Enid Woman Sentenced to Serve 30 Months in Federal Prison after Embezzling more than $400,000 from Nonprofits

OKLAHOMA CITY –DEBORAH WILCZEK, 46, of Enid, has been sentenced to serve 30 months in federal prison for making, uttering, and possessing a forged security, and willfully filing a false federal income tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On May 16, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a 17-count Superseding Indictment against Wilczek, charging her with devising and carrying out a scheme to defraud the YWCA in Enid (YWCA) and the Cimarron Montessori School (Cimarron). According to the Superseding Indictment, from November 2012 through April 2019, Wilczek served in leadership positions for the YWCA. She also served on Cimarron’s School Board in various capacities from August 2016 to April 2021. The Superseding Indictment alleges Wilczek routinely accessed both the YWCA and Cimarron’s business bank accounts, wrote herself checks, and made several unauthorized bank transfers to pay for her personal expenses, including her personal credit card. She concealed her theft by misclassifying these expenses in each nonprofits’ bookkeeping system. In total, Wilczek embezzled $414,951.35 from the two nonprofits, with $139,308.35 coming from YWCA and $275,643 coming from Cimarron. It is also alleged that Wilczek forged Cimarron board members’ signatures on checks written to herself and her consulting firm.

The Superseding Indictment further alleges Wilczek willfully filed false federal income tax returns for the years 2016 through 2020, where she listed her total income substantially below the income actually received as a result of the fraud described above.

On November 7, 2023, Wilczek pleaded guilty to Counts 10 and 17 of the Superseding Indictment, and admitted she possessed a check with a forged signature written on a bank account belonging to Cimarron and that she filed an income tax return for the 2020 tax year that materially understated her income.

At the sentencing hearing on September 11, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Wilczek to serve 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Wilczek to pay $439,749.80 in restitution, with $139,308.35 going to the YWCA, $221,622.45 going to Cimarron, and $78,819.00 going to the IRS. In announcing the sentence, Judge DeGiusti noted the seriousness of the offense, and the detrimental effect that Wilczek’s conduct has had on the Enid community and the organizations themselves.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Stillwater Resident Agency, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Enid Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle London prosecuted the case.

Reference is made to public filings for further information.