By M. Scott Carter
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Moore woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $200,000 from an outdoor advertising firm, officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office for Western Oklahoma announced Friday.
Angela M. Smith, 42, of Moore, appeared in federal district court and pleaded guilty to a scheme to defraud Lamar Central Outdoor by cashing checks written to Lamar from its customers and changing information in Lamar's computer system to hide her embezzlement.
Law enforcement officials said Smith was employed as office manager at Lamar's offices in Oklahoma City and handled checks made payable to Lamar from Lamar's advertising customers.
On April 30, 2003, officials said Smith gave written authorization on Lamar letterhead to a check-cashing business in Oklahoma City to cash checks for Lamar for any purpose.
"Starting in about April of 2004, she took checks made payable to Lamar to the check-cashing business, obtained cash in exchange for the checks, and used some or all of the cash for her own purposes rather than for the benefit of Lamar," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Williams.
Williams said Smith used a computer in Oklahoma City to access Lamar's computer database in Baton Rouge, La., and fraudulently changed accounts receivable information for Lamar customers whose checks she had recently cashed.
He said Smith acknowledged that she caused more than $200,000 in losses.
Since then, Smith has pleaded guilty and faces a maximum potential penalty of twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution to Lamar.
Sentencing will take place in about 90 days.
Williams said the case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com
Local news
Moore woman pleads guilty to embezzling from billboard company
- Local news
-
-
Seed exchange planned
Every day brings spring a day closer, meaning it’s time to start thinking about and planting spring vegetable and flower gardens....
-
Newest library branch expected to open by month’s end
The city of Oklahoma City is currently working with equipment manufacturers to remedy last-minute obstacles that are keeping Pioneer Library System’s 10th branch closed to the public....
-
TEAM having positive results
The Citizens Public Safety Oversight Committee elected Don Holyfield as the new chair and approved the annual report at its monthly meeting Thursday....
-
Union members protest GCI at new OU dorm site
Members of Carpenters Local Union No. 329 conducted a protest Thursday morning in front of the construction site of a new dormitory on the University of Oklahoma campus....
-
OK-FIRE workshop coming to Norman
A full-day OK-FIRE computer training workshop will be March 16 at the National Weather Center in Norman. Dr. J.D. Carlson, OSU fire meteorologist and OK-FIRE program director, will direct the workshop. Training will begin at 9:30 a.m. and ...
-
Wheelock receives Girl Scouts award
Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma presented Brenda Wheelock of Norman with the Frances Hesselbein Award at the organization’s recent annual meeting. The award is named for a woman who changed Girl Scouts of the United States of America when ...
-
Weed control is important in lawns
Did your lawn fall under attack from weeds last year? Do you want to get a head start on controlling them this year? Or maybe you are thinking about doing your own lawn care instead of hiring out? It seems that weed control is on ...
-
IRS launches outreach campaign to help workers
The Internal Revenue Service and community partners nationwide launched an annual outreach campaign this week. The campaign is aimed at helping millions of Americans who earned $49,078 or less take advantage of the Earned Income Tax ...
-
Men face counts including bribery
The Multi-County Grand Jury handed up indictments today against two former Blanchard city administrators. Former Blanchard city manager Bill D. Edwards and former police chief Tom M. Linn were indicted on two felony counts, including ...
-
Norman named best school district
Oklahoma Technology Association named Norman Public Schools as Best District of The Year for the 2011-2012 school year Wednesday morning at its annual conference in the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Seed exchange planned
