YUKON, OK – Susan Michelle Tyson, 51, is headed to federal prison after admitting to pilfering over $467,000 from the Oklahoma Operating Engineers Welfare Plan. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton, sends a clear message: stealing from working families’ benefits isn’t a victimless crime.
Tyson, formerly a bookkeeper for Zenith American Solutions, Inc. in Oklahoma City, exploited her position between July 2014 and January 2017. She orchestrated 33 unauthorized transfers, siphoning $467,352.43 into her personal accounts. The Welfare Plan provided crucial health and welfare benefits to members of Local Union 627 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, making Tyson’s actions a direct betrayal of those she was entrusted to serve.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Tyson attempted to cover her tracks by submitting duplicate invoices from vendors like SavRX and CVS CareMark, hoping to mask the illicit transfers. But the scheme unraveled, leading to charges filed on June 12, 2017, and a guilty plea on June 26, 2017. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment lapse in judgment; the court took note of a prior embezzlement conviction in Oklahoma City federal court back in 2000. This wasn’t Tyson’s first rodeo.
The sentencing wasn’t solely based on the current theft. Judge Heaton revealed that during the 2000 investigation, it came to light that Tyson had also stolen from a *third* employer. Adding insult to injury, Tyson’s dishonest interactions with the U.S. Probation Office – leading to her detention pending sentencing – demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and a lack of remorse. The court clearly viewed her as a repeat offender with a pattern of deceit.
The Oklahoma City Economic and Identity Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency coalition including the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, and several local law enforcement agencies, brought Tyson to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Hale and William E. Farrior successfully prosecuted the case, securing a 36-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. Tyson is also ordered to pay full restitution.
This case underscores the Secret Service’s commitment to combating financial crimes that target vulnerable benefit plans. While often associated with protecting dignitaries, the agency plays a critical role in investigating fraud impacting everyday Americans. The investigation sends a warning to anyone considering similar schemes: the long arm of the law will reach you, and the consequences will be severe.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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