Former Okla. State Worker Charged With Embezzlement

A former state worker was charged with embezzlement, according to an Oklahoma County affidavit.

40-year-old Heath Hayes is accused of taking more than $17,000 from a foundation under the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the affidavit states.

The affidavit also states that Hayes resigned in lieu of being fired.

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services released a statement in response:

“We want to first be clear that these allegations involve a former employee of the department and involve money that he allegedly took from private donors which were intended for behavioral health projects funded through a nonprofit organization. There are no allegations that he took department funds, and we want to assure the public that we have safeguards in place to prevent that from ever occurring.

The department is committed to transparency, integrity, and accountability. This is why, when we first became aware that this person may have acted unethically, we immediately brought in an outside investigator to look into the allegations. Once we learned that his actions may have been criminal, we contacted law enforcement and have fully cooperated with their investigation.

Our agency stands firm in upholding the highest standards of conduct and ensuring that all rules, laws, and policies are strictly followed by all employees.”