The US Department of Justice reported:
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Anthony Houser, age 36, formerly of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds and 36 months in prison for one count of Tax Fraud. The counts are set to be served concurrently. Houser was also ordered to pay $17,337,949.50 in restitution to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and $8,205,834.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
On February 20, 2025, Houser pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, between July 2016 and February 2024, while serving as a manager for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Gaming Operations Authority Board (later known as the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, LLC), Houser embezzled and obtained by fraud property owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Through this scheme, Houser embezzled $24,907,436.07, which represented funds owned by and under the care, custody, and control of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and its agencies, all programs receiving federal funds.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Anthony Houser, age 36, formerly of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds and 36 months in prison for one count of Tax Fraud. The counts are set to be served concurrently. Houser was also ordered to pay $17,337,949.50 in restitution to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and $8,205,834.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
On February 20, 2025, Houser pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, between July 2016 and February 2024, while serving as a manager for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Gaming Operations Authority Board (later known as the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, LLC), Houser embezzled and obtained by fraud property owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Through this scheme, Houser embezzled $24,907,436.07, which represented funds owned by and under the care, custody, and control of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and its agencies, all programs receiving federal funds.
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Takeway: While the article does not indicate how he was caught, add compensating internal controls to prevent internal fraudsters from creating fake vendors.
Enroll in Training Sessions: Last Thursday of Every Month is Training on Frauds and New Scam Alerts and How to Combat
Takeway: While the article does not indicate how he was caught, add compensating internal controls to prevent internal fraudsters from creating fake vendors.
Enroll in Training Sessions: Last Thursday of Every Month is Training on Frauds and New Scam Alerts and How to Combat