Helen Rose Dewey, Wire Fraud and Tax Fraud, Oklahoma 2015

Oklahoma City, OK - In a shocking turn of events, Helen Rose Dewey, a 61-year-old resident of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for wire fraud and tax fraud in a case that has left many in the community stunned.

The sentencing took place yesterday, with United States District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange handing down the severe punishment. Dewey was found guilty of embezzling funds from the Bethany-Warr Acres Public Works Authority between January 2008 and August 2013.

According to court records, Dewey used her position as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Bluff Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant to embezzle funds by using the Authority's credit cards to make unauthorized purchases. The majority of these purchases were gift cards ranging from $25 to $200 in value, as well as personal items.

In addition to the wire fraud charges, Dewey was also found guilty of falsifying her federal tax return for 2012, grossly under-reporting her income. The total amount embezzled from the Authority is a staggering $974,034, with an additional $233,674 in taxes owed to the IRS.

Dewey was charged by Information on October 28, 2015, and pleaded guilty on November 12, 2015, to committing wire fraud and tax fraud. The case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry Kelly leading the prosecution.

The sentencing marks the end of a long and arduous process for the Bethany-Warr Acres Public Works Authority, which had to bear the brunt of Dewey's actions. The Authority will receive $974,034 in restitution, while the IRS will receive $233,674 in restitution.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions. It is a cautionary tale of the devastating consequences of embezzlement and the need for strict penalties to deter such behavior.

In related news, the Internal Revenue Service has announced a new initiative to crack down on tax fraud and embezzlement in public institutions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/former-bethany-warr-acres-public-works-authority-official-sentenced-serve-37-months