A 38-year-old Oklahoma woman, Amy D. Shelton, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for bank fraud and filing a false federal income tax return. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell handed down the sentence, also ordering Shelton to serve five years of supervised release following her imprisonment. Additionally, Shelton must pay $870,934.67 in restitution to her former employer and $309,167 to the IRS.
According to court documents, Shelton of Tulsa began working as an account manager for an unnamed company in 2015. Her responsibilities included managing payroll, paying bills, collecting rent, and updating financial records.
From May 2019 through November 2022, Shelton embezzled over $1.1 million by writing more than 150 unauthorized checks to herself. She used the stolen funds to purchase luxury items, including recreational vehicles, purses, jewelry, and dozens of firearms.
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In addition to the embezzlement, Shelton also failed to report her income accurately and falsified her tax returns.
“Shelton not only stole from a local business owner, but she also betrayed her employer’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This deliberate decision not only affected her employer but also defrauded the government, harming taxpayers.”
“Ms. Shelton’s sentence sends a clear message that tax fraud is not a victimless crime, and the government will hold these criminals accountable for their actions,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. “She broke the trust of her former employer by embezzling more than a million dollars and then chose not to include all her income when she filed her taxes… As part of her plea agreement and sentencing, Ms. Shelton is ordered to pay almost $1.2 million in restitution to her former employer and the IRS for back taxes, penalties, and interest.” Note the discrepancy between this stated restitution amount, and the sum of the values above.
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Shelton was permitted to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.
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