Public School would like to press charges on Porter for the embezzlement,” the affidavit alleged.

When Porter was interviewed by Livergood at the Cushing Police Department on April 10, 2014, “Porter said that she made a really bad decision and started taking money from the lunch money accounts,” the affidavit alleged.

“Porter said that she took money for the past three years,” the affidavit alleged.

“Porter wrote in her statement, ‘it was a horribly wrong thing to do and I truly do regret my actions,’” the affidavit alleged.

“Porter said that when she was confronted by Knight and Rhoten, she felt very remorseful and paid back the amount they said was missing for the year,” the affidavit alleged.

Livergood said, “I informed her that the initial numbers they provided her of $2,387 has been corrected for the year and that the corrected amount of missing money for the 2013-2014 year is $2,577.

“Porter said she was willing to pay the difference to the corrected amount and the amount for the previous two years,” the affidavit alleged.

“The total loss for Aug. 2008 to Feb. 2014 is $23,823.44. Porter paid back the school a total of $2,387 at the time of her resignation,” the affidavit alleged.

Embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term and a $5,000 fine, along with an order to pay restitution and an amount equal to 10 percent of any court-ordered restitution for deposit to the School Investigative Audit Revolving Fund, court records show.

Owasso Parent-Teacher Group Treasurer Charged With Embezzlement

Prosecutors have charged an Owasso mother with embezzlement.

Detectives say 33-year-old Christy Bratton served as treasurer for the Mills Elementary Action Club and stole $4,255.24 from the parent-teacher group.


An audit last month revealed money was missing and detectives turned their case over to Tulsa County prosecutors.

An arrest warrant was issued for Bratton on Wednesday.

Documents say Bratton took the money for her own use and benefit without the consent of Owasso Public Schools or the Mills Action Club.

Tulsa Pastor Accused Of Embezzlement Won't Step Down

A Tulsa pastor won't step down, after he's accused of embezzling almost a million dollars.
Willard Jones pleaded not guilty to the charges and he's not bending to pressure from church members to resign.

Reverend Jones may not be stepping down, but according to those inside the meeting, he will be taking a sabbatical from the pulpit. Some members of the church say that's just not enough.

Church member Donald Rose said, "I am separating from this church. I'm gone. I'm done."

There was much outrage after a meeting with church leaders at the Greater Cornerstone Church.


Members said Jones, indicted for stealing almost a million dollars from a community center they supported, walked into the meeting and sat silently as leaders from other area churches made the announcement that Jones would be taking a sabbatical but not stepping down.

"I'm just hurt, I don't know what else to say besides I am, I'm so disappointed, I cannot believe what happened here,” said member Geraldine Freeman.

She has been a member for more than ten years and left the meeting visibly disappointed along with several others who said they're not coming back.

"We're leaving, and we're letting them just do whatever they want to do until this place is probably gonna be bankrupt,” Rose said. "I'm sorry I'm so angry, I'm just disgusted and tired of the shenanigans."

News On 6 has learned that about 20 years ago Jones spent time in prison after being convicted of larceny.

His next court date is set for October 20th.

Embezzlement charge accuses woman of stealing thousands from Tulsa church

An embezzlement charge accuses a woman of misappropriating nearly $90,000 from a Tulsa church over a six-year period.
Tamme Michelle Dopps, 52, was charged in Tulsa County District Court on Monday, court filings indicate.
Prosecutors allege that Dopps “fraudulently embezzle(d)” $87,443 from River Oaks Christian Church from July 2008 to March 2013.
Dopps, who has not been arrested, has a $2,000 warrant issued for her capture.
She is described as white, 5 feet 2 inches tall and 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information of Dopps’ whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 918-596-COPS (2677), online at bit.ly/crimestopperstips or via text message at CRIMES (274637). Text tips should begin with “Tip918.”

Tulsa pastor indicted for embezzlement

Indicted for "unlawfully divert[ing] Community Center funds for his own personal benefit in the approximate amount of $933,507.80":

Rev. Willard Jones, a pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, faces three counts of wire fraud and one count of tax fraud. FOX23 learned a community center the church built was the vision of Jones. He helped design it and raised funds to build it. The U.S. attorney said he was also stealing a lot of those funds and living an expensive life, instead of serving this high-poverty area.
The church and the community center are in South Haven, a historically African-American community along the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union railway, southeast of the western I-44 / I-244 junction.

The South Haven neighborhood in West Tulsa was originally established in 1919 as an outlet for black families overflowing the city's then-flourishing Greenwood district. Following the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, the population of South Haven swelled quickly with those fleeing the destruction in North Tulsa. By the time South Haven was annexed into the City of Tulsa in the mid-1960s, what had been a working class black area was largely integrated and the area fell into rapid decline. With absentee ownership and property vacancies becoming the norm, this "transitional neighborhood" experienced a sharp increase in crime and social problems.
South Haven was annexed into the City of Tulsa in the 1960s. If I recall correctly, prior to annexation the area had neither running water nor sewer. Assessor records show a handful of houses from the 1950s, a Tulsa Housing Authority subdivision built in the early 1970s, and many Habitat for Humanity homes built in the 2000s.

