5 Oklahomans Pleaded Guilty to Embezzling From Their Employers

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- U.S. Attorney Sanford Coats and Oklahoma City law enforcement authorities are claiming success in prosecuting suspects in a series of high-profile embezzlement cases.

Authorities have obtained guilty pleas from five individuals who embezzled money from their jobs.

Coats and investigators from various federal and city agencies unveiled details about the cases and the defendants on Wednesday.

Authorities said guilty pleas have been entered by Deanne Meshew, Bonnie  Williams, Melissa Dover, Tracy McMillan and Tina West in five unrelated embezzlement cases in recent months following investigations by the Oklahoma City Economic & Identity Crimes Task Force.

Those who joined Coats to discuss the cases included Adrian Andrews of the U.S. Secret Service, Jennifer Brake of the Criminal Investigative Division of the Internal Revenue Service, Oklahoma City Police Department Deputy Chief David Shupe and Charlie Thigpen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The defendants collectively stole nearly $2.6 million and admitted to tax fraud.

Each woman faces 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and mandatory restitution.