Durant Woman Pleads Guilty To $585,000 Tribal Embezzlement

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that CARMA LYNN ELLIOTT, age 45, of Durant, Oklahoma, pled guilty to an Information charging her with EMBEZZLEMENT FROM INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1163.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Information alleged that from on or about March 26, 2005 and continuing through April 2, 2011, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant with intent to convert them to her use, did knowingly retain $585,397.15 of moneys, funds and credits belonging to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, a tribal organization.

The Honorable James H. Payne, District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea, and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  Sentencing will be scheduled upon its completion.  The defendant will remain on bond pending sentencing.

The statutory range of punishment is up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or both.

Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.