Muskogee Man Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Government Funds

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that ENRIQUE GONZALEZ a/k/a Henry Gonzalez, age 44, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, pled guilty to an Information filed on May 27, 2016, charging him with THEFT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641, punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine or both.

The Information alleged that beginning on or about August 13, 2015, and continuing until on or about November 21, 2015, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, defendant ENRIQUE GONZALEZ a/k/a Henry Gonzalez, did knowingly and willfully embezzle, steal, and purloin money of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a department or agency of the United States, namely, Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits payments to which he knew he was not entitled, having a value in excess of $1,000.00.

The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea, and ordered the completion of a presentence report.  Sentencing will be scheduled upon its completion.  The defendant remains on bond pending sentencing.

The charges are a result of an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

First Assistant United States Attorney Doug Horn represented the United States.