Konawa Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Government Funds

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that JOANNA MARY HARJO, age 62, of Konawa, Oklahoma, pled guilty to an Information charging her with THEFT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

The Information alleged that from in or about September 2008, to in or about March 2015, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant did willfully and knowingly steal, purloin, and knowingly convert to her use, or the use of another, Supplemental Security Income benefits administered by the Social Security Administration, of a value greater than $1,000.00.

The Honorable Steven P. Shreder, Magistrate 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 statutory range of punishment is not more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or both.

Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Harrington represented the United States.