Johnson Admits to $624K Real Estate Fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY – A former bookkeeper traded trust for treachery, admitting yesterday to a brazen scheme that ripped off a local real estate company to the tune of $624,265.01. TAMI LEE JOHNSON, of Midwest City, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to check forgery, bringing an end – for now – to a three-year investigation.

The case, announced by United States Attorney Mark A. Yancey for the Western District of Oklahoma, dates back to April 25, 2017, when Johnson was initially charged with one count of a forged security. From January 2012 to August 2015, Johnson held a position of power as the bookkeeper and office manager for a real estate management company based in Edmond. That access, it turns out, was a gateway to systematic theft.

Yesterday, Johnson confessed to preparing a fraudulent company check for $2,226.00, cutting it to herself in February 2014. She admitted to acting without authorization, forging the signature of her boss, and then cashing the check for personal gain. This single instance, while seemingly small, represents a pattern of deceit that spiraled out of control. The total loss from her embezzlement scheme, she stipulated as part of her plea, reached a staggering $624,265.01.

The FBI investigation uncovered a calculated effort to siphon funds from the company over a three-year period. Johnson exploited her position, leveraging her access to bank accounts to line her own pockets. While the details of the full scope of the scheme remain sealed in court documents, the damage to the real estate management company is substantial.

Now, Johnson faces a steep price for her crimes. She’s looking at up to 10 years in federal prison, along with three years of supervised release and a hefty $250,000 fine. But prison isn’t the only consequence; she’ll also be required to pay full restitution to the victim, attempting to recoup the $624,265.01 she stole. Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2017.

Assistant U.S. Attorney K. McKenzie Anderson is prosecuting the case, which is the result of a thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly quiet positions of trust can be exploited for criminal gain, and that federal authorities will relentlessly pursue those who engage in financial crimes.