According to the church's website, Jones became pastor of the church in 1996 when the then 70-year-old church had only five members. The website states that the community center cost $7 million to build.

Here is the federal indictment of Willard Jones.

Jones shows up in a few cases on OSCN, including this ticket for speeding in Stillwater. According to the docket record, the fine was paid by the church.

OSCN also shows some larcenies by someone named William Leonard Jones, who has the same date of birth as the William Lenord Jones who had his speeding fine paid by Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church. That could be a coincidence or a clerical error.

The U. S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Oklahoma issued a press release on the Willard Jones indictment:

As the Executive Director, Jones oversaw the design, construction and fundraising for building the Community Center. Jones solicited monetary contributions from donors, including, foundations, corporations, churches and individuals, to fund the development project.
The scheme to defraud charged in the Information accuses Jones of fraudulently transferring funds from Community Center bank accounts to Church bank accounts and then transferring those funds into personal bank accounts; and, that Jones made large cash withdrawals from the Church bank account that he then used for personal expenses.

Rather than pay for construction operating costs of the Community Center, Jones used the proceeds of his fraud scheme for luxury items, including, hotels, restaurants, casinos, liquor, automobiles, a Rolex watch and a mink coat.

Rev. Willard Jones has just been nominated as a candidate for the Bishop Eddie Long Award for Worst Pastor of 2014. The FBI, U.S. Attorney, and the IRS have all confirmed that Rev. Willard can’t account for more than $900k in money intended for a Neighborhood Community Center. Money that could have helped struggling families in Tulsa was used to buy hotels, restaurants, gambling at casinos, liquor, automobiles and luxury items including a Rolex watch and a monogrammed mink fur coat with matching hat and gloves.

For Breaking News on PimpPreachers like Rev. Willard Jones simply like our Facebook Fan Page or our Twitter Page

As confirmed by FOX23.com

A local pastor was charged in federal court Wednesday in the embezzlement of almost a million dollars from a community center his church built.

Rev. Willard Jones, a pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, faces three counts of wire fraud and one count of tax fraud. FOX23 learned a community center the church built was the vision of Jones. He helped design it and raised funds to build it.

The U.S. attorney said he was also stealing a lot of those funds and living an expensive life, instead of serving this high-poverty area.

FOX23 was there when Jones broke ground on the community center and when it opened in September 2011. U.S. Attorney Danny Williams said the executive board of the community center did an internal audit in 2013 when Jones said there weren’t enough operating funds.

“About $500,000 was missing. Reverend Jones would not cooperate with that audit, and subsequently the FBI was contacted,” said Williams.

An investigation by the FBI found jones had taken more than $933,000 in all.

“When in fact, he was spending the stolen funds on hotels, restaurants, gambling at casinos, liquor, automobiles and luxury items including a Rolex watch and a monogrammed mink fur coat with matching hat and gloves,” said Williams.

According to court documents, he also used money to pay for work on his house.  “Based on our investigation, there are no funds left,” said Williams.

IRS Special Agent Damon Rowe told FOX23 Jones also lied on his taxes and did not report close to $400,000.  

“Our agents are committed to making sure that we follow the money to the end, and we’ll leave no stone unturned,” said Rowe.

Jones stepped down from his post as executive director of the community center, but remains pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Williams said the crimes he’s accused of committing against the community center affect a lot more people.

“Mr. Jones failed to honor the trust of the community, which needed revitalization,” said Williams.

Jones is scheduled for his first appearance in court next Friday.

Former Church Finance Manager Given Prison Term For Embezzling $141,016 in Oklahoma

A former finance manager for the First United Methodist Church of Stillwater -- who admitted embezzling $141,016 from the church -- has been given a two-year prison term followed by three years of probation when she must make restitution payments.

Dana Sue Eckhart, 44, who moved to Edmond after the felony embezzlement charge was filed last year, did not have an agreement with the prosecution regarding her punishment.

Last week, Associate District Judge Stephen Kistler ordered Eckhart -- who had already placed $23,370 in proceeds from the sale of her Stillwater home with the court toward restitution -- to begin making payments within 30 days of her release from prison.

Eckhart must pay $55,172 restitution, with 12 percent interest pursuant to state law, by the end of her probationary period along with a $1,000 fine, the judge ordered at a July 31 sentencing hearing, which began on July 8, recessed and was concluded last week.

Reverend Michael Chaffin, Reverend John Curtis and Reverend Alan McIntyre had reported the embezzlement from the church by Eckhart, who was finance manager from Dec. 30, 2008, to Jan. 2, 2013, according to an affidavit by Stillwater Police Detective Richard Leport.

"Reverend McIntyre provided an audit report detailing that Dana Eckhart wrote 33 checks to herself or her husband, 17 checks to other people and 46 checks to Capital One," with which the church does not have an account, the affidavit said.

"Reverend McIntyre also noted 216 questioned credit card transactions," on a credit card issued to Eckhart by the church, the affidavit said.

"The loss was determined to be $141,016.99," the affidavit said.

On April 11, 2013, the detective received a copy of the "Accounting Controls Review and Accounting Records Investigation" report for the church prepared by a certified public accountant, the affidavit said.

The report reviewed the church's checks from January 2009 through December 2012, the affidavit said.

There were $60,432.29 unauthorized checks payable to the finance manager, $9,009.50 unauthorized checks payable to the spouse of the finance manager, and $67,547.46 unauthorized checks to the Capital One personal account of the finance manager, the affidavit said.

During the sentencing hearing that began on July 8, Eckhart testified how her embezzlement began, which continued over a three-year period and only ended when she was caught, she admitted on cross-examination to prosecutor Mike Kulling.

"I initially was trying to help others with food, shelter. It was unauthorized. I did use the funds.

"We started having financial difficulty. I did use funds for myself.

"I know I made a really big mistake," Eckhart told the judge -- asking for probation and an order to make restitution.

"We sold our house here in Stillwater. The proceeds of the home were placed with the court for restitution in this matter," Eckhart said -- adding that a house in Tonkawa would be sold to "free up more money for restitution."

Eckhart's defense attorney asked the judge to give her ten years to pay restitution, which the judge said he didn't think was a reasonable period of time -- before recessing the case to July 31 when he decided her sentence.

During the July 8 session of the sentencing hearing, Eckhart said that she was working as a summer day camp counselor for the Edmond YMCA and that her husband was supporting the family as an assistant manager at an Oklahoma City grocery store.

In a pre-sentencing investigation, Eckhart said, "During the last three years we lived in our home in Stillwater, our house payment almost doubled due to insurance and taxes.

"I started falling into the trap of 'I just need a little to make ends meet and I'll pay it back.' I did pay some of the monies back in cash, but have no way to prove it.

"I also was very influenced by what I saw around me. We lived in an area where it mattered a great deal as to what possessions you had. I started to feel like we had to keep up with that.

"I knew and know better that possessions don't matter. I now know that my slip in character has jeopardized my family and what really matters to me.

"I will never let this happen again as it isn't worth risking what is really important...I never had any intentions of hurting anyone and always had intentions of paying it back somehow.

Woman pleads guilty of taking church money in Oklahoma

A woman accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the Stillwater First United Methodist Church has pleaded guilty to the theft of more than $141,000 from the church.

Dana Sue Eckhart pleaded guilty to embezzlement in excess of $25,000 on Jan. 3 at the Payne County Courthouse.

The 43-year-old former church financial manager was arrested in May. Starting in 2009, Eckhart embezzled more than $141,000 from the church by writing unauthorized checks and using the church’s credit card.

An audit of the church’s finances found that Eckhart wrote 33 checks to her or her husband, 17 checks to other people and 46 checks to a bank that the church didn’t have an account with.

Eckhart made more than $60,000 of checks payable to herself and $9,000 to her husband. Bank checks totaled more than $67,000.

In her plea Eckhart states, “I used money that belonged to the church which I had access to in an unauthorized manner,” according to the court documents.

Associate District Judge Stephen Kistler ordered a pre-sentence investigation until Eckhart is sentenced at 1:30 p.m. April 4. She is free on a personal bond until the sentencing. -

Former Yukon FFA instructor charged with embezzlement

A former Yukon FFA Organization instructor accused of “skimming” a local couple of more than $4,000 on a single livestock purchase has been charged with embezzlement in Canadian County District Court.

Photo - Photo of a calf by Thinkstock
Photo of a calf by Thinkstock
Jason Matthew Bow, 39, was charged Wednesday with two counts of embezzlement, a felony, accused of overcharging two women on separate livestock purchases in June 2010.

Bow, who resigned his position at Yukon Public Schools in May 2011, has not been arrested, records show.

Debbie Wright, who purchased a show calf through Bow for her daughter, was charged $7,000 by the former agriculture instructor, records show.

Bow paid only $2,750 for the calf, meaning that he overcharged Wright by $4,250, court records show.

Wright, who grew up showing animals in rural Oklahoma, said the practice of agriculture instructors overcharging parents and students for livestock is known as “skimming.”

Records show that Bow could serve up to five years in state prison if found guilty of overcharging Wright. He also could be fined up to $5,000.

Another district parent, Donna Yanda, allegedly was overcharged by $500 for a show calf purchased through Bow around the same time as Wright's purchase.

Yanda's calf cost $6,250 but Bow charged her $6,750, records show.

Bow could receive up to a year in jail and another fine of up to $5,000 if found guilty of embezzling the $500 from Yanda.


The investigation into Bow began shortly after Wright and her husband, Randy, discovered they had been overcharged for the calf. The couple conducted their own investigation and turned over their findings first to the school district and then to the authorities.

“We eventually took it to the Yukon Police Department when we realized (Yukon Public Schools Superintendent) Bill Denton wasn't going to do anything about it,” Randy Wright said.

“We met with him in February (2011).”

OSBI officials said their investigation into the Yukon FFA program began in June 2011 after they received the case from the Yukon Police Department